Home and Community Recreation Therapy

Home and Community Recreation Therapy Outcome-focused therapy that gets people off the sidelines and back into life!

Diane Wagner-Heffner, MA, CTRS, CBIS started Home & Community Recreation Therapy in 2006. Home & Community Recreation Therapy (HCRT) provides therapy in the client’s home & community. Our services not only improve functional levels but assist clients with overall health & happiness doing the things they enjoy. Research shows that an active, satisfying lifestyle leads to greater health and happiness—and that’s especially true for people with disabilities. HCRT incorporates our clients’ interests, support network, and pre-injury lifestyles to better engage them in therapy and achieve functional improvements. We provide the tools needed for ongoing success, working toward a lifestyle that is physically active, cognitively engaged, emotionally satisfying, and socially involved. Interventions and specializations include:
· Fitness programs
· Aquatics therapy
· Community safety evaluation
· Family and aide training
· Volunteer placement
· Computer and/or PDA research and training
· Education and integration into appropriate community institutions
· Stress management and relaxation
· Adaptive leisure skills training including horticulture, music, sports, art and games.

We asked our clients - In one word, what does Recreational Therapy mean to you? Here are their answers 🤩Happy Recreation...
02/24/2026

We asked our clients - In one word, what does Recreational Therapy mean to you? Here are their answers 🤩

Happy Recreational Therapy Month!

This week we wanted to feature some of the accessible crafting studios we visit! Tag or give a shout out to your favorit...
02/20/2026

This week we wanted to feature some of the accessible crafting studios we visit! Tag or give a shout out to your favorites in the comments below! 🎨🧶✂️🧵🖌️

Creative Arts Studio - Ceramics, Wheel Throwing, Mosaic Tiles, Etc (Royal Oak)

The Ceramic Studio - Ceramics (Howell)

Speckles & Splatter - Splatter Room, Ceramics, Wheel Throwing (Dearborn)

Urban Wick - Candles & Room Sprays (Birmingham)

Scent Science - Candles & Room Sprays (Auburn Hills)

North End Market - Lotions, Soaps, Candles, Room Sprays (Milford)

Beaute Loft - Bathroom Products (Grosse Point)

AR Workshops - Hat Burning, Candles, Watercolor, Wood Signs, Charms, Etc (Multiple Locations)

Arts & Scrapes - Second Hand Crafting Materials (Detroit)

You can also check for your local library, senior center, and recreation center websites for low to no cost monthly classes as well!

Happy Testimonial Tuesday! For the third week of Recreation Therapy Month, we have three testimonials for you! 🙂What doe...
02/17/2026

Happy Testimonial Tuesday! For the third week of Recreation Therapy Month, we have three testimonials for you! 🙂

What does Recreation Therapy mean to you?

“I was badly injured in a car crash that took the lives of two members of my family. As I started to recover, I was very sad and lonely. Someone suggested that I attend a group painting ceramics. I enjoyed it and I was very pleased to learn that there could be more ways to do fun things if I would like to work with a recreation therapist. Chair yoga with my recreational therapist has been beneficial for me as I struggle with my balance, meeting people and memory. I’ve met people and done numerous activities. Life is much better though I am not yet totally recovered.” -Teresa

“Recreation therapy means to me an outlet to my normal every day life. Kelly is so nice and so kind to me, the fun things we do together like going to the gym, exercising, to going to the " Adopt- A - Pet ", really helped my social skills and helped me get into the community more and make SO many more friends!” - Bryan

“RT means getting out into the community, talking with others, making new friends. RT has helped me learn to be more comfortable around others, and to enjoy my community.” -Garrett

📣 It's Therapy Thursday! Let's talk about adapting latch hooking. Shakira and her RT team worked together to adapt this ...
02/12/2026

📣 It's Therapy Thursday! Let's talk about adapting latch hooking. Shakira and her RT team worked together to adapt this project for her. Check it out 👇👇👇

✨Testimonial Tuesday✨ But make it a day late because we’re still getting the hang of this social media thing! 🙃What does...
02/11/2026

✨Testimonial Tuesday✨ But make it a day late because we’re still getting the hang of this social media thing! 🙃

What does Recreation Therapy mean to you?

“I am a survivor of a car accident with a great support team by my side. Throughout my recovery I’ve had my highs and my lows but discovering recreation therapy changed my life. It took me to another level of my recovery. I’ve found new ways to express myself through art, I’ve found purpose in volunteering, I’ve found friendship through HCRT groups, and I’ve been able to try things I otherwise never would have.” -Natasha

For Therapy Thursday this month, we're spotlighting the creative arts and crafts activities our team brings to life with...
02/05/2026

For Therapy Thursday this month, we're spotlighting the creative arts and crafts activities our team brings to life with clients. Whether 1-1 or in a group setting with 1-1 support, our clients LOVE creating something new. Today's features Loom Knitting!

Loom knitting is a wonderful craft that uses a round or long frame with pegs to create knitted items. No traditional needles required! Wrap yarn around the pegs and use a hook tool to lift loops over each other, building your project row by row. Loom knitting opens up the world of fiber arts to everyone. It's perfect for those with arthritis, hand tremors, limited dexterity, or grip strength issues. The pegs hold your stitches in place, so you don't have to worry about dropped stitches. It's also easier to learn than traditional knitting, making it great for beginners.

What You'll Need to Get Started:
🧶 A knitting loom (round for hats, long for scarves and blankets). Craft stores carry them in individual packs or a set with varying sizes and they come with a loom hook and yarn needle.
🧶 Yarn in your favorite color
🧶 Scissors

Whether you want to make cozy hats, warm scarves, or an ear warmer like we pictured here, loom knitting makes it possible for everyone to create handmade treasures. Have you loom knitted before?

✨ Testimonial Tuesday ✨ What does Recreational Therapy mean to you? "It means family. The bond between a person and ther...
02/03/2026

✨ Testimonial Tuesday ✨ What does Recreational Therapy mean to you? "It means family. The bond between a person and therapist is such a beautiful thing." - Eva

📸 pictured is Eva participating in Farm Animal Assisted Therapy. Eva works with her RT team Jessica S. and Kellie S.

The newly developed HCRT Book Club 📚 is reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid this month! Hav...
02/03/2026

The newly developed HCRT Book Club 📚 is reading The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid this month! Have you read it? Let us know if you have any book recommendations for us!

It's Recreational Therapy Month, and we couldn't be more proud. Proud to be Recreational Therapists. Proud of the expert...
02/01/2026

It's Recreational Therapy Month, and we couldn't be more proud. Proud to be Recreational Therapists. Proud of the expertise our HCRT team brings to our field. Proud of the waves of connection we create every single day. This month we look forward to sharing client testimonials, the waves of connection we are creating through the unique interventions we implement, and of course our newest tradition - Therapy Thursday!

"Together, we can elevate the understanding of Recreational Therapy as a vital therapeutic service and make meaningful strides toward our shared vision: A world where every person has access to Recreational Therapy." - ATRA

We're wrapping up our January 🤩 Therapy Thursday 🤩 fitness theme by highlighting our love for aquatics! Aquatic therapy ...
01/29/2026

We're wrapping up our January 🤩 Therapy Thursday 🤩 fitness theme by highlighting our love for aquatics!

Aquatic therapy combines the healing properties of aquatic environments with purposeful movement and play. In the pool, buoyancy reduces stress on joints, resistance builds strength, and the sensory experience of water provides calming input. Recreational therapy uses activities like swimming, water aerobics, and aquatic games to improve physical function, boost confidence, and enhance overall well-being. It's an effective approach for people recovering from injury, managing chronic conditions, or working on mobility and coordination goals. Pictured is some of our team expanding their skills with Specialty Aquatic Programs.

Pools we love:
💙 Romulus Athletic Center
💙 Hartland Caroselli Aquatic Center
💙 Our local YMCAs
💙 Ascension Genesys Health Club
💙 Costick Activities Center
💙 Health & Fitness Center at Washtenaw Community College

Prior to engaging in aquatics, we recommend visiting the pool you want to utilize to make sure it fits all of your needs! Your RT can help find the best pool for you. The best part of aquatics? Therapy doesn't have to feel like work when you're in the water!

*Therapy Thursday* Discover the power of adapted yoga with your Recreational Therapist & feel the benefits. Adapted Yoga...
01/22/2026

*Therapy Thursday* Discover the power of adapted yoga with your Recreational Therapist & feel the benefits. Adapted Yoga is an evidence-based practice & many of our RTs love implementing adapted yoga because there are so many ways to provide person-centered modifications.

🧘‍♀️ Poses to Start With 🧘‍♀️
- Seated Mountain Pose is perfect for grounding & posture awareness while seated in a chair
- Gentle Neck Rolls can release tension & improve range of motion
- Seated Cat-Cow will mobilize the spine with gentle forward & backward movements
- Arm Raises help stretch shoulders & improve upper body mobility
- Seated Forward Fold can calm the nervous system with a gentle stretch

⭐ Supplies Needed: Yoga mats or non-slip surfaces (optional for seated practice), a sturdy chair with no arms for modifications as needed, Yoga blocks or books for support, blankets or cushions for comfort, & your choice of calming music is recommended.

⭐ Remember: Adapted yoga meets people exactly where they are. Every pose can be modified, and there's no "perfect" way to practice. The goal is connection, not perfection!

Address

1810 Timber Trl
Ann Arbor, MI
48103

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

+17345468775

Website

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