Recreation Therapy Conference

Conference was held at the Davis County Conference Center March 2-3. It was a great conference. It helped me remember why I chose to become a recreation therapist in the first place. Work has been a bit stressful recently and I have questioned myself and decision to become a recreation therapist. It was a nice reminder.

I thought it would be fun to share some of the things I learned at conference:

• ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) can also stand for Anxiety, Stress and Depression. Many with Autism experience those feelings often.
• A group doesn't have to have processing to be considered an effective group.
• Group therapy isn't for the group. It's for the individuals in the group.
• There are no norms in processing.
• When we practice mindfulness we need to not judge what we are feeling.
• We all have 6 needs
• Certainty: Assurance you can avoid pain and gain comfort
• Uncertainty: A state of being unpredictable
• Significance: Receiving recognition or to be noticed
• Connection/Love: Fostering relationship with family, friends, significant others, and a higher power
• Growth: The act of intentional (I didn't get the rest of the definition)
• Contribution: Sharing your skills
• The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.
• How do I not take others trauma and place it on myself?
• Ask, "Is this working for me?"
• Choosing our focus
• Where am I putting my focus?
• What is my plan B?
• Building Compassion and Community
• Finding/creating a microculture
• Practicing compassion for myself and others
• What can I do for large-scale systematic change?
• Finding Balance
• Engaging with our lives outside of work
• Moving energy through
• Practice Gratitude
• Daily Practice of Centering Self
• Create an Intention for the Day
• Meditation, Prayer, Etc. 
• IDEAL Response
• Immediate, Direct, Efficient, Action-Based, and Leveled at the Behavior
• Suicide Prevention
• We need to focus on culture, systems, and public health.
• SAVE
• Signs, Ask, Validate, Encourage
• Things to Consider When Talking
• Remain Calm
• Listen More than you speak
• Eye Contact
• Act with Confidence
• Don't Argue
• Apps
• Virtual Hope Box
• My3
• SAMHSA Suicide Safe
• Objective Zero
• SafeUT
• Trauma Responses
• Overwhelmed
• Inability to cope
• Current situation is experienced as a threat
• Disassociate
• Inadequate
• Podcasts can be used as an intervention
• Podcast Platforms
• Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Listen Notes, Pocket Casts, Overcasts
• Why do we go back to unsafe behaviors?
• That is where we feel safe.
• It is what we know.
• 4 Principles for Safety and Connection
• Safety: The ability to open and be vulnerable without risk
• Connection: Improves physical health and psychological well-being
• Community: It takes a village
• Purpose: We all have an individual power to make a difference
• What's Your Why?

First Break-Out session. I'm third row up in the grey sweater.

Cohort and Professor
Front to Back/Left to Right: Paige Lopez, Dr. Z (Ramon Zabriskie), Dani Chapdelaine, Karen Clark, Me (Cassy Gardner),
and Shaile Taylor

One of several items for interventions I bought at the conference at a discounted price.