Faculty and Staff Profile

Em Adams

Educational Background

2020 Clemson University Graduate Certificate Clininical and Translational Science Ph.D. Parks Recreation and Tourism Management - Recreational Therapy

2014 Brigham Young University M.S. Youth and Family Recreation - Recreational Therapy

2005 Brigham Young University B.S. Biology

Courses Taught

PRTM 2000 Profession and Practice in PRTM
PRTM 2600 Foundations of Recreational Therapy
PRTM 3240 Assessment and Planning in Recreational Therapy
PRTM 3990 (Honors) Field Training and Research
PRTM 4010 Methods in Recreation Research II
PRTM 4990 Honors Research Presentation
PRTM 8040 An Intro to PRTM
PRTM 8040 RT Teaching Practicum
PRTM 8720 Advanced Facilitation Techniques in Recreational Therapy
PRTM 9300 Doctoral Residency 1
PRTM 9310 Doctoral Residency 2
PRTM 9320 Doctoral Residency 3

PRTM 9360 Research Practicum in PRTM
PRTM 9900 Directed Readings in PRTM
HON 2020 The Quest for Well-being

Profile

Dr. Em V. Adams completed her PhD from Clemson University in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management with a cognate area of Recreational Therapy and a graduate certificate in Clinical and Translational Science. Dr. Adams is a dually certified Recreational Therapist (CTRS) and Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT). Prior to joining the PRTM department at Clemson University, she served as an Assistant Professor at Lehman College - City University of New York in the Health Science Departement. Dr. Adams has worked as a Recreational Therapist in various behavioral health care settings including long-term and acute psychiatric settings, residential treatment centers, and community centers. Their research focuses on promoting wellbeing through leisure and contemplative practices with a focus on individual and community resilience after violence, trauma, and toxic stress.

Research Interests

1) Violence prevention and rehabiliation
2) Mental health and addiction recovery
3) Improving access to health care by promoting trauma-sensitive, affordable, and culturally affirming care
4) Contemplative practices to promote wellbeing
5) Simulation in healthcare education
6) Interdisciplinary Education and Practice

Research Publications

Adams, E.V., Crowe, B.M., Van Puymbroeck, M., Schmid, A.A. (2022). Yoga Practice as a Coping Strategy for Older Adults in Assisted Living Facilities. Integrative Medicine Reports.

Adams, E.V., Crowe, B.M., Van Puymbroeck, M., Schmid, A.A. (2022). The Use of Yoga in Clinical Practice: A Content Analysis. OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine.

Dyke, J., & Adams, E.V. (2021). A Model for Clinical Supervision in the Field of Therapeutic Recreation: The APIE/D Model of Clinical Supervision. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 55(4), 432-443; doi:10.18666/TRJ-2021-V55-I4-11043


Adams, E.V., Page, J. (2021). Recreational therapy, complex trauma, and social identity. American Journal of Recreation Therapy, 19(3), 44-52 doi: 10.5055/ajrt.2020.0219

Adams, E.V., Van Puymbroeck, M., Crowe, B.M., Pury, C.L., Allison, C.K., & Schmid, A.A. (2021). Feasibility of implementing therapeutic yoga in assisted living facilities. OBM Geriatrics, 5(1), 23; doi:10.21926/obm.geriatr.2101148

Adams, E.V., Van Puymbroeck, M., Hawkins, B.L., & Schmid, A.A. (2020). Reduced psychosocial difficulties for individuals with Parkinson’s disease following therapeutic yoga. OBM Geriatrics, 4(4):14; doi:10.21926/obm.geriatr.2004144

Adams, E.V., Van Puymbroeck, M., Crowe, B.M., Pury, C.L.S., & Schmid, A.A. (2020). Yoga to reduce leisure constraints for residents of assisted living facilities. OBM Geriatrics 4(4):18; doi:10.21926/obm.geriatr.2004135

Reina, A., Adams, E.V., Muller, K., Alison, C., Crowe, B.M., Van Puymbroeck, M., & Schmid, A.A. (2020). Yoga for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. International Journal of Yoga.

Adams, E.V., Van Puymbroeck, M., Torphy, H.S., Helsel, B.C., Kemper, K.A., Dye, C., & Schmid, A.A. (2020). A novel approach to fall risk reduction: Combining education and therapeutic yoga. OBM Geriatrics, 4(1), 15; doi:10.21926/obm.geriatr.2001097

Adams, E.V., Van Puymbroeck, M., Walter, A.A., Hawkins, B., Schmid, A., & Sharp, J.L. (2020). Predictors of functional improvements after therapeutic yoga intervention for people with Parkinson’s disease. International Journal of Yoga Therapy, 30; doi:10.17761/2020-D-18-00005

Crowe, B.M., Allison, C.K., Van Puymbroeck, M., Adams, E.V., & Schmid, A.A. (2019). Exploring the physical and psychosocial benefits of yoga for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. American Journal of Recreation Therapy, 18(4), 38-48.

Adams, E.V., Crowe, B.M., Van Puymbroeck, M., Kelly, C.T., & Schmid, A.A. (2019). Yoga as a community-based recreational therapy intervention for older adults. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 52(4) 367-379.

Walter, A.A., Adams, E.V., Van Puymbroeck, M., Crowe, B.M., Urrea-Mendoza, E., Hawkins, B.L., Sharp, J., Woschkolup, K., Revilla, F.J., & Schmid, A.A. (2019). Changes in non-motor symptoms following an 8-week yoga intervention for people with Parkinson’s disease. International Journal of Yoga Therapy.

Adams, E.V., & Townsend, J. (2018). A systematic review of yoga and schizophrenia spectrum disorders: Implications for recreational therapy practitioners. American Journal of Recreation Therapy, 17(2), 37-47.

Van Puymbroeck, M., Walter, A., Hawkins, B.L., Sharp, J., Woshkolup, K., Urrea-Mendoza, E., Revilla, F., Adams, E.V., & Schmid, A.A. (2018). Functional improvements in Parkinson’s disease following a randomized trial of yoga. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Adams, E. V., Taniguchi, S.T., Ward, P.J., Hite, S.J., Mugimu, C., & Nsubuga, Y. (2018). Leisure defined by perceiving choice: Perspectives of Ugandan women, World Leisure Journal 60(4), 265-280; doi:10.1080/16078055.2018.1517106

Honors and Awards

2023-2024 Center for Health Minds Plasticity of Wellbeing Scholar
2023 Mind & Life Summer Research Institute Emerging Participant
2023 Mechanisms and Measurement of Emotional Well-Being (M3EWB) Scholar
2022 Fellow for Diversity Institute for Emerging Leaders, Society of Behavioral Medicine
2021 Academy on Violence and Abuse Scholar
2020 International Association of Yoga Therapy, Swami Kuvalyanda Young Investigator Award
2020 Clemson University, Outstanding Graduate Researcher Award
2020 College of Behavioral, Social, and Health Science Outstanding Ph.D. Student Research Award
2019 American Therapeutic Recreation Association First Place Best Research Poster
2019 Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management Outstanding Graduate Student
2019 GRADS Third Place Best Research Poster
2019 Meritorious Abstract, Society of Behavioral Medicine 2019 Annual Meeting
2018 American Therapeutic Recreation Association Best Research Poster-Student Category

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