About

Shelby Starr Segala is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist with both a Bachelor's and Master’s degree in Recreational Therapy from Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) in New Haven, Connecticut.

Shelby’s journey toward Recreational Therapy began with her impactful work on the Cheyenne River and Pine Ridge Reservations in South Dakota, where she taught art, facilitated community programming, and helped run a summer camp for at-promise youth. These formative experiences sparked her passion for using recreation as a tool for healing and growth.

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Over the years, Shelby has developed a diverse and well-rounded background in the field. She interned on a pediatric unit, focusing on therapeutic play and helping children meet developmental milestones. As a graduate assistant, she led recreation-based groups for both transitional and undergraduate college students and helped organize adaptive sports events, including wheelchair basketball.

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She also served as a Lead Program Coordinator at Camp Ronald McDonald at Eagle Lake in Northern California, where she facilitated activities in drama, sports, art, and waterfront recreation. Following that, Shelby spent nearly two years at Yale New Haven Hospital, working on a psychiatric unit with children ages 4 to 14, providing therapeutic support as part of a multidisciplinary team.

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More recently, Shelby has shared her expertise in academia as an Adjunct Professor, teaching undergraduate Recreational Therapy courses, and as a University Assistant, leading community-based therapy groups focused on social and coping skills.

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A naturally creative soul, Shelby finds deep value in music, art, and movement—elements she often weaves into her therapeutic interventions. She prides herself on being joyfully silly, singing loudly, and building meaningful, authentic connections with those she works with.