2025 ATRA Annual Conference – Session Descriptions
October 18–20, 2025 | San Antonio, TX
The following is the Session Descriptions for the 2025 ATRA Annual Conference in San Antonio, TX. All sessions, times, and presenter information have been confirmed, though final adjustments may occur due to unforeseen circumstances onsite.
For a visual Calendar view, please visit: Schedule at a Glance
For information on our Bonus Day at Morgan's Sports on Friday October 17th, please visit: ATRA San Antonio Bonus Day: Morgan's Sports
Continuing Education (CEUs):
NCTRC approval is currently pending. Please check back for updates prior to the conference.
Note: Poster presentations may be eligible for CEUs in 2025. Final determinations will be reflected once CEU approvals are finalized.
For questions related to specialty certification areas, please refer to the PDF version of the program for designation icons and CEU-eligible sessions.
Code of Conduct:
All attendees, speakers, exhibitors, and guests are expected to uphold the ATRA Conference Code of Conduct.
To review the Code, view it here.
Note on Non-ATRA Activities:
Please note that any events or activities not listed in the official ATRA San Antonio program are independently organized and not affiliated or sponsored by ATRA. ATRA is not responsible for independently coordinated events, meetups or activities not articulated in this program. Individuals interested in non-ATRA sponsored activities should contact their respective organizations directly for details.
From Concept to Reality: Implementable solutions for incorporating EBP into your practice area
Session Description
In this session, participants will engage in a dynamic discussion related to the three pillars of evidence-based practice (EBP): best research evidence, clinical expertise, and stakeholder values and beliefs. Strategies for utilizing EBP and knowledge translation including the Knowledge to Action Framework, PDSA Cycles, and the 5 “As” will be reviewed and discussed. Participants will learn how Nationwide Children’s Hospital has developed an evidence-based practice and research program with tangible strategies that can be incorporated in other places of practice. The session will engage participants in a discussion of EBP related strategies and will create an action plan for increasing participation and utilization of EBP and knowledge translation in one’s practice.
Learning Outcomes
1. By the end of the session, participants will be able to identify the three pillars of evidence-based practice and how they can be considered in Therapeutic Recreation.
2. By the end of the session, participants will be able to identify a minimum of two strategies for translating evidence into practice.
3. By the end of the session, participants will create an action plan with steps to increase participation in EBP in the workplace.
Practice Area: Select ALL that Apply
All
Target Audience
Educators/Researchers
Mid-Career Professionals
Seasoned Professionals
Primary Presenter
![[photo]](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3fbd9f8da571c8bd408c9f79afca4806.png?d=https://proposalspace.com/images/no_photo.png&r=PG&s=50 "Mrs. Valerie Lazzara Mould, M.A, CTRS- Specialization in Behavioral Health, Nationwide Children's Hospital")
Mrs. Valerie Lazzara Mould, M.A, CTRS- Specialization in Behavioral Health, Nationwide Children's Hospital
Biographical Information
Valerie Lazzara Mould, MA, CTRS is a graduate of the University of Toledo with both a Bachelor of Science in Recreational Therapy (2007) and a Master of Art in Recreation Administration (2008) and has been a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist since January 2018. She received her specialization in Behavioral Health in June 2023. She began her career working in both inpatient physical rehabilitation and geriatric psychiatry and has worked with pediatric psychiatry since 2012. She is currently employed full-time at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. There, she serves as a therapist on the Youth Crisis Stabilization Unit and as the Evidence-Based Practice Coordinator for both the behavioral health team including Therapeutic Recreation, Occupational Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology, and inpatient acute TR teams. Additionally, Valerie is an instructor for SMART CEUs Hub and serves as the SMART CEUs Hub marketing manager. She was also a contributor to the revised edition of the "12 Steps to Sober Leisure" workbook. Valerie is a member of the Ohio Recreational Therapy Association where she served on the board from 2017-2022 and is currently on two committees. Valerie received the Outstanding Professional award from ATRA in 2021. She has given many presentations over the years on topics such as mindfulness, family leisure participation, behavioral health programming at NCH, marketing TR, behavioral activation, and Dialectic Behavioral Therapy.