UW-LaCrosse TR Guide

UW-La Crosse Therapeutic Recreation Majors' Guide to Combining Therapeutic Recreation & Child Life Coursework To Become Eligible for Dual Certification as a CCLS/CTRS

Resources:

Agency Contact

• Heidi Giese, BS, CTRS, CCLS, CIMI
  Child Life Manager
  Child Life/Therapeutic Recreation Internship Coordinator
  Ministry Saint Joseph's Children's Hospital/Ministry Health Care
  (715) 387-7361
  (715) 389-9339 (fax)
  
  Email: heidi.giese@ministryhealth.org
  Website: www.ministryhealth.org/childlife
  
  RMTR Faculty Contact
• Dr. Susan 'BOON' Murray, Ed.D., CCLS, CTRS
  Professor and Internship Coordinator for Therapeutic Recreation
  Therapeutic Recreation Program, Department of RMTR, UW-La Crosse
  (608) 785-8199
  Email: murray.sus2@uwlax.edu
  Website: UW La Crosse Therapeutic Recreation 

Professional Organization Contact

• Child Life Council
  Website: http://www.childlife.org
  Email: clcstaff@childlife.org
  11820 Park Lawn Drive, Suite 202,
  Rockville, MD20852
  (301) 881-7090Fax (301) 881-7092

Recommended Courses for Dual Certification in TR & Child Life:

• Psych 100 General Psychology (required by TR major)
• Psych 210 Developmental Psychology
• Psych 212 Life Span Development (required by TR Major)
• Psych 280 Cross Cultural Development
• Psych 304 Abnormal Psychology (required by TR Major)
• Psych 310 Child Development (required for CL internship at Ministry Saint Joseph's Children's Hospital)
• Psych 311 Adolescent Development (required for CL internship at Ministry Saint Joseph's Children's Hospital)
• Psych 343 Group Dynamics (required by TR Major)
• Psych 347 Empathetic Listening Skills (may be offered during J-Term)
• Psych 401 Behavior Modification: Principles and Application
• Psych 417 Child and Adolescent Behavior Disorders
• RTH 400/500 Child Life Theory and Practice(required for CL internship at Ministry Saint Joseph'sChildren's Hospital)
• RTH 401/501 Child Life Facilitation of Psychosocial Support (required for CL internship at Ministry Saint Joseph's Children's Hospital)
• Soc 212 Marriage and Family
• Soc 420 Health Care and Illness
• Soc 422 Death, Grief and Bereavement

(When majoring in Therapeutic Recreation a minor in psychology is recommended to prepare for an internship in TR/Child Life and dual-certification in Child Life and Therapeutic Recreation.)

*NOTE: Dual TR/Child Life internships are uncommon, very competitive, and are not guaranteed by UW-L's Therapeutic Recreation Program. A student may need to complete separate internships in Child Life and Therapeutic Recreation under the supervision of certified professionals. After completing a TR internship and receiving your degree, you can pursue a 12-18 week clinical internship in child life without an academic affiliation as an 'independent internship' if a certified supervisor and related pediatric hospital accepts you. A state-by-state list of 'independent' internships in Child Life is provided based on current information in the Child Life Council's Directory of Programs.