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About Jess Jones Recreation Therapy
Jess Jones Recreation Therapy (JJRT) is a trailblazing therapeutic recreation practice rooted in the belief that leisure is not a luxury—it’s a lifeline. Founded by Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Jess Jones, JJRT reimagines what it means to heal, grow, and thrive through recreation. Our programs are intentionally designed to empower individuals of all ages and abilities by using leisure as a tool for wellness, connection, and personal discovery.
From one-on-one therapy and creative workshops to community programs, mentorship, and retreats, JJRT is more than a service—it’s a movement. We invite you to experience the transformative power of therapeutic recreation and discover a new way to live fully, freely, and with purpose.
Our Values & Mission
At Jess Jones Recreation Therapy, our mission is to use recreation as a tool for healing, growth, and connection across the lifespan. We create inclusive, meaningful experiences that empower individuals to live with purpose, joy, and authenticity—no matter their age or ability.
Guided by our core values of Connection, Creativity, and Curiosity, we believe that everyone deserves access to leisure that reflects who they are and who they’re becoming.
Our motto, Leisure is Living, reminds us that leisure isn’t a luxury—it’s essential. It’s how we explore identity, build relationships, and experience freedom in our everyday lives.
The JJRT Team Model: A Collaborative Approach to Care
At Jess Jones Recreation Therapy, our team is built on a foundation of collaboration, mentorship, and lived experience. We believe that recreation therapy works best when it’s delivered by a diverse, dynamic, and supported team—each member bringing their own strengths, perspectives, and passions to the table.
Led by a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS)
JJRT is led by Jessie Jones, CTRS, who oversees all programming and services while providing clinical supervision to the team. As a leader, mentor, and speaker, Jessie ensures that every program is grounded in evidence-based recreation therapy and designed with intention.
Team-Based Therapeutic Delivery
Our team includes Recreation Therapy graduates, students, support staff, and professionals from related fields like social work, youth care, and developmental services. Many began with JJRT as placement students and have grown into core roles—creating a culture of continuity, trust, and shared values.
Each team member is trained in the JJRT approach and works collaboratively, often co-facilitating programs and sharing insights to support the best outcomes for clients. This team-based model allows us to offer flexible, inclusive, and relationship-centered care across all ages and abilities.
Lived Experience Matters
We recognize that personal lived experiences—from neurodiversity to cultural identity—are powerful tools in therapeutic connection. Our team brings authenticity and empathy into every session, creating spaces where clients feel seen, understood, and empowered.
At JJRT, you're not just matched with a practitioner—you’re welcomed into a supportive team that’s walking alongside you. Together, we offer a creative, compassionate, and collaborative model of care that reflects the real lives of the people we serve.
Meet Our Team
Get to know the dedicated professionals who bring creativity and expertise to Jess Jones Recreation Therapy.
Jessie Jones, CTRS
Owner & Recreation Therapist
She/Her
Sascha Maurer, DSW, RecTA
Recreation Therapy Assistant
He/Him
Sarah Van Dyk, BSW, RSW
Registered Social Worker & Autism Connections Program Lead
She/Her
Jessie is the Founder and Lead Recreation Therapist at Jess Jones Recreation Therapy (JJRT). A Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, she brings over a decade of experience in using leisure as a powerful tool for healing, growth, and transformation. Jessie leads the JJRT team through clinical Recreation Therapy supervision, ensuring high standards of care, innovation, and integrity in every service offered. Her specialties lie in the expressive arts—particularly music and visual art—which she uses to help individuals connect deeply with themselves and others. Known for her dynamic presence and thought-provoking talks, Jessie is also a passionate speaker and advocate for advancing the field of therapeutic recreation in bold and meaningful ways.
Sascha has been a Recreation Therapist Assistant with JJRT for over three years, beginning as a student at Algonquin College. With a background in Developmental Services and a passion for inclusive, tech-based interventions, Sascha specializes in using games—video games, tabletop role-playing, and board games—as powerful therapeutic tools. He is the creator of a gamified planner designed to support neurodivergent individuals and was awarded first place in a regional pitch competition for this innovation. Sascha brings creativity, compassion, and a deep understanding of accessibility to every JJRT experience he facilitates.
Sarah is JJRT's Registered Social Worker with a deep passion for supporting children, families, and individuals through compassionate, client-centred care. With a Bachelor of Social Work completed in 2004, Sarah brings over two decades of experience rooted in trauma-informed, attachment-based, and equity-driven practices. At JJRT, she works closely with children and families to support emotional regulation, grief and loss, life skills development, and safety—all through the JJRT lens of connection, creativity, and curiosity.
Sarah’s approach is warm, holistic, and deeply attuned to the environments in which people live and grow. Outside of her work, she finds joy in nature, creativity, and family life—spending time gardening, hiking, biking, exploring thrift shops, and listening to vinyl records. Sarah is honoured to walk alongside families at JJRT, helping them navigate challenges and celebrate their strengths with care and confidence.
Ricki Kefalidis, RecTA
Recreation Therapy Assistant
She/Her
Ben Cook, CYC Student
Child & Youth Care Student & Therapeutic Coach
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Adriena Thompson, OT/PT Assistant
Life Enrichment Specialist
She/Her
Ricki is a graduate of the Recreation Therapy program at Mohawk College and a proud member of the JJRT team for over three years. She first joined JJRT as a student and quickly became a valued team member, bringing her creativity, energy, and diverse life experience to every session she leads. With a background in fine arts from Fanshawe College and experience in tattooing, Ricki brings a unique artistic lens to her work, supporting both seniors and youth through meaningful, engaging recreation.
Born and raised in London, Ontario, Ricki is also an avid adventurer with a love for travel, hiking, and fishing. When not working in therapeutic recreation, she operates her own food truck in Nova Scotia—bringing people together through food, fun, and connection. Ricki’s approach is playful, person-centered, and always rooted in the belief that recreation is for everyone.
Ben is a dynamic mentor, facilitator, and multi-passionate creative with a background in team building, training, and youth programming. With experience as a chef, entrepreneur, musician, and writer, he brings a unique perspective to his work—helping individuals discover and harness their hidden strengths through radical acceptance, empathy, and a growth-oriented mindset.
Currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Child and Youth Care program at Humber College, Ben provides mentorship and programming for youth in London and the GTA. His lived experience with ADD has given him deep insight into the challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals, as well as the tools and strategies that support success.
Outside of JJRT, Ben plays drums in the instrumental band Mute Sounds and is developing a strengths-based therapeutic tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) inspired by Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences. He is passionate about making learning, recreation, and personal growth accessible, engaging, and meaningful for all.
Adriena is a graduate of the Occupational and Physiotherapy Assistant program at Algonquin College ('24) with a strong foundation in occupational therapy assisting and developmental services. She brings compassionate, hands-on experience from a variety of settings—including OT and PT clinics, group homes, and in-home care—supporting individuals in reaching their functional and leisure goals.
Adriena is passionate about empowering people to engage in meaningful activities that enhance their quality of life. Her warm, adaptable approach fits seamlessly with JJRT’s values of connection, creativity, and curiosity. Outside of her professional work, Adriena loves spending time with her family, being outdoors, and trying new experiences that spark joy and adventure.
Benji Consiglio
Recreation Therapy Student
They/Them
Benji is a passionate and creative Recreation Therapy student at Mohawk College, soon to be a graduate, who brings a deep commitment to accessibility, inclusion, and joy in leisure. As a gender-diverse, queer, and hard of hearing individual, Benji draws from lived experience to create safe, affirming, and engaging spaces for all. With a background in human biology and evolutionary anthropology, they bring both academic insight and human-centered care to their practice.
Benji’s work experience is as diverse as their passions—ranging from landscaping and culinary instruction to running an allergy-friendly bakery. Whether crafting, connecting over cozy movie nights, or dancing spontaneously in the kitchen, Benji believes in the power of play to support healing, learning, and self-discovery. At JJRT, they are excited to create spaces where people can truly belong, explore, and thrive.
Understanding Recreation Therapy at JJRT
What is Recreation Therapy at JJRT?
At Jess Jones Recreation Therapy (JJRT), Recreation Therapy—also known as Therapeutic Recreation—is a clinical, strengths-based practice that uses leisure as a powerful tool for healing, growth, and transformation.
We support individuals of all ages and abilities through goal-driven, person-centered experiences that are meaningful, inclusive, and rooted in real life. Whether it's through art, music, play, movement, or community engagement, we meet people where they are and help them build the skills, confidence, and joy needed to thrive.
Our team follows the APIED process—Assessment, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation, and Documentation—to ensure every service is tailored, evidence-informed, and focused on outcomes that matter.
We also ground our approach in the RVRE service delivery model:
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Re-Storying – Honoring lived experiences and shaping new narratives
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Vision – Helping clients imagine meaningful futures
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Re-Create – Using leisure to try new roles, routines, and perspectives
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Efficacy – Building confidence and self-belief through success in leisure
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At JJRT, we believe that leisure is more than a break—it’s a catalyst for change.
This is why our motto is:
Leisure is Living.