ATRA SoCal : 2026 Session Description

Lauren Bade MTRS, CTRS is a passionate Recreational Therapist who recently earned her Master's degree in Recreational Therapy from the University of Utah. Throughout her 5 years of experience as a CTRS, she has worked with older adults, veterans, and individuals with IDD/DD. Lauren brings a research-informed perspective to her work and is committed to advancing the field through innovation, compassion, and person-centered care. Her work as an MTRS Consultant with Rec Therapy Solutions enables her to support and advocate for recreational therapists in skilled nursing facilities across Utah. Lauren also works as the Camp Coordinator at the Huntsman Mental Health Institute in Salt Lake City, where she provides outpatient RT services to autistic children and their families. In her spare time, Lauren likes to practice what she preaches by hosting a monthly book club, quilting, hiking, playing kickball, dancing, and snuggling with her beloved rabbit, Marigold.

MTRS, CTRS

Becca Westenskow, MTRS, CTRS graduated from the University of Utah with both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Recreational Therapy. Throughout her education, she became deeply involved in research and developed a strong passion for advancing the field through evidence-based practice. She has contributed numerous presentations and publications to the profession and is committed to continuing her path as a researcher. Becca currently works as an MTRS consultant with Rec Therapy Solutions, supporting recreational therapy programs in skilled nursing facilities across Utah. She has clinical experience across a variety of settings, including residential treatment, long-term care, memory care, and hospital environments. Her professional focus centers on serving older adults, particularly those experiencing dementia and cognitive decline. Becca is completing a PhD program in Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Utah, where she will further investigate the role of recreational therapy in supporting individuals with cognitive impairment and contribute to the growing body of research in geriatric rehabilitation.

Ph.D., MTRS, CTRS

Jamie Bennett is a licensed and certified Recreational Therapist, founder and co-owner of Rec Therapy Solutions, and a firm believer that Recreational Therapy deserves a seat at every clinical table — preferably one with snacks. In 2017, Jamie founded Rec Therapy Solutions with a simple but stubborn conviction: that RT practice in clinical and community settings deserves real, practical support. What started small has grown into a statewide consulting operation providing clinical consulting, Medicaid waiver programming, and professional training across Utah. RTS works where theory meets a full caseload, and Jamie has built it to be fluent in both. Alongside her work at RTS, Jamie serves as faculty in the Department of Occupational & Recreational Therapies at the University of Utah, where she teaches core clinical practice and facilitation courses, oversees internship processes, and works closely with clinical sites nationwide to ensure emerging therapists graduate with more than just a diploma and optimism. Her professional contributions extend nationally — she has been recognized by the Utah Recreation Therapy Association with the Distinguished Service Award, served as URTA President, and completed a term on the NCTRC Board of Directors, contributing to credentialing and professional standards one committee meeting at a time. She presents locally and nationally on evidence-based practice, clinical supervision, and workforce preparedness in RT. Outside of work, she's co-managing the full-time adventure sport of raising a feral toddler alongside her wife — essentially fieldwork in behavior management and crisis intervention. She wouldn't trade it for anything.

PhD, MTRS, CTRS

Dr. Ashley Bowen is an Assistant Professor (Lecturer) with the University of Utah Recreational Therapy program. She is also co-owner of Rec Therapy Solutions, offering recreational therapy consulting services in Utah. She has practiced as a recreational therapist for almost 20 years in many settings, including mental and behavioral health treatment and with older adults, with a majority of her career being spent working in community-based settings focused on adaptive sports and recreation programming with a variety of disability groups and ages. Ashley shares her love for recreation with her family and friends in the form of traveling, hiking, camping, playing soccer, and snowboarding.