"Recreation Therapy is Essential. I couldn't imagine completing or navigating this program without Rec Therapy. Rec Therapy allows me to organize my thoughts and reflect on self discoveries that I've learned in my therapy sessions. Being outside reminds me there is still a world out there waiting for me to return, but as a better person. Going to the NAC gives me courage to want to leave the house and ensures me that being outdoors is therapeutic and when I leave this program I feel comfortable being outside. Please do not cancel this program, there are too many benefits."

"Recreation Therapy was the most important part of my rehab experience. I came to Salt Lake Behavioral Health to begin my sobriety journey. this facility had phenomenal group therapy, trauma/addiction therapy, and even music therapy; however, Recreational Therapy enhanced the quality of my treatment to where I believe it was absolutely necessary. For my in-patient treatment, we rarely had time to get outdoors. Rec Therapy made it possible not only to get outside but learn team building and build camaraderie led by a licensed Recreation therapist. This gave my fellow patients and me a break from the usual monotony of in-patient care. As a now sober alcoholic, please continue to support Recreational Therapy. It helps us heal."

"If we didn't have rec therapy, people wouldn't get up and physical conditions would worsen. For me, personally, wouldn't be getting up and doing things that are important to me. I wouldn't have friends and I wouldn't know the Recreation therapy team. We wouldn't have been learning Spanish."

"Recreational Therapy has helped me out the past coupe of years. The Recreational Therapist has worked with me individually and in a group and has taught me new coping skills and has helped me adopt better behaviors."

"I came to Salt Lake Behavioral Health because I needed help getting off opiates. I could not do it on my own. I came here because my life was just getting completely out of control and just going down then hole. I just wanted to write this letter and let you guys know how Rec Therapy has helped me. First of all the Rec Groups really made my time go by really fast, but more important is the Recreation Therapist brought a basketball hoop and basketball was a huge part of my life before I was hurt. I had not even touched a basketball let alone played any form of basketball. The Recreation Therapist brought a hoop to hang on the doors and I was talked into playing and I'm so glad and happy that I started to play because it made me so so so happy to where I am going to continue to play when I get out."

"Rec Therapy is needed. It keeps us more active and more involved in what's going on. It helps us get to know each other. It helps our mind stay alert, active, and intelligent. Even Spanish speakers helped by activities. There are so many reasons why we all need each other. When recreation was less prominent due to covid, I picked up smoking again. When I didn't have recreation, smoking was all I had."

"Recreational Therapy is beneficial to the process of healing. I express my inner most pain through creativity and self expression. After tough sessions yoga and FTR help reduce the stress and pain of the day. Recreation Therapists are important to our healing process and help keep ourselves out of dark places. Please keep recreational therapy licensed and funded."

"Recreation is extremely important to me because I would have been in bed the entire time I've been here. I would have never met great people and have had others to socialize with. I've needed to be connected spiritually and I receive this here. Recreation has given me the opportunity to help with bingo on Sundays. This gives me feelings of importance. Also, giving residents an activity on Sunday, which there are none. Most things which are wrong with me requires movement. Any activity which has body movement helps me. Due to vision problems I need bingo, crafts, etc. for eye movement, helps with focus with double vision. With no activities the only think of is to go outside with the smokers. This could tempt me to start smoking again. I wouldn't have the opportunity to learn a new language to communicate with those who don't understand English. Could you imagine what this place would be like with a bunch of stir crazy folks with nothing to do. I'm asking that recreation remain at this facility."

"Recreational therapy is useful because it makes many people's moods go from upset to happy or calm. It has taught me many positive coping skills and lessons to get through tough times. One thing I really remember from Recreational Therapy was the away/towards group. It taught me to be aware of what my choices consequences are. Another thing we do is a lot of team activities. A team activity we did was when we had to stand on a rug and flip it over without touching the floor. It helped me be open to others ideas and communicate, one person at a time, to solve the problem. I've learned self awareness, consequences, how to prioritize my values, respectfully disagree, communication skills, meditation, also how to solve issues I have with someone."

"I would just like to thank the recreation therapist for everything they've done. You've both inspired and encouraged me. I've never felt confident in anything I did but with your words and actions I finally feel good about myself. If I'm being honest, you've probably saved my life. When I got here, I would end my life. But then you taught me amazing art skills and coping and made me feel like I am talented and have something to live for. I am so thankful for you and what you've done for me. I'll never forget you."

Stated that Recreation Therapy helps "because then you don't have all your feelings to explode."

Stated about Recreation Therapy group. "It's a good way to get your feelings out and actually feel them so you don't keep stuffing them."

Stated that RT helps "because it's the only thing I actually have control over."