Neurobiological Connections of Trauma and Sensory Integration

Presented by: Teresa May-Benson, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA
originally recorded April 13, 2017

Webinars are video presentations and include the recorded PowerPoint and lecture and a .pdf copy of the PowerPoint notes.

Description: Recent advances in neuroscience and brain imaging have increased our understanding of how the body and mind process and store traumatic experiences. Those working in the area of sensory integration recognize that many of these processes coincide with those associated with sensory integration theory and practice. Clinicians working with children with trauma recognize the sensory processing difficulties demonstrated by many of these individuals. This webinar will present information on current neuroscience perspectives of trauma and discuss how those relate to and interface with sensory integration theory. Implications for intervention based on these findings will also be presented.

Learning Objectives:
By the end of this webinar viewers will be able to:

1. Identify key literature articulating a neuroscience theoretical perspective of trauma.
2. Describe 3 associations between trauma-based neuroscience findings and sensory integration theory.
3. Describe 3 ways that understanding trauma-based neuroscience may influence intervention for sensory integration-based problems.

Course Level: Intermediate. There are no prerequisites for this course.

Suitable For: Occupational therapists, OT assistants, physical therapists, PT assistants and students, speech and language therapists.

AOTA
Domain: Contexts
Process: Intervention

Contact Hours: This course is worth 1.5 contact hours or .15 AOTA CEUs.

Completion Requirements: To receive contact hours for this course you must listen to the recorded webinar in its entirety and complete the accompanying assessment.

About the Speaker: Teresa A. May-Benson, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA is the Executive Director of the Spiral Foundation as well as a practicing occupational therapist at OTA The Koomar Center. She is active in conducting research related to sensory integration through the Spiral Foundation’s Sensory Processing Research Center and Laboratory. She is a well-known lecturer and researcher on sensory integration theory and intervention, has authored book chapters and articles on praxis and sensory integration, and completed her doctoral dissertation on ideational praxis. Dr. May-Benson received her bachelor’s degree from Ohio State University and her master’s degree from Boston University with a concentration in sensory integration and school system therapy. She was a Maternal and Child Health Fellow in the Doctoral Program in Therapeutic Studies at Boston University. She has received the Virginia Scardinia Award of Excellence from AOTA for her work in ideational praxis.

 ADA/Section 504: If you require special accommodations, please contact the Spiral Foundation at admin@thespiralfoundation.org or (617) 969 – 4410 ext. 231.

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.