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CTRA 2024 Virtual Conference Schedule

Please note: times are in EST

CTRA 2024 Virtual Conference Schedule

Please note: times are in EST

CTRA 2024 Virtual Conference Schedule

Please note: times are in EST

BONUS FULL DAY SESSION FOR ALL DELEGATES!

July 10th, 2024

10am - 5pm EST

All CTRA 2024 Conference Delegates will automatically be registered for this full day session and have access to the recording until July 14th!

Navigating Uncertainty: Effective Strategies for Supporting Change and Building Resilience

Navigating Uncertainty: Effective Strategies for Supporting Change and Building Resilience

Session Description + Information

Morning Session: "Challenges to Change" with Dr. Colleen Hood

Led by Dr. Hood and complemented by Dr. Cripps, your day begins with exploring the intricate dynamics of change within recreation therapy practice. Dr. Hood will guide you through the complexities of navigating change and share practical strategies to overcome challenges that may arise. In this session, you will gain invaluable insights into overcoming obstacles and motivating transformative shifts in your practice.

Afternoon Session: "Resilience in the Face of Challenge" with Dr. Lauren Cripps

Led by Dr. Cripps and complemented by Dr. Hood, your afternoon will unlock the transformative power of resilience for you and your clients. Dr. Cripps will empower you and your clients in the face of life's challenges, guiding you through evidence-informed approaches tailored to foster resilience in your therapeutic journey.

CONFERENCE SESSION DESCRIPTIONS

Exploring Technologies for Cognitive Enhancement and Independence (0.05 CEUs)

PRESENTED BY: Orquidea Tamayo Mortera

New technologies can enhance the wellbeing of seniors by empowering them to have more control over their own care and support experience. Using innovative technology that has the potential to improve cognitive skills and help people live longer and healthier lives. Summerset’s innovative approach to care means looking at solutions that provide our people with meaningful moments and purposeful engagement. For the last four years we have been introducing a suite of technology that has enhanced our teams to better support the people in our care. Our technology hub is available to all our residents, and include, Inmus, Virtual Reality, Tovertafel and MultiBall.

Little research is completed around Recreation Therapy (RT) and chronic pain in pediatric patients, thus leading to a lack of education around the population and interventions for therapeutic recreation practitioners. This presentation will introduce the practitioner to Chronic Pain Services at the Childrens Hospital of Easten Ontario (CHEO) and how they implemented a Recreation Therapist into their outpatient clinic. This will include barriers and best practices from the therapist.

This session will describe the findings of a research study conducted in Southern Alberta, that examined the experiences of 12 adults with Substance Use Disorder (SUD), Mental Health (MH), and homelessness issues. Participants in the study engaged in a variety of evidence-based practice (EBP) TR led activities involving complementary integrative health (CIH), adventure team building, and creative arts combined with a 12-step faith-based recovery meeting.

The Living Before Dying project was an idea that morphed into a modest pilot project at St. Joe’s Auxiliary Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta. The new enhanced role of long-term care volunteers envisioned by the project initiators held the promise of transformational change. An important part of the pilot project evolved during the COVID 19 crisis, the project team did succeed in validating the project’s vision and the assumptions laid out at the outset in order to show that by recruiting and training volunteers that fit a particular profile and involving them in a constructive partnership with staff, long-term care service providers will be better able to respond to the needs of clients. This project offers an innovative approach to effect change through the profiling, recruitment and training of volunteers and yielded several valuable deliverables that will be shared with other sites interested in establishing a similar program.

Designing Success: A Blueprint for Excellence in Recreation Therapy Service Delivery

(0.1 CEUs)

PRESENTED BY: Jenna Johnstone

This session is intended for those who are creating a new recreation therapy department from the ground up, moving to a facility without policies, or having been in the department for years and needing direction! The development of a comprehensive program plan is regarded as one of the most important tasks for a recreation therapist (Stumbo & Peterson, 2009). A strong recreation therapy department requires a blueprint that explains the needs, goals, structure, and best practices to support decision-making for service delivery. The goal and benefits of creating a comprehensive program plan will be discussed in this session, along with the essential elements of a CPP. Resources and examples will be provided to assist you in designing success for your department.

Exploring Therapeutic Nature-Based Programs for Individuals Who Have Experienced Trauma (0.05)

PRESENTED BY: Ashlyn Stevens, Son Truong

Nature-based recreation and leisure programs have been found to be helpful for supporting mental health and wellbeing and are increasingly being used in therapeutic contexts. This presentation will provide a description of a scoping review which examined the use of therapeutic nature-based programs for individuals who experienced trauma. Results from the review included three overarching themes: nature experiences providing opportunities for respite and reprieve from trauma symptoms; building and improving connections and relationships to others; and supporting the development of positive intrapersonal outcomes. Findings from this review can help TR practitioners to better understand the role and use of therapeutic nature-based programs, as well as support the development, implementation, and evaluation of therapeutic nature-based programs for individuals who have experienced trauma.

Delivering Dynamic Senior Fitness Sessions (0.1 CEUs)

PRESENTED BY: Emily Johnson

As a Recreation Therapist, you help people to be their best selves and engage across multiple domains of wellness. In this session, you’ll learn how to design and implement quality and dynamic senior fitness sessions that also engage your group intellectually, socially, emotionally, vocationally, and spiritually. You’ll leave this session with a dynamic program design system, new cardio, strength, and flexibility routines that you can use Monday morning, and gain access to a full 30-minute class to learn and teach following the session.

A Logotherapy Meaning-Centered Approach to Therapeutic Recreation Practice (0.1 CEUs)

PRESENTED BY: Rodney Dieser

This paper presents a four-step logotherapy meaning-centered approach to therapeutic recreation rooted in Frankl’s theory of logotherapy and his centrifugal and centripetal leisure dichotomy. Although meaning-centered interventions have been outlined in therapeutic recreation that draw on positive psychology, this model is uniquely grounded in existentialism and logotherapy. In following the TR process, therapeutic recreation application begins with an assessment focused on understanding the client’s values and meaning potentials (past, current, or future) and then linking leisure as a way to discover or experience meaning. Primary intervention strategies are search for meaning and Socratic and maieutic dialog, linked to leisure interest finders, to help clients experience centripetal leisure. In particular, therapeutic recreation professionals should use their knowledge in accessibility, accommodations, and adaptations to help clients work through leisure barriers to help clients experience logos through leisure.

Integrating Plants & Nature Into your Therapeutic Approach (0.1 CEUs)

PRESENTED BY: Alexis Ashworth

Discover the healing power of therapeutic horticulture in this session by Root in Nature. This practice, rooted in evidence-based research, harnesses the healing power of plant-human engagement to enhance our well-being. The benefits are many, from reducing stress and anxiety, supporting cardiovascular health, preserving mental health, to increasing social connections and fostering a sense of purpose. It can also aid in developing positive coping strategies and boosts Vitamin D absorption. In this session, we'll delve into these benefits and guide you on integrating plants and nature into your therapeutic approach. We'll also share valuable resources and training opportunities tailored for Recreational Therapists.

A 12 week Evidenced based mindfulness ambassador program adapted for individuals with acquired brain injuries, both in person and virtually, to provide tools and resources to support social and emotional learning through mindfulness practices.

Navigating Professional Boundaries: A TR Perspective (0.1 CEUs)

PRESENTED BY: Jennifer Affolder, Uyen Huynh

Boundaries play a vital role in enabling practitioners to maintain professionalism while fostering a strong therapeutic alliance with their clients. Navigating the subtle nuances between these two relationships can be a challenging process, for both novice practitioners and those with years of experiences still encountering unique circumstances within our profession. This presentation aims to unpack some of these nuances and challenges, offering findings and practical recommendations for effectively managing boundary setting in the field of TR. We will end with a collaborative discussion of mentorship opportunities and potential curriculum updates.

By recognizing the power of words and their potential to either reinforce or challenge oppressive attitudes, recreation therapists can contribute to the creation of inclusive and empowering spaces for people supported, ultimately improving outcomes for individuals from diverse backgrounds. This presentation will provide an overview of the principles of cultural safety and trauma-informed care and delve into the importance of language in shaping therapeutic relationships and fostering a sense of safety and trust. By adopting culturally safe and trauma-informed language, recreation therapists can enhance their ability to connect with clients, validate their experiences, and promote healing and resilience. The discussion will focus on the intersectionality of culturally safe practice and trauma-informed care; strategies for incorporating culturally safe and trauma-informed language into everyday practice to create a more holistic and effective therapeutic environment. The session will also address the challenges and potential barriers that recreation therapists may encounter when implementing these language practices.

Transgender Recreation Experiences in the Lower Mainland (0.1 CEUs)

PRESENTED BY: Anna Parrish

In recent years, awareness of the need for recreation policies supporting the inclusion of the transgender community has become more prevalent in Canada. Inside and outside of recreation, the transgender community continues to experience discrimination, layered forms of stigma, and violence that have a significant impact on self-esteem, mental health, social location, and ability to feel safe moving through society. The primary aim of this study was to determine what internal and external factors contribute to increased recreation engagement in the transgender community in the Lower Mainland. The findings illustrate information that is relevant to the field of therapeutic recreation and TRP's understandings of how to support individuals from the transgender community.

While recreation therapists recognize the importance of utilizing a strengths-based approach in the assessment process, the integration of strengths-based assessment tools presents certain challenges. Practitioners often rely on tools that emphasize identifying clients' challenges rather than their strengths. This presentation seeks to address these challenges by illustrating the practical application of a strengths-based approach in assessment and evaluation within the field of therapeutic recreation. The presentation will feature two case studies—one from an inpatient concurrent youth unit and the other from a community-based private practice setting. These case studies will not only spotlight diverse strengths-based assessment approaches, such as motivational interviewing techniques, but also showcase various tools, including standardized assessment instruments (e.g., the Modified Differential Emotion Scale). The presentation aims to facilitate a dialogue with the audience, delving into both the potential benefits and challenges associated with adopting a strengths-based perspective in different settings.

Quantitative Effects of QIGONG on Mood for Adult Inpatient Mental Health: A Pilot Study Primary (0.1 CEUs)

PRESENTED BY: Valerie Alexander

This pilot study will supply the existing qigong literature with additional information on it's therapeutic ability- specifically on mood.

This study will also show how qigong can (or cannot) act as a suitable form of recreational therapy (RT) and perhaps be used as a reference point for other RT programs. Additionally, qigong's effects on the psychiatric inpatient population will be assessed which has not been done before

Utilizing an Ethical Decision Making Framework in the Community (0.1 CEUs)

PRESENTED BY: Jenn Kidd, Kathy Sulman

A formal ethical decision making process that supports staff to make ethical decisions in the work they do with clients in the community.

Do you feel overwhelmed and close to burnout in your role as a recreation therapist? Come to this session to learn about our silent enemy, compassion fatigue. During our time together, you will have the opportunity to evaluate your own level of compassion fatigue and how to manage and/or avoid it within your own practice. You will leave this session equipped with self-care strategies for recreational therapists to help protect yourself against this emotional exhaustion experienced in our line of work.

Exploring Therapeutic Recreation Practitioners’ Perspectives on Safety and Risk Management in Nature-Based Programming in Nova Scotia (0.05 CEUs)

PRESENTED BY: Annalisa Consalvo, Son Truong, Kimberley Woodford

Nature-based therapeutic recreation (NBTR) modalities have the potential to enhance health and wellbeing. This session will be an exploration of the safety and risk management factors involved in NBTR programming centered on the experiences of Nova Scotian recreation therapy practitioners. This presentation is based on the findings from a qualitative study conducted to examine perspectives of the breadth and impact of NBTR in NS. Participants included 13 TR practitioners who are utilizing NBTR across various TR settings. In focusing on their experiences and perspectives with risk management in the natural world, the presenter will explore the considerations, best practices and challenges within NBTR with a thoughtful analysis on how to advance efforts in advocacy and awareness to better manage risk and safety. This research presentation will highlight participants’ experiences of identifying and managing safety and risk management, and practical implications for future programming in NBTR.

Ways to Master Your Professional Practice Without a Practice Leader (0.15 CEUs)

PRESENTED BY: Jenna Johnstone

Not all recreation therapists and assistants have access to a clinical supervisor or professional practice leader. This session aims to empower professionals to excel in their practice even in the absence of a direct leader. We will go over how to assess and evaluate your systems including habits and routines in your practice, share tools such as competency and professional practice check lists, and engage in self-reflective prompts to help you thrive in your respective role to make a positive impact for those you serve.

Cross-cultural competence has increased in applied professions, including occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychiatry, mental health counseling, and social work. Despite three decades of research and scholarship advocating the need for cross-cultural competence in TR/RT, it remains lacking. This paper is a call for the profession to do better. Based on (1) learning how American Counseling Association and the National Board of Certified Counselors have positioned cross-cultural awareness, knowledge, and skills as core competence in national and international practice, (2) examining cross-cultural research and scholarship in TR/RT, and (3) drawing from American Therpautic Recreation Assocation's s Higher Education Committee Task Force, this paper suggests specific recommendations to develop cross-cultural competence in TR/RT.

An Interprofessional Education International Abroad Event Involving Therapeutic Recreation Students (0.1 CEUs)

PRESENTED BY: Linda Martin

The involvement of Therapeutic Recreation students in an interprofessional, international study abroad opportunity in Africa with Health Sciences and Nursing students from Saskatchewan Polytechnic and the College of the Rockies. Students from the two colleges put their knowledge and skills into practice in Kenya Africa in May 2023. The experience combined an international study abroad opportunity with an interprofessional element to provide Kenyan residents with well-rounded holistic health services, this took place in collaboration with Kenya students at Dedan Kimathi University in Nyeri, Kenya. The students worked for three months prior to their travel to better understand the needs of the communities and plan for the services they would offer while in Kenya. The international interprofessional group supported outreach projects in Nyeri, Kenya including providing health services to school children, a Teen Rescue Centre, tour of a crisis nursery and public hospital and hosting a community Health Week event.

We know that recreation therapists need to be strong players on the interprofessional health care team, but how are we preparing them for a career of role clarification, relationship-building, and advocacy as they form their own identities as recreation therapists? Bev Suntjens’ thesis explored how a TR instructor’s clinical and educational experiences contribute to their own development as an interprofessional education (IPE) health educator in a community college. In this session, we will explore themes and gaps of current IPE and TR literature, and the results of an arts-based study that formed a set of recommendations for preparing students for interprofessional practice, that may evolve into a future of transdisciplinary care.

Findings From a Leisure Education Program for Autistic Individuals (0.1 CEUs)

PRESENTED BY: Samantha Lima, Mark Comfort

This session will go over the current findings of a new and innovative Leisure Ed program for autistic youth and adults, co-developed by CTRS Mark Comfort (Canucks Autism Network) and Therapeutic Recreation student Sam Lima (Douglas College), based in Metro Vancouver. Foundational knowledge including common barriers faced by autistic participants in accessing community leisure and specific supports that have been successful for participants along with the value of higher education and service provider collaboration in building capacity for Therapeutic Recreation students will be the focus of this session. This presentation will be based on findings from the first three cohorts of the program which was first implemented in April of 2023.

NCTRC Recertification and Specialization Area Designation: Continuing Professional Competence (0.1 CEUs)

PRESENTED BY: Susan Kaufer

This session provides an in-depth coverage of recertification standards and requirements for the areas of specialization. Continuing education, professional experience, and re-examination will be described in detail. Utilization of the 2021 NCTRC National Job Analysis Study in relation to recertification requirements will be discussed.

NCTRC Recertification and Specialization Area Designation: Continuing Professional Competence (0.1 CEUs)

PRESENTED BY:

CARTE Overview and Site Visitor Training (0.15 CEUs)

PRESENTED BY: Jared Allsop, Tim Passmore

This session is designed to orient recreational therapy practitioners and educators to accreditation under the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Committee on Accreditation of Recreational Therapy Education (CARTE). Participants will receive a general overview of the importance of academic accreditation and the history of CAAHEP-CARTE. They will be introduced to the specific standards and guidelines that are utilized to evaluate recreational therapy programs and the procedures academic programs follow when seeking and maintaining accreditation. The second half of the session will focus on practical application of CARTE procedures for evaluating programs. Emphasis will be placed on the site visit and the role of the site visitors. Interested participants will gain knowledge and resources needed to apply to be an accreditation site visitor for CAAHEP/CARTE.