JOY PENNICK

Professional Goals
PROMOTE HEALING THROUGH BEAUTY & JOY
My goal is to enhance the quality of life of individuals who face a variety of lifechallenges. I would like to combine my creative talents and natural compassion with the
professional training and experience I have gained through my involvement in the fields of
Human Services, Arts and Culture.
I will receive my Human Services Diploma: Therapeutic Recreation Concentration from
NSCC in 2015 and, over the next five years, I plan to complete a BSc at Dalhousie University
in Therapeutic Recreation. I am particularly interested in helping individuals with physical
or developmental disabilities.
Leisure experiences and recreation activities can enhance peoples health, well-being, and
overall quality of life. This is especially beneficial for individuals with compromised health
conditions or disabilities. Therapeutic Recreation Assistants facilitate activities for the
specific purpose of maintaining, improving, or rehabilitating individuals functional ability
and independence. As an artist & jeweller, I also recognize the positive, healing effects of
creative expression and would like to incorporate that into my life & work as a Recreational
Therapist.
I have reflected on many of these goals & objectives in my Personal Helping Philosophy
Power Point, a presentation that I hope you will enjoy.
Over the past 24 months, I have endeavoured to gain relevant experience in (and an
appreciation of) the Therapeutic Recreation profession. To this end, I have volunteered
with Autism Nova Scotia (Ben James Summer Camp and Autism Arts) and with the Nova
Scotia Down Syndrome Society (Team Possibles art collective) and have continued my work
with seniors.
Presently, I am a volunteer with Team Possibles Art Collective, were I assist youth with
Down syndrome during weekly art-making sessions. Over the past few months, I have also
volunteered with Arborstone Enhanced Care where I planned and presented weekly arts &
crafts activities for younger adults. This winter, I also found time to volunteer with the
Recreation Therapy Department of the Nova Scotia Rehabilitation Centre, assisting the
Recreation Program Associate (Rehabilitation and Supportive Care) with program set-up,
recruitment and facilitation. These amazing opportunities speak to my particular interest
in helping individuals with physical or developmental disabilities.

JOY PENNICK
Professional Goals
LONG TERM GOALS

The scope of practice for a TR professional is broad but requires a basic level of training
and proficiency in a number of areas. Although specific client needs may differ (depending
on age, emotional, cognitive and physical ability), there are certain skills and
accomplishments that are essential to have in ones TR tool kit:

Critical thinking and research abilities for evidence-based problem-solving.

Membership in professional associations & awareness of professional ethics &
standards of practice.
Ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary teams.
Leadership skills and abilities.
Knowledge of a wide array of medical conditions that impact client health.
Familiarity with various Health Care Delivery models.
Advocacy skills.
Established data base for community resources.
Basic counselling skills, based on a strength-based, client-centred model of care.
Well rounded abilities in a variety of leisure & recreation activities.
Familiarity with adaptive technology and computer-assisted communication and
information technology systems.
Program planning, implementation & facilitation skills.

I believe in life-long learning and intend to pursue a number of training opportunities over
the next five years, in order to focus on these essential skill-sets. Some of these skills have
been developed during the last 18 months of study at NSCC, through course-work and
volunteer experiences. I am confident that I will learn more about interdisciplinary teamwork, health care delivery and the specific role of a TRA, during my upcoming placement.
I am particularly interested in gaining more experience and training in the areas of Art
Education and Art Therapy. NSCAD University offers instruction in arts education
(Introduction to Education in the Arts & Teaching the Visual Arts) in their Undergraduate
and Professional degree programs. It may be possible to register as a part-time student
(alumna) in the Fall of 2015. NSCAD Extended Studies also offers an Introduction to Art
Therapy class, which I hope will be offered again during the Spring 2015 semester.
I have also determined that certification with Canfitpro as an Older Adult Fitness Specialist
would be an important addition to my list of qualifications. I will look for opportunities to
gain this qualification over the next few months.

JOY PENNICK
Professional Goals
To learn more about the strength-based model of care in counselling, I would like to enrol
in Positive Psychology course through NSCC in 2015. In many ways, this approach resonates
with the Buddhist Shambhala philosophy and meditation practice and fits well with the
principles of the Laughter Yoga movement.
In addition, I am very interested in learning more about the Eden Philosophy of elder care.
Rosecrest (a division of the Stevens Group of Companies) is committed to creating vibrant,
active communities and operates three seniors residences in Nova Scotia
Finally, I will actively pursue opportunities for employment (program-based, full & parttime) and remain open to most possibilities. I have already been invited to provide an Arts
& Crafts program for residents of Melville Heights Retirement Residence. Although this
program will not be therapeutic by design, the benefits will still be evident.
These long-term goals will bring me to the year 2020. By this time, my husband & I will be
empty nesters (with luck) as our daughters move forward with their lives. I envision a
satisfying career in Recreational Therapy, with time left to attend to my creative pursuits
(jewellery-making and visual arts). In this way, I will have combined my creative talents
and natural compassion with the professional training and experience (NSCC) to become a
well-rounded Recreation Therapy professional.