Mental Health and Wellbeing Workshops

Our 3-day workshops explore the application of Ayres’ Sensory Integration across the lifespan, with an emphasis on the application and practice of Ayres’ Sensory Integration beyond childhood; with adolescents, adults and older adults – mental health and wellbeing for all.

About our face to face and online workshops:

Video and real case studies will be used to introduce and enhance understanding and demonstrate the application of Ayres’ Sensory Integration within adolescent, adult and older adults mental health and learning disability services. Early development, the effect of trauma and early deprivation will also be considered, with evidence from current neuroscience.

Participants will explore and consider:

• The links between sensory integration, development and wellbeing;
• How sensory integration underpins and is essential to occupation, function and participation in daily life, within this client population.
• Different reasons for referral and implications for practice?
• How sensory difficulties may present in different clinical contexts and across different diagnoses – with reference to current research and evidence.
• How to influence clinical commissioning
• Exploring different care pathways and models of service delivery

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Theory

• Introduction to Ayres Sensory Integration – the past, present and future
• Explore the evidence of Ayres Sensory Integration theory with reference to related neuroscience.
• Working across the lifespan with Ayres Sensory Integration

Assessment:

• Group work: using real case study participants will identify possible markers of sensory integration difficulties, applying this to individuals in their care.
• An introduction to screening tools and other assessment methods including clinical observations, neurological observation, narrative and interview.
• The importance of psycho-education and the co-construction of shared narrative will be explored, including how to use apply sensory integration approaches in combination with traditional psychological approaches including CBT/DBT.

Clinical Impact

Using case-study and research we will consider how and why to measure outcomes and the ways to do this within different clinical settings in order to;

• engage with clients
• motivate clients and maintain therapeutic engagement
• educate and influence others in the multidisciplinary team
• drive service delivery and design; with reference to national and international healthcare delivery directives.

Intervention

Participants will apply learning about Ayres’ Sensory Integration and consider how to use the environment, activity and the therapeutic use of self to impact positively on mental health across a range of treatment settings; home, community and clinic settings, and in acute, secure, intensive care and forensic settings.

Through the use of case examples and in relation to clinical settings, participants will explore;

• equipment and resources including working to relevant health and safety considerations
• the care environment and community resources; sensory affordances and opportunities to promote engagement with age-appropriate activities of daily life
• how to apply sensory integration approaches across beyond childhood; adolescents to adults and older adults

Application

Participants will work with team members or those from similar settings to consider and plan how to action and implement learning to influence and improve clinical practice.

 

Thank you so much for imparting all your skills and experience. Your passion definitely comes across!!
I really enjoyed this course. I found it interesting and enlightening, and it has made me re-examine my clinical reasoning. Thank you.
If the training is not being offered by your Trust then to sound out other OTs to see if there are enough people interested that the Trust will book it.
The venue did not help. Very poor – no local amenities, very uncomfortable chairs, poor transport links.
Loved it. It’s changed my practice, and will make me a more holistic practitioner
I found the case study videos extremely interesting as they demonstrated clearly how people had been affected by their sensory challenges and how they can be supported to manage these effectively.
Inspirational dedication which would be ground breaking on a world wide level if the information can be spread at that level. The videos of case studies were amazing and touching and may make people realise that there is a reason behind certain actions and behaviour that may not be seen as the “norm”.

Feedback: What are the key messages you will take away from this workshop?

• To start using Sensory Ladders (Smith et al 2002, 2007) and Sensory Flowers (Smith and G, 2006).
• To incorporate SI strategies…
• To start my SI learning and practice.
• SI is processing input into meaningful function.
• The case studies – EUPD and ASD different clients are likely to have patterns. Sensory intervention needs to be an individualised approach
• How sensory techniques can be applied to everyone (not just children or low functioning/physically impaired adults).
• It has really made me think about behaviours demonstrated by patients and consider alternative reasons for these.
• Sensory Integration is an opportunity to treat dementia patients.
• Sensory Integration can be used with an adult population
• Sensory Integration is individualised and it is helpful to understand someones sensory preferences to inform intervention strategies. To consider sensory factors when treating patients who are presenting as agitated. One swallow does not make a summer.
• Sensory integration is complex. It can be used for adults.
• Calming and alerting technique

Click here to book on our next Mental Health Workshop

Enquire Here: Bespoke in-house training for your team

Delegates who have completed our Mental Health Workshop may choose to advance on and enhance their learning about using sensory integration with clients in combination with specific trauma approaches including DBT, EMDR and ACT. 

https://sensoryproject.plume.co.uk/shop/workshops/skills-for-practice-mental-health-trauma/

 

Click Here: Book on our next Trauma workshop here