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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 is the Session Descriptions for the 2026 ATRA Annual Conference in Brea, CA. 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 On Demand Conference offerings, please visit: ATRA SoCal On Demand

Continuing Education (CEUs):
NCTRC pre-approval is pending fr all sessions for CEUs.

Once the program is pre-approved; 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 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.

[no title]

Saturday, October 17, 2026 at 11:45 AM–12:45 PM PDT
Randolph
Session Description

An estimated 21% of children aged 0-17 experience at least one Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) (Children’s Safety Network, 2024). This session will support participants in further exploring ACEs and childhood trauma, with an emphasis on how early adversity influences a child’s social-emotional development, regulation, and participation in play and leisure. Participants will examine the role of Therapeutic Recreation in supporting pediatric patients with developmental trauma, including the use of trauma-informed, strength-based and developmentally appropriate recreation and leisure interventions to mitigate the impacts of trauma experiences and support best outcomes. The session will review key assessment considerations relevant to TR practice, assisting in intervention planning with a child’s developmental stage, emotional needs, participation goals, and caregiver education. Case examples will demonstrate how TR interventions can be tailored to meet the needs of children with developmental trauma, leveraging play and leisure to support health and wellbeing, connection and resilience across home, school, and community environments.

Learning Outcomes

1. Review key components of ACEs and childhood trauma and describe at least two ways how early adversity can influence a child’s development. 2. Describe the role of Therapeutic Recreation in supporting patients with developmental trauma across the lifespan. 3. Review at least three care planning considerations as it relates to TR behavioral health practice, demonstrating how a child’s developmental stage informs assessment and intervention planning.

Practice Area: Select ALL that Apply
Behavioral Health
Child and Adolescent
Target Audience
Students
New Graduates/New Professionals
Educators/Researchers
Mid-Career Professionals
Seasoned Professionals

Primary Presenter

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Jamie Sympson, Nationwide Children's Hospital
Biographical Information

Jamie Sympson is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist and Clinical Leader within Clinical Therapies Behavioral Health at Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH), with nearly a decade of experience supporting children, adolescents, and caregivers across complex behavioral health and pain care settings. A graduate of the University of Toledo, Jamie holds a bachelor’s degree in Recreational Therapy and earned a Behavioral Health specialization designation through NCTRC in 2021. Jamie has worked at NCH since 2017 and her work has consistently centered on trauma‑informed and developmentally responsive care. In addition to providing direct Therapeutic Recreation patient care, Jamie provides leadership and direct supervision to Speech‑Language Pathology and Therapeutic Recreation team members across inpatient pediatric behavioral health units, the Child and Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Program, and the Intensive Pain Rehabilitation and Education Program. Jamie is an active member of both the Ohio Recreation Therapy Association and the American Therapeutic Recreation Association.

Co-Presenter/Panelists

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Megan McKim, Nationwide Children's Hospital
Credentials

MOT, OTR/L

Biographical Information

Megan McKim is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences with a minor in Disability Studies and a Master’s degree of Occupational Therapy with a specialization in Pediatrics. Megan currently serves as the Program Manager for Clinical Therapies Behavioral Health and Therapeutic Recreation at Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) in Columbus, OH. Megan has experience providing clinical care across a variety of different settings in pediatrics, including in inpatient psychiatry, crisis care, chronic pain day treatment, disordered eating partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient, acute care, and rehabilitation. Megan is an affiliate member of the Ohio Recreational Therapy Association (ORTA) and the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) as well as the recent recipient of ATRA’s Individual Citation Award (2025). Megan is passionate about a variety of topics specific to pediatric healthcare and development of the healthcare professional. She has enjoyed presenting on subject areas such as trauma-informed care, patient access and health equity, patient and provider safety, leadership development, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

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