Recreational Therapy Member Eric Butera

Eric Butera knows how important therapy is for veterans. There are many different areas of therapy. Some therapies specialize in physical recover, other in mental. Eric Butera is a follower and advocate of recreational therapy. Many of the positives Eric Butera sees in recreational therapy come from his own personal enjoyment for physical activity and playing sports.

Beginning in 2010, Eric Butera joined the Utah Recreation Therapy Association. For three years, Eric Butera has advocated, volunteered, and studied the field. He is also a three year member of the National Recreation and Parks Association. As a member of the NRPA, Eric Butera supports the preservation and conservation of parks for recreation.

Eric Butera strongly advocates for parks because in his personal time he mountain bikes, skis, camps, and hikes. He believes physical recreation is important in five different areas. Through recreational sports and recreational therapy, a person's well-being is promoted psychologically, physically, socially, spiritually, and cognitively. 

In his three year membership with the Utah Recreation Therapy Association, Eric Butera has worked with many disabled veterans who want to enjoy sports despite their missing limbs. Recreational therapy is important to Eric Butera because it builds self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-worth.

Recreational therapy is so important to Eric Butera that it drives his academic studies. While taking courses, he participated in a membership at the George E. Wahlen Veteran Medical Center. During the internship, Eric Butera was selected to participate with a rope course in Grass Valley, California. During the summer of 2012, at Kissler Ranch, Eric Butera received training towards small and large therapy groups. During the rope course, he concentrates on building self-confidence and the safety procedures with rope climbing. The whole purpose of the internship and the area of recreational activity is to build the self-confidence of veterans.

Sports Performed by Eric Butera

Eric Butera is accustomed to a high active lifestyle. As a soldier, he held strong to a rigorous routine to maintain physical perfection. While basic training may  not be enjoyable, there are many other ways people can stay physically fit. Eric Butera is one of many who perform recreational sports for enjoyment and exercise. 

At the top of Eric Butera's list of sports is biking and skiing. In particular, he enjoys mountain biking. Being outdoors is a great way to bring peace and tranquility to a busy and stressed mind. Even exercise has been shown to relieve stress. Eric Butera, decides to combine the best of both worlds. When the weather is nice, he mountain bikes; when the weather is cold, he bundles up and skis.

Even though he frequently enjoys biking, there are other sports Eric Butera regularly performs too. His two other favorite sports are camping and hiking. In both cases, it allows Eric Butera to get out of the house and enjoy some fresh air outside of the city. Eric Butera enjoys these recreation sports so much he decided to turn it into a career path. 

Eric Butera is preparing to finish his bachelor's degree in recreation therapy from the University of Utah. He is scheduled to finish his degree fall of 2013. On top of a degree focused on recreation, Eric Butera advocates and volunteers for veterans recreational therapy. As a volunteer at the George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Eric Butera assists disabled veterans in wrestling, soccer, and volleyball. 

Eric Butera loves sports. It is his hope to help disabled veterans to enjoy sports despite their missing limbs. He strongly advocates for recreational therapy to increase the psychological, physical, social, spiritual, and cognitive needs of individuals and veterans. Eric Butera encourages everyone, veteran or not, to find a sport you love and stick with it for all areas of mental and physical health. 

First Aid Certification Held by Eric Butera

No doubt emergency preparedness is important. It seems every year, weather related destruction escalates. Not only do people lose their valuable and sentimental items but in the worst cases, loved ones. When emergency medical attention is needed, it may be difficult to wait for first responders. If someone nearby has medical training, it greatly increases a person's survival rate. 

For the quick response to medical situations, Eric Butera was trained by the United States Army as a Medical Specialist. He was awarded his diploma for the course from the Academy of Health Sciences at Fort Sam in Houston, Texas in March of 2000. As a soldier, Eric Butera and other soldiers were responsible for looking out for each other and providing medical assistance as soon as efficiently as possible. 

When Eric Butera was honorably discharged from the United States Army in 2007, he waited a few years before continuing medical training as a civilian. It was in 2012, that he completed the knowledge and skill evaluation for the Emergency Care and Safety Institute course. Eric Butera was awarded and named a Health Care Provider. He became certified in CPR and AED (automated external defibrillator) and advanced first aid. He completed his certification in March of 2012.

As a soldier, Eric Butera learned the importance of first aid. It was a lesson that carried over with him even when he assimilated back into civilian society. Including first aid, Eric Butera decided to help others by becoming knowledgeable in recreation therapy. His recreational therapy is directed towards disabled veterans at the George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

As a soldier and civilian, Eric Butera knows first aid is important. He encourages everyone to become CPR certified. The knowledge to save a life is important both in and outside the army.

Eric Butera Is Prepared to Lead Others

Many people value a person with leadership skills. That makes leadership one of the main skills people work to develop while others may find it comes naturally. Eric Butera, as a former U.S. soldier, received some of the world's best training to bring out his natural leadership skills. He understands there are many ways to demonstrate leadership.

Eric Butera's time in the United States Army began in 1999. It was in 2002, that he decided to develop his leadership skills through the army. While located in Washington, Eric Butera took the Primary Leadership Course conducted by the United States Army Noncommissioned Officer Academy at Fort Lewis. In June 2002, after the completion of all the courses, Eric Butera graduated the program and received his diploma.

While taking a leadership course is one way to demonstrate a willingness to lead others, it doesn't speak as loudly as actions. Through his years of service, Eric Butera took it upon himself to develop a number of additional skills. He continued his education with other courses including an Associate of Science degree from Salt Lake Community College.  Eric Butera also took a basic course in administration and for motor vehicle operation.

The administration course prepared Eric Butera for office work should it ever be a field he pursued. Right before his discharge from the army in 2007, Eric Butera earned his certificate for professional truck driving from Salt Lake Community College. Each of these skills built upon the skills already developed by Eric Butera throughout his military service.

Perhaps the greatest testament to Eric Butera's leadership skill is his volunteer work. While volunteering may not make everyone a leader, Eric Butera works hard to help disabled veterans at the George E. Wahlen Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center. He is a strong advocate for group therapy to develop veteran's self-worth and self-esteem. He works now to earn a degree for recreation with an emphasis on therapy.

Eric Butera: University of Utah Intern

Earning a college degree isn't limited to young adults fresh out of high school. People of all ages are returning to college or university to continue their education to advance their careers. This is no different for retired army soldier, Eric Butera. During his service, Eric Butera took many courses to increase his knowledge and skill set but he is taking his post-service years in a new direction.

As a soldier, Eric Butera was introduced to the stress and trauma that affect war weary soldiers. As horrible as the results of war can be, the post-war years can be just as difficult. There are many veterans who relive the horror of war repeatedly in their waking hours and in their sleep. Regrets can hinder their moving forward upon returning to a civilian lifestyle.

Eric Butera opted to participate in an internship at the George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. As someone with medical training and a soldier who can sympathize, Eric Butera knew that working with others to overcome troubles with therapy was something he could do and support.

The internship called "small internship" led Eric Butera to perform physical actions such as rock climbing. The rock climbing was one method the medical center used to help rebuild a soldier's feelings of self-worth and self-esteem. Eric Butera was also selected for a rope course in 2012. The course was designed to build self-confidence and self-worth while learning how to safely climb with rope.

The internship helped Eric Butera realize a direction for the future. He became a strong advocate for therapy and sports was a great way to improve a person's perception about themselves. Now, Eric Butera continues to work with veterans at the medical center. He is a regular volunteer to assist disabled Veterans. He assists in sports such as wrestling, soccer, and volleyball.