Healing Beyond the Clinic: How Social Workers and Recreational Therapists Use Social Prescriptions to Improve Wellbeing

Healthcare providers continue to embrace more holistic views of wellness as we acknowledge how a person’s health is shaped not only by clinical treatment but also by social, emotional, and environmental factors. Enter social prescribing, a groundbreaking approach that connects individuals to non-medical services to improve their overall health and wellbeing. While this model originated in the UK, it’s gaining traction globally, including in the US. Social workers and recreational therapists are at the forefront of implementing this model, using their expertise to connect clients with meaningful activities, social support, and community resources to promote patient recovery and resilience.

Social prescribing is often a collaborative effort between patients, families, physicians, social workers, and recreational therapists. The benefits of this approach are promising for the future of physical and mental healthcare.

What is Social Prescribing?

A social prescription is a referral made by a healthcare provider or care professional to non-clinical services that address social, emotional, or practical needs. Instead of, or in addition to, prescribing medication, a physician might “prescribe” a community garden group, an art class, a walking club, or financial counseling. The goal is to treat the whole person, especially in cases where medical treatment alone may not resolve the root causes of distress or illness.

Social prescriptions are often used for individuals experiencing:

• Mild to moderate depression or anxiety

• Loneliness or social isolation

• Chronic conditions that benefit from lifestyle changes

• Recovery after injury or illness

• Stress due to housing instability, food insecurity, or financial strain

The services prescribed can be as varied as the individuals who need them. But the common thread is the understanding that community and connection are powerful medicine.

The Role of Social Workers & Recreational Therapists in Social Prescribing

Social workers are uniquely qualified to deliver social prescriptions because they are trained to assess a client’s environment, relationships, and social determinants of health. They take a person-centered approach, building trust with clients and helping them navigate complex systems to access resources that support stability and empowerment.

Recreational therapists (also known as therapeutic recreation specialists) use leisure and activity-based interventions to help individuals achieve emotional and physical wellbeing. They are critical players in the social prescription ecosystem, particularly when activities are the “prescription” itself.

How social workers facilitate social prescriptions:

1. Assessment and Identification

Social workers conduct comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments to understand the client's needs, challenges, and goals. This helps them identify areas where non-medical interventions might be appropriate or beneficial.

2. Care Coordination

Once a need is identified, social workers can connect clients to community services or programs—anything from adult literacy classes to volunteer opportunities to caregiver support groups. They act as a bridge between clinical settings and the wider social environment.

3. Advocacy and Support

Often, clients face barriers to accessing these resources, such as transportation, stigma, or cost. Social workers advocate for clients, helping them overcome these obstacles and ensuring equity in access.

4. Follow-Up and Adjustment

Social workers don’t just hand over a referral and walk away. They follow up to ensure the solution is working or to make adjustments as life circumstances evolve. This ongoing relationship supports long-term engagement and success.

How recreational therapists contribute:

1. Designing Therapeutic Activities

Recreational therapists develop individualized programs that align with a person’s abilities and interests. These can include arts and crafts, nature walks, adaptive sports, music therapy, or group games. These aren’t just “fun and games”—they are structured experiences that promote healing and growth.

2. Enhancing Social Engagement

Isolation is a major factor in declining health, especially among older adults or those with chronic illness. Recreational therapists foster connection through group-based activities that build community and combat loneliness.

3. Promoting Physical and Cognitive Health

Movement, creativity, and engagement improve physical health, reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, and support memory and cognitive function. Recreational therapists guide clients in using leisure as a form of preventive health.

4. Encouraging Self-Efficacy

When someone re-engages with activities they love or discovers new skills, they gain confidence and a renewed sense of purpose—both essential for long-term wellbeing.

While social workers and recreational therapists come from different disciplines, their collaboration is seamless in social prescribing.

A social worker may identify how a client is socially isolated and struggling with depression following a stroke. They might refer the client to a recreational therapist who, in turn, designs a modified painting group or accessible yoga class to support their rehabilitation, encourage social interaction, and improve mood. Together, they track the client’s progress and adapt the plan as needed.

This team-based, interdisciplinary model ensures that care is comprehensive, not compartmentalized.

Real-World Examples of Social Prescribing in Action

• Community Garden Projects: Social workers partner with local food banks and urban farming initiatives to refer clients to community gardens. These projects offer physical activity, nutrition education, and social connection—especially valuable for those dealing with food insecurity and chronic conditions like diabetes.

• Nature-Based Prescriptions: In programs like "Park Rx America," clients receive “green prescriptions” that encourage time spent in parks and natural spaces. Recreational therapists might lead guided nature walks, birdwatching excursions, or outdoor mindfulness sessions.

• Arts and Culture on Prescription: Some cities now offer free or discounted access to museums, concerts, and art classes as part of a formal social prescription program. These activities stimulate cognitive health and reduce isolation, particularly for older adults.

• Veterans Support Networks: Social workers and recreational therapists working with veterans might prescribe adaptive sports leagues or peer support groups tailored to veterans living with PTSD, chronic pain, or traumatic brain injury.

The Benefits of Social Prescribing

Improves Mental Health

By addressing loneliness, boosting self-esteem, and creating opportunities for joy and connection, social prescribing is a powerful tool in the fight against depression and anxiety.

Reduces Healthcare Utilization

Engaged and supported individuals are less likely to overuse emergency rooms or experience preventable hospitalizations.

Supports Chronic Illness Management

Lifestyle changes, increased activity, and reduced stress improve outcomes for people living with chronic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, and arthritis.

Builds Stronger Communities

Social prescriptions rely on partnerships with community organizations, creating a more connected, compassionate, and engaged local network.

Looking Ahead: Expanding Access and Awareness

Social prescribing is still evolving, but its momentum is growing. For it to thrive, awareness must increase among healthcare providers, and more communities must invest in the infrastructure that makes social prescribing possible—like community centers, transportation options, and program funding.

Social workers and recreational therapists are vital to this movement. Their work exemplifies what it means to see and treat the whole person. By blending clinical insight with community care, they help individuals not just survive—but thrive.

Social prescriptions are a powerful reminder that healing doesn’t always come from a pill bottle or an exam room. Sometimes, it comes from a walk in the park, a shared meal, or a paintbrush in hand. Social workers and recreational therapists understand that health begins where people live, work, play, and connect—and they’re building a better future one prescription at a time.

Want to learn more about social prescriptions and recreational therapy? Visit the Alabama Ægis website today.