Trauma, Sensory Integration, and Behavior: What’s the Connection?

Description

Dr. Teresa A. May-Benson, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Live Online 6 Hour Course: May 13th, 2023. 9 – 4:00 pm EST

$176 Members / $220 Non-Members

Description: An increasing number of therapists working in the area of sensory integration are being asked to treat children with trauma and attachment concerns.  This is an area of clinical practice that is often unfamiliar to most occupational and physical therapists who may struggle to know how to manage the behavioral challenges presented by these children. This course will introduce participants to concepts core to trauma and attachment concerns in children, with a special emphasis on those with sensory integration and sensory processing problems. The neurobiology underlying both trauma and sensory integration and processing problems will be explored along with the relationship between these difficulties.  Key intervention considerations for the therapist working with children with these trauma and sensory integration and processing challenges will be presented. Case studies will illustrate various trauma and sensory processing problems as well as intervention approaches.

Course Schedule

• 9:00 – 10:30 Introduction to Trauma, Attachment, and Sensory Integration. 
  
• 10:30 – 10:45 Break.
• 10:45 – 12:00 Neurobiology of Sensory Integration and Trauma.
  
• 12:00 – 12:30 Lunch.
  
• 12:30 – 2:00   Assessment Considerations for Trauma, Attachment and Sensory Integration. Writing Goals and Objectives.
• 2:00 – 2:15 Break.
• 2:15 – 4:00 Intervention Considerations for Trauma, Attachment and Sensory Integration. Collaborative Models of Care.

Learning Objectives: By the end of this course the participant will be able to:

1. Understand the neurobiology of trauma and its relationship to sensory processing and behavior. 
2. Assess potential links between trauma, sensory processing and/or behavioral concerns, and difficulties with functional performance. 
3. Identify key intervention considerations for a therapist working with children trauma and sensory processing challenges.  
4. Formulate strategies to support behavior and participation in children with trauma and sensory processing difficulties. 

Audience: OT, OTA, PT, PTA.

Course Level: Intermediate.

AOTA Areas: Occupational Therapy Service Delivery, Foundational Knowledge.

Contact Hours: This course is 6.0 contact hours or 0.6 AOTA CEUs.

Completion Requirements: To earn contact hours or AOTA CEUs for this course participants must attend the live online session in its entirety (accessible via a Zoom link), and successfully complete the accompanying course quiz.

About the Speaker: Dr. Teresa May-Benson, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA is an expert occupational therapist renowned for her clinical research, mentoring and education related to related to sensory integration theory and intervention, praxis, and social competency. She is currently the owner/CEO of TMB Education, LLC and serves as President and practicing occupational therapist at OTR, Inc, a private occupational therapy practice specializing in sensory integration and social competency for children and adults across the lifespan, located near Philadelphia, PA. Dr. May-Benson has a diverse background as a clinical practitioner, having worked in private and public-school settings as well as private practice. She has authored numerous book chapters and articles on praxis and sensory integration and completed her doctoral dissertation on ideational praxis. Teresa is an education and research faculty member at the SPIRAL Foundation. In her role of educator, she currently serves as adjunct faculty at Widener University and is past faculty at Tufts University and the University of Indianapolis. She has received the Virginia Scardinia Award of Excellence from AOTA for her work in ideational praxis and is the 2023 recipient of the AOTF A. Jean Ayres Award.

Disclosure: Dr. May-Benson will be compensated for this presentation

ADA/Section 504: If you require special accommodations, please contact courses@thespiralfoundation.org

Cancellation Policies: Available here

Continuing Education:

Occupational Therapy Practitioners/ Occupational Therapy Assistants: The Spiral Foundation is an Approved Provider of Continuing Education for occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants by the American Occupational Therapy Association. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.