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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.
Quantifying Experience: Psychometric Properties of the EIS–Guttman Scale
Session Description
This study introduces the Experience Impact Scale (EIS)–Guttman version as a practical, psychometrically supported tool for measuring the impact of intentionally designed experiences in recreational therapy. Findings from a study with para-collegiate student-athletes demonstrate strong validity, unidimensionality, and cumulative structure, supporting its use in both research and practice. The scale offers a structured, quantifiable approach that aligns with recreational therapy practice and enhances the evaluation of therapeutic experiences and outcomes.
Learning Outcomes
After this session, participants will be able to describe the purpose and structure of the Experience Impact Scale (EIS)–Guttman version. After this session, participants will be able to interpret key psychometric findings (e.g., coefficients of reproducibility and scalability) to evaluate the validity and utility of the EIS–Guttman scale. After this session, participants will be able to apply the EIS–Guttman scale within their recreational therapy practice by identifying at least one intervention that would benefit from measurement of the intervention's participant impact.
Practice Area: Select ALL that Apply
Research
Target Audience
New Graduates/New Professionals
Educators/Researchers
Mid-Career Professionals
Seasoned Professionals
Primary Presenter
![[photo]](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/2dab7e5d185171ce72c4189ed7631114.png?d=https://proposalspace.com/images/no_photo.png&r=PG&s=50 "Derek Whaley, University of North Carolina Wilmington")
Derek Whaley, University of North Carolina Wilmington
Biographical Information
Dr. Derek Whaley is an assistant professor of Recreational Therapy at The University of North Carolina Wilmington. As a CTRS Derek practiced recreational therapy, primarily in behavioral health with youth and adults, for 10 years in a number of different states (i.e., North Carolina, Montano, Wyoming, Alaska, and Michigan). Derek has specialty in presenting on interactive topics including adventure therapy and adaptive sports topics. Additionally, Derek has been educating recreational therapy students for over 7 years at three institutions.