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.
Seeing Self Through Art: A/r/tography as a Leisure Resource for Self-Expression and Resilience in Recreational Therapy
Session Description
This interactive session introduces a/r/tography—an arts-based, process-focused approach—as a leisure resource for self-expression and identity development in recreational therapy. Drawing from creative inquiry, participants explore how a/r/tographic methods, such as photography and visual journaling, foster emotional resilience, autonomy, and social connection. Blending theory with hands-on application, the session guides attendees through an experiential art activity, reflective analysis, and clinical debriefing strategies. Case examples from pediatric and rehabilitation settings will demonstrate how a/r/tography complements goal-directed RT interventions while promoting holistic well-being. Attendees will leave with practical tools to integrate expressive arts into RT assessments, treatment planning, and leisure education across populations and settings.
Learning Outcomes
Define a/r/tography and describe its relevance as a leisure-based intervention in RT.
Identify at least three health domains positively impacted by a/r/tographic practice.
Facilitate an adapted a/r/tography-based activity to support client self-expression.
Apply a framework to integrate art reflection into RT documentation and goal setting.
Practice Area: Select ALL that Apply
Child and Adolescent
Community
Physical Rehabilitation and Medicine
Research
Schools
Other
Target Audience
New Graduates/New Professionals
Educators/Researchers
Mid-Career Professionals
Seasoned Professionals
Primary Presenter
![[photo]](https://8ca84662c5b8f0cff50d-4baaaf97d63fd7b01243e1b1c57f0cc1.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/3074/profile_d282687757c7039082e54d9189238317.png "Christina J Coleman, PhD, CTRS, Arizona State University")
Christina J Coleman, PhD, CTRS, Arizona State University
Biographical Information
Dr. Christina J. Coleman is an Assistant Research Professor and Postdoctoral Fellow at Arizona State University, specializing in leisure across the lifespan, inclusive recreational therapy practices, and arts-based inquiry. With over 15 years of experience in mental health, disability, and community-based RT, Dr. Coleman’s work bridges creative expression, identity development, and therapeutic recreation to advance holistic well-being for individuals across health and rehabilitation settings.
She holds a PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences with a focus on mindfulness-based interventions for individuals with disabilities and their families, and her current research investigates the role of built environments, leisure, and self-expression in promoting psychosocial health. Her scholarship integrates participatory and arts-based methods—including photovoice, visual journaling, and a/r/tography—to center lived experiences and promote person-directed care.
A passionate educator and advocate, Dr. Coleman has facilitated expressive arts-based leisure interventions with children, adolescents, and families navigating traumatic injuries, life transitions, and chronic illness. Her approach blends narrative therapy, self-determination theory, and the Leisure and Well-Being Model to foster resilience, autonomy, and self-discovery.
In this session, Dr. Coleman brings together her clinical, research, and lived experiences to introduce a/r/tography as an innovative, adaptable tool for enhancing self-expression in RT practice. Attendees will gain practical strategies and creative tools to immediately apply within their own therapeutic settings.