Catherine Church, CTRS
Senior Recreational Therapist
Catherine Church is the Senior Recreational Therapist since 2005. Raised in North Carolina for 25 years, she received a Bachelors of Science degree at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in 2002 in Recreational Therapy and a minor in Psychology. National certification credentials include CTRS (Certified Therapeutic Recreation specialist) in 2003.
Catherine conducts leisure interest inventory evaluations and assessments for patients. She implements one-to-one activities to increase perceptual skills (jigsaw puzzles, table top board games, BINGO), planning, organizing/developing strategy skills (gardening, community outings, writing out daily activity schedules, food preparation including planning, shopping and cooking), memory, attention span, sequencing, problem solving (computer games, arts-n-crafts, card games, gardening) and socializing (support groups, group recreational games, DVD’s, group exercise).
She oversees pet visitations with REHAB’s therapy dog “SIMBA”. Simba is used daily in therapy sessions to provide a compassionate friendly being for patients. Pet therapy is used to assist with speech, increase tolerance for standing or walking, improves sequencing techniques (brushing the dog), or just for tactical stimulation (soft fur, cold nose, wet tongue).
Catherine also assists with the Louis Vuitton creative arts program Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays as an instructor and advocate, inspiring a creative outlet for patients who are learning to physically and emotionally cope with their disabilities and/or conditions.
Other responsibilities include:
- Facilitate weekly and monthly support groups for Stroke and Spinal Cord Injury survivors both for inpatients and outpatients.
- Community lesion via phone calls and email with community organizations and programs, former patients transitioned into the community, visitors to the islands, and family members of survivors who have questions regarding accessible programs, support groups, and contact names and phone numbers. Facility tours of REHAB Hospital and community presentations.
Monthly participation in adaptive sports programs: AccesSurf Hawaii, Inc. providing opportunities for adaptive surfing, therapeutic instruction for swimming and floating.
