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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.

CPT Codes: Strengthening the Voice and Viability of Recreational Therapy

Sunday, October 18, 2026 at 1:45 PM–2:45 PM PDT
Ballroom
Session Description

Recreational therapists demonstrate the value and impact every day through their work. But how do we capture these services? The use of CPT codes remains a gap in advancing the work that RTs do. This interactive session, led by ATRA’s CPT Code Work Group, will share findings from a national survey examining current knowledge, use, and perceptions of CPT coding among recreational therapists. Participants will gain a clear, practical understanding of CPT codes, including their purpose, relevance to RT practice, and role in reimbursement, documentation, and advocacy. Through discussion and guided engagement, attendees will gain and offer practical insights on integrating CPT coding into everyday practice.

Learning Outcomes

1. Describe the purpose and structure of Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes and their relevance to recreational therapy practice. 2. Explain key findings from ATRA’s survey on CPT code awareness and use by recreational therapists. 3. Identify 2 action steps for going forward to support documentation, reimbursement, and professional advocacy.

Practice Area: Select ALL that Apply

All

Target Audience
Students
New Graduates/New Professionals
Educators/Researchers
Mid-Career Professionals
Seasoned Professionals

Primary Presenter

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Kristin Greenlee, MA, CTRS, Specialization in Pediatrics, Nationwide Children's Hospital
Biographical Information

Kristin Greenlee, MA, CTRS, completed her undergraduate from Slippery Rock University and graduated from University of Minnesota with a Masters of Arts in Infant and Early Childhood Education. Kristin works as part of a multidisciplinary team to promote leisure and recreation to help individuals meet their functional goals and increase their overall quality of life. Kristin’s primary care roles have included pulmonary, outpatient therapy services, and nephrology. Kristin currently serves as the acute care clinical leader for Therapeutic Recreation, working to continuously advance the field. Kristin is a member of the NCTRC Item Review Committee and the ATRA CPT code subcommittee. She has served on a multitude of conference committees, presented at national conferences, and holds a specialty certification in pediatrics through NCTRC.

Co-Presenter/Panelists

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Dr. Dawn DeVries, American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA)
Credentials

DHA, CTRS, FDRT

Biographical Information

Dr. Dawn De Vries is a Professor and Program Director of Recreational Therapy at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Dawn has over 30 years of experience as a clinician, director, advocate, and educator. Her background is in geriatrics, memory care and rehabilitation. She also serves as the Advocacy and Legislative Affairs Director for the American Therapeutic Recreation Association.

[photo]
Elizabeth Eastman, AWARE, Inc.
Credentials

CTRS

Biographical Information

Beth Eastman is a Recreational Therapist at AWARE, Inc. in Montana. She was instrumental in bringing this vital Therapeutic Recreation program to AWARE, Inc., which has thrived since November 2022. She oversees a team of therapists, service specialists, a mind-body wellness coordinator, and, most recently, sports programming coordinators. Beth and her team continue to enhance the overall quality of life for youth and adults through a commitment to the highest level of care, serving individuals with mental health, intellectual, developmental, physical, and other medical diagnoses. Beth’s expertise and experience include wilderness therapy; acute, private, and state psychiatric hospitals; partial hospitalization programs; community independent living; summer camps; and county parks and recreation disability programming and inclusion services.

[photo]
Tye Thompson, CTRS/L, Northeast Passage
Credentials

MS, CTRS/L

Biographical Information

Tye Thompson, M.S., CTRS/L (they/them) has over 30 years of experience as a recreational therapist in service provision and program development capacities. Tye is the Program Director for the Northeast Passage Community-Based Recreational Therapy program at the University of New Hampshire where their focus has included increasing access to community-based RT services in both Veteran and Public Health sectors through refinement of documentation systems that support understanding of the potential of RT in healthcare and supporting consistency of practice across teams.

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