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ATRA SoCal : 2026 Session Description
October 17–19, 2026
The Embassy Suites, Brea, California
2026 ATRA Annual Conference – Session Descriptions
October 17–19, 2026 | Brea, CA
The following session descriptions represent the planned educational program for the 2026 ATRA Annual Conference in Brea, CA. While every effort has been made to provide accurate information, session content, presenters, schedules, and locations remain subject to change.
For a visual Calendar view, please visit: Schedule at a Glance
Continuing Education (CEUs):
NCTRC pre-approval is pending for all sessions for CEUs.
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 SoCal 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.
RT as Social Connection Engine: The Role of Mattering
Session Description
There is ample evidence of the increasing social disconnection we are experiencing across our societies. Beginning with the US Surgeon General’s Advisory in May 2023, multiple indicators have been published demonstrating a decline in social connection, companionship, time spent with friends, and social participation. While these indicators focus on the general public, people living with significant health conditions experience considerably higher rates of loneliness and disconnection. Recreational therapy is uniquely positioned to build social connections among the people we serve. One avenue to build social connections that enhance well-being and reduce loneliness is through the construct of mattering. Mattering is built through social connections that convey as sense of being valued, but also must offer opportunities for adding value. This session will identify the role of mattering in building social connection to reduce loneliness as well as identify approaches recreational therapists can use to build connections that matter.
Learning Outcomes
1. Be able to identify the scope of loneliness among people living with different health conditions 2. Be able to state the three aspects of psychological mattering 3. Be able to identify at least one strategy for enhancing a sense of being valued 4. Be able to identify at least one strategy for enhancing opportunities to add value
Practice Area: Select ALL that Apply
All
Target Audience
New Graduates/New Professionals
Educators/Researchers
Mid-Career Professionals
Seasoned Professionals
Primary Presenter
![[photo]](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f588a8ff15b807fa02af7e9f8b0ca209.png?d=https://proposalspace.com/images/no_photo.png&r=PG&s=50 "Bryan McCormick, PhD, Temple University")
Bryan McCormick, PhD, Temple University
Biographical Information
Bryan P. McCormick, PhD, CTRS is a scholar, and educator in the fields of recreational therapy, public health, and rehabilitation sciences. He currently serves as Professor in the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at Temple University, where he teaches graduate courses, mentors students, and leads externally funded research initiatives. With an academic career spanning more than three decades, his work contributes to understanding how leisure, physical activity, and community participation improve health and quality of life, particularly for individuals with disabilities and serious mental illness. Before joining Temple University in 2017, he spent more than twenty years at Indiana University, where he held multiple leadership roles including Professor, Department Chair, Associate Chair for Research and Graduate Education, and Interim Chair of Environmental Health. Dr. McCormick has authored or co-authored numerous books, over 100 refereed journal articles, and dozens of book chapters and technical reports. His scholarship has addressed topics such as loneliness, mental health recovery, physical activity, disability inclusion, and therapeutic recreation practice.