Presented by: Audrey Clavet, erg. 

The perinatal period is marked by numerous changes, particularly in terms of occupational activities (Esdaile et Olson, 2004; Slootjes, 2021). The occupational transitions associated with the arrival of a child are manifested in particular by the addition of numerous co-occupations to parents’ occupational repertoire, such as breastfeeding and sleeping ((Clavet, 2025; Olson, 2004; Pierce, 2009). In a context where more than one-third of parents report depressive or anxiety symptoms affecting their daily functioning (Réseau des centres de ressources périnatales du Québec, 2026), co-occupations represent a relevant clinical tool for supporting parental health. This webinar will equip you to use the concept of co-occupation as a clinical tool to analyze situations experienced during the perinatal period and support parents’ occupational participation. You will be introduced to the concept of co-occupation and its clinical utility in occupational therapy within the parent-child dyad. Using clinical examples—particularly those related to the co-occupations of breastfeeding and sleeping—the webinar will illustrate the interactions between the parent’s occupations and those of the baby. Finally, suggestions for clinical application will be offered to support the integration of this concept into occupational therapy practice. 

You'll learn to:

• Define the concept of co-occupation and its characteristics in the perinatal context.
• Analyze clinical situations from a co-occupation perspective.
• Identify potential clinical applications of co-occupations in occupational therapy.

Client age groups Young children (0-4 years old), Adolescents (13-19 years old), Adults (20-64 years old) Areas of practice Health promotion & wellness, Life transitions, Parental health, Pediatrics Levels Beginner (0-2 years of experience in this specific practice area) 

Language English

Presenter

Audrey Clavet, erg.

Audrey Clavet has been an occupational therapist for 17 years, with a focus on perinatal and parental mental health. Her clinical and research interests focus on matrescence, occupational transitions, and co-occupations in the parent-child dyad. She holds a research master’s degree in health sciences with a focus on the occupational transitions of new parents who are breastfeeding. Her practice is grounded in trauma-informed and neurodiverse approaches and is rooted in a framework of occupational justice. She also serves as a mentor in the occupational therapy program at the Université de of Sherbrooke and provides continuing education to occupational therapists working with parents or parent-child dyads.

Personne présentatrice : Audrey Clavet, erg.

La période périnatale est marquée par de nombreux changements, notamment au plan occupationnel (Esdaile et Olson, 2004; Slootjes, 2021). Les transitions occupationnelles associées à l’arrivée d’un enfant se manifestent notamment par l’ajout de nombreuses co-occupations au répertoire occupationnel des parents, telles que l’allaitement et le sommeil (Clavet, 2025; Olson, 2004; Pierce, 2009). Dans un contexte où plus du tiers des parents rapportent des symptômes dépressifs ou anxieux affectant leur fonctionnement au quotidien (Réseau des centres de ressources périnatales du Québec, 2026), les co-occupations constituent un levier clinique pertinent pour soutenir la santé parentale.

Ce webinaire vous outillera à utiliser le concept de co-occupation comme levier clinique pour analyser les situations vécues en période périnatale et soutenir la participation occupationnelle des parents. Ce webinaire propose une introduction au concept de co-occupation et à son utilité clinique en ergothérapie, au sein de la dyade parent-enfant. À partir d’exemples cliniques, notamment en lien avec les co-occupations d’allaitement et de sommeil, le webinaire illustrera les interactions entre les occupations du parent et celles du bébé. Enfin, des pistes d’application clinique seront proposées afin de soutenir l’intégration de ce concept dans l’analyse des situations rencontrées en pratique ergothérapique. Vous apprendrez à :

• Définir le concept de co-occupation et ses particularités en contexte périnatal.
• Analyser des situations cliniques à partir d’une perspective de co-occupation.
• Identifier des pistes d’application clinique des co-occupations en ergothérapie.

Domaines de pratique La promotion de la santé et le mieux-être Les transitions de vie La santé parentale La pédiatrie

Groupes d'âges de clientèle Jeunes enfants (0 à 4 ans), Personnes adolescentes (13 à 19 ans), Adultes (20 à 64 ans)

Niveau  Débutant (de 0 à 2 ans d’expérience dans ce domaine de pratique) Langage Français

Personne présentatrice

Audrey Clavet, erg.

Ergothérapeute depuis 17 ans, Audrey Clavet exerce en santé mentale périnatale et parentale. Ses intérêts cliniques et de recherche portent sur la matrescence, les transitions occupationnelles et les co-occupations de la dyade parent-enfant. Elle détient une maîtrise de recherche en sciences de la santé portant sur les transitions occupationnelles des nouveaux parents qui allaitent. Sa pratique s’appuie sur des approches sensibles aux traumas et à la neurodiversité, et s’inscrit dans une perspective de justice occupationnelle. Elle est également mentore au programme d’ergothérapie de l’Université de Sherbrooke

Presented by: Dr. Elliot Gavin Keenan

In recent years, growing attention has been paid to DBT for neurodivergent (and, especially, autistic) clients. Some have said that DBT is neurodiversity-affirming (Strang & Sakdalan, 2025) and I would argue in favor of this idea, particularly due to the collaborative nature of the client-clinician relationship in DBT. This traces back to the inventor of DBT, Dr. Marsha Linehan, who developed the intervention not only to bring hope to those who were suffering with chronic suicidality and emotion dysregulation, but to heal something in herself — for, years ago, she too was hospitalized and deemed without redemption (Linehan 2021). This webinar will explore the presenter’s personal experience with Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) as a neurodivergent person with autism, ADHD, and bipolar 1, followed by an overview of DBT, including who it was developed for and the philosophy that guides the intervention and recommended adaptations. The session will highlight the collaborative nature of DBT in supporting clients in building a life worth living and will explore DBT skills that may be particularly applicable to neurodivergent clients. Topics will include mindfulness, with suggested exercises to try, as well as distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness skills. 

You'll learn to:

1. Participants will understand the theoretical underpinnings of DBT and treat clients as collaborators in their everyday practice.
2. Participants will be equipped with a menu of skills they can teach to clients to ameliorate emotion dysregulation, rejection sensitivity, alexithymia, etc.
3. Participants will understand how small tweaks in the DBT curriculum can make it more accessible for neurodivergent clients and, in order to bridge the gap, participants will feel empowered to tinker with the skills until they find a presentation that works for each individual client. 

Client age groups
Adolescents (13-19 years old) Adults (20-64 years old) Older adults (65+ years old)

Areas of practice
Applicable to all areas of practice (e.g., burnout, group therapy, occupational models) Mental health Neurodiversity Psychotherapy

Levels
Beginner (0-2 years of experience in this specific practice area)
Language English

Presenter

Dr. Elliot Gavin Keenan

Dr. Elliot Gavin Keenan is a psychologist who studies the lived experience of mental health conditions. He was diagnosed with autism at age 6 and diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 17. Thus, he mainly studies autism and bipolar disorder, leveraging his personal insights into these conditions to generate testable hypotheses and novel studies that advance the field. Dr. Keenan got his BA in psychology from Stony Brook University and earned his PhD in Human Development & Psychology from UCLA. He is also an author of creative nonfiction (memoir and lyric essay). See more information at elliotgavin.carrd.co or check out Dr. Keenan’s blog at bipolarcoaster.blog

Presented by: Elizabeth Bell, OT Reg. (Ont.) and Nicole Raftis, OT Reg. (Ont.)

Understanding why regulation varies across children, situations, and developmental stages can help occupational therapy professionals support participation in home routines and family life. Regulation is often addressed in fragmented ways, with sensory-motor, emotional, and cognitive factors considered separately. Building on occupation-based and developmental approaches to pediatric practice (CAOT, 2024; Cahill & Beisbier, 2020), occupational therapy professionals can utilize a clinically developed framework for understanding regulation through a holistic, developmentally attuned lens.

This webinar provides you with practical knowledge and strategies to support regulation in children and youth through a holistic, developmentally informed, and occupation-based approach. Regulation will be explored as an interaction among sensory-motor, emotional, and cognitive processes that shape participation in daily activities, learning, and social engagement. The webinar will introduce selected examples from a co-developed clinical reasoning and caregiver coaching framework: the Construction Crew and the Speeeed-O-Meter. Practice examples will illustrate how you can translate developmental and neuroscience concepts into shared understanding with children and caregivers, with a focus on co-regulation, caregiver coaching, and application within everyday home and family routines. 

  You'll learn to:

• Identify key sensory-motor, emotional, and cognitive factors that influence regulation in children and youth and describe how these factors interact within everyday home routines and family contexts.
• Describe how a holistic, developmentally attuned, and relationship-focused approach can support co-regulation, children’s self-understanding, caregiver coaching, and participation in home and family occupations.
• Apply an integrated clinical reasoning approach to case-based examples by considering why regulation challenges may be occurring, what regulation states are present in the moment, and how therapists can guide caregiver coaching and intervention planning.

Client age group

Young children (0-4 years), Children (5-12 years), Adolescents (13-19 years), Adults (20-64 years)

Areas of practice

Mental health, Neurodiversity, Parental health, Pediatrics, OTA

Level

Intermediate (3-5 years of experience in this specific practice area) 

Language

English 

Presenter

Nicole Raftis, OT Reg. (Ont.)

Nicole is an occupational therapist with over 30 years of experience in pediatric practice. She works closely with children, youth, and families, with a focus on developmental skills and mental health. She provides multifaceted services through her private practice, in school and community settings, including through Insight Psychology, and directs the Equine-Assisted OT program at Pathway Ponies. Caregiver coaching is central to her practice, which led her to co-found the TREEO OT Resource Library. Nicole is currently piloting a holistic regulation curriculum in school and clinic settings. She is also an Adjunct Clinical Professor at McMaster University, where she supports occupational therapy student practicum education and mentors early-career clinicians.

Elizabeth Bell, OT Reg. (Ont.)

Elizabeth is an occupational therapist with 35 years of experience in pediatric practice. She works closely with children, youth, caregivers, educators, and community partners, with a focus on sensory, motor, and regulation-related practice. She holds an MHSc in Bioethics and is currently a PhD student at McGill University in health sciences education, where her studies focus on ethics and knowledge practices. She has worked across private, interdisciplinary, and community settings, providing clinical services, consultation, and education. Elizabeth is an Adjunct Clinical Professor at McMaster University and is involved in occupational therapy teaching, mentorship, and practicum education. She is also a published author and a co-founder of TREEO OT.

Online Workshop

March 4, 2027, from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)

Presented by: Cassondra (Cassi) Starc, Reg. OT (BC)

Multiple forms of graded exposure are evidence-based interventions to support people living with chronic pain, anxiety, depression, trauma-related disorders, and obsessive–compulsive disorder (e.g., Ashar et al., 2022, 2025; Kaczkurkin & Foa, 2015; NICE, 2014; Schnurr et al., 2024). Occupational therapists are well suited to offer this first-line intervention approach, and are most often involved in the in vivo component of exposure therapy (Torchalla et al., 2019). For Canadian occupational therapists, skillful application of graded exposure offers a powerful means of promoting occupational participation.

This workshop equips you with the knowledge and skills to identify and address common challenges encountered when using graded in vivo exposure in occupational therapy practice. You will begin by establishing a shared understanding of foundational principles and briefly reviewing the evidence for exposure across diagnosis groups. Case examples spanning occupational challenges such as driving, socializing, running errands, and return-to-work planning will be explored. Through facilitated discussion, therapist self-assessment, and applied case analysis, you will identify common “stuck points” in their exposure therapy. Practical, evidence-informed solutions will be emphasized to support the adaptation, troubleshooting, and progression of graded exposure interventions in a manner that promotes occupational participation, safety, and meaningful outcomes. Integration of exposure with the wider scope of occupational therapy, such as return-to-work planning and funding justification will also be explored. You will leave with a variety of clinician and client resources.

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:

• Identify common client and therapist-related challenges that interfere with the effective use of graded in vivo exposure in occupational therapy practice.
• Analyze factors such as safety behaviours, avoidance patterns, and therapist or client beliefs that contribute to stalled or ineffective graded exposure interventions.
• Apply practical strategies to adapt, troubleshoot, and progress graded exposure plans to promote occupational participation, safety, and functional outcomes.

Registration fees

Registration deadline: March 4, 2027 at 11:59 a.m. (Eastern Time) 
Please note that workshop registrations are for one individual person and may not be shared. CAOT does not offer group registration fees for workshops.

Target audience and language

Target audience
Occupational therapist clinicians wishing to build on previous skills and experience in graded in vivo exposure therapy and to address common stuck points.

Please note: The workshop is tailored to the occupational therapy community. Each participant is responsible to ensure they apply the information within the context of their licensure, provincial/territorial legislations, institution regulations, scope of practice, etc.

Areas of practice
Chronic conditions, Mental health, Psychotherapy, Return to work, Trauma

Client age groups
Adults (20-64 years old), Older adults (65+ years old)

Level
Intermediate (3-5 years of experience in this specific practice area) 

Please note: Participants with more or less than this stated level of experience are welcome to attend the workshop. The workshop content will be geared towards those with previous knowledge and experience in this area of practice.

Language
English

Preliminary workshop agenda

March 4, 2027, from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)

Presenter(s)

Cassondra (Cassi) Starc, Reg. OT (BC)

Cassi Starc is an occupational therapist, a mindfulness facilitator, and owner of Flourish Healthcare Education & Mindfulness. Cassi has a passion for providing highly practical education and mentorship. She has mentored many occupational therapy students, new graduates, and experienced clinicians transitioning to new areas of practice such as mental health, brain injury, and chronic pain. You can expect to leave her workshops ready to implement changes in your practice the very next day. Cassi's workshops have a focus on real-world application and complex examples which more closely represents "real-life clients" who may have a variety of intersecting barriers & limitations impacting their occupational engagement and participation.

Workshops are recorded! Your registration includes:

• Individual participation in a live workshop and opportunity to ask questions
• Handout of PowerPoint presentation
• Opportunities to network with other occupational therapists with an interest in this topic
• Access to the workshop recording for 1 month following the live sessions
• Certificate of completion

Cancellation/refund policy

All cancellation/refund requests must be sent in writing to [email protected]. All cancellation requests received by February 17, 2027 will be given a full refund minus a $50.00 administrative fee. Substitutions and transfers requests received by February 17, 2027 are permitted and are subject to a $50.00 administrative fee.

No refunds will be given after February 17, 2027.

If you are exceptionally unable to complete the workshop, please reach out to [email protected] by 25 days following the end of the workshop for extended access to the recording (up to one month after the end of the workshop) or a one-time transfer to another offering of the same workshop if currently open for registration. 

CAOT reserves the right to modify the workshop title, description, registration dates and information on the workshop webpage. CAOT will notify participants on or before January 22, 2027 if there is insufficient registration by that date and reserves the right to cancel a workshop due to insufficient registration up until February 5, 2027. CAOT reserves the right to modify the offering, interrupt workshops, change the timing of a workshop, change the technology for the workshop, or postpone or cancel a workshop due to the presenter no longer being able to present the workshop, severe weather, power failure, building closures or other special circumstances that are beyond the control of CAOT by notifying participants as soon as possible. If the workshop is cancelled by CAOT, registrants will receive a full refund of the registration fee. CAOT will not be responsible for other costs or expenses incurred by registrants as a result of any such changes.

Accessibility

The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapy (CAOT) is committed to accessibility as expressed in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). We provide an electronic copy of the handouts approximately one week ahead of time in multiple slide layouts, auto-generated closed captioning through Zoom (excluding breakout rooms), as well as access to the recording for two weeks following the workshop for all registrations (with possibility to extend to a maximum of one month). If you require additional special arrangements for accessibility, please contact [email protected] or 1-800-434-2268.

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Presented by: Dr Micah Perez

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) frequently co-occurs with autism, with an estimated 32 to 45% of autistic individuals having a combined Autism + ADHD neurotype (Canals et al., 2024; Rong et al., 2021), sometimes referred to as AuDHD (e.g., Potts et al., 2025). Occupational therapists have a key role in providing neurodiversity-affirming services to adult clients with the Autism + ADHD neurotype. This webinar will provide an overview of occupational domains for occupational therapists to consider when administering assessments and providing interventions to adult clients with the Autism + ADHD neurotype in a neurodiversity-affirming way. These strategies will provide the participants with a holistic understanding and tools to empower and support adults with the Autism + ADHD neurotype. 

After taking part in this webinar, participants will be able to: 

1. Identify occupational domains to consider for assessment and intervention for adult clients with the Autism + ADHD neurotype in a neurodiversity-affirming way.
2. Have a holistic understanding of how to empower and support adult clients with the Autism + ADHD neurotype in a neurodiversity-affirming way.

Level  Advanced (6+ years of experience in this specific area of practice)

Area of practice Neurodiversity

Client age group Adults (20-64 years old) 

Presented by: Dr. Marika Demers 

Technology-enabled approaches to stroke rehabilitation support client-centred care by personalizing upper-limb interventions, monitoring recovery, and enhancing participation in meaningful daily activities after stroke (e.g., Demers et al., 2023; Virani, 2025). This webinar will focus on recent advances in stroke rehabilitation research, such as wearable technology, virtual reality, robotics and art-based approaches, and how they can be incorporated in occupational therapy practice. Low-cost strategies to enhance stroke recovery will also be discussed.

After taking part in this webinar, participants will be able to: 

1. Describe how evidence-based technologies can be used to deliver and support upper-limb interventions following stroke.
2. Explain how principles of neuroplasticity inform the design and use of technology-based interventions in post-stroke upper-limb rehabilitation. 

Level  Intermediate (3-5 years of experience in this specific practice area) 

Area of practice Assistive Technology & Artificial Intelligence, Neurology 

Client age group Adults (20-64 years old), Older adults (65+ years old) 

Presented by: Jody Niemann Priest, MS, OTR/L

Vision deficits are common but often overlooked contributors to disability following neurological injury and disease. Occupational therapy practitioners are uniquely positioned to identify visual impairments, provide patient and caregiver education, and implement evidence-based interventions that enhance safety, participation, and quality of life. This webinar will present a practical approach to assessing and treating vision deficits in individuals with stroke, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, and dementia. Through clinical examples and case studies, participants will explore neuro-visual assessments, occupation-based interventions, and strategies to improve functional outcomes across everyday activities. This webinar will explore the importance of occupational therapy practitioners screening and assessing vision deficits in individuals with neurological conditions. Topics include oculomotor impairments such as saccadic dysfunction, common visual symptoms following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), evidence-based patient-reported outcome measures and clinical assessment tools, referral considerations, patient and caregiver education, and practical occupation-based intervention strategies. Participants will gain clinically relevant resources, assessment references, and evidence-based takeaways that can be immediately implemented to improve functional outcomes, safety, and participation in everyday activities. 

  You'll learn to:

• Recognize common visual and visual-perceptual impairments encountered in individuals with complex neurological diagnoses and their impact on occupational performance.

• Select and apply appropriate assessment tools and clinical observation strategies to evaluate vision deficits affecting daily function.

• Develop evidence-based intervention plans that address neuro-visual impairments through occupation-based treatment, compensatory strategies, and environmental modifications.

Client age groups 

Adults (20-64 years old) Older adults (65+ years old)

Areas of practice 

Brain and spinal cord injuries Health promotion & wellness Neurology Older adults Vision

Levels
Intermediate (3-5 years of experience in this specific practice area)

Language
English

Presenter

Jody Niemann Priest, MS, OTR/L Jody is an occupational therapist with over 30 years of experience in neurological rehabilitation across inpatient and outpatient settings. Jody serves as Chair of the Degenerative Disease Special Interest Group (DDSIG), a member of the Florida Occupational Therapy Association Continuing Education Sanctioning Committee, and AOTA Rehabilitation & Disability SIS Communities of Practice Liaison. Currently, Jody practices at AdventHealth Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation in New Smyrna Beach and serves as Lead Divisional Neurological OT, supporting interdisciplinary program development, Neuro OT staff growth, and clinical education. Jody also volunteers as a medical buddy for Night to Shine, serving individuals with special needs.

Online Workshop

January 21, 2027, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)

Presented by: Michelle Scott, OT Reg. (Ont.)

Exposure therapy can be an effective therapeutic tool for helping clients overcome fears and challenges (American Psychological Association, 2017). Systematic desensitization therapy is a systematic approach to exposure therapy that can help clients reach specific occupational goals. Effective approaches to systematic desensitization therapy involves a strong therapeutic alliance, a sense of trust, and the ability of the therapist to help inspire motivation and values-based action in their clients (e.g., Buchholz & Abramowitz, 2020). It also includes the ability to deliver basic psychoeducation around the avoidance-anxiety cycle, the ability to help clients use basic CBT strategies throughout their journey, knowledge of nervous system downregulation and relaxation strategies, and an ability to grade and fade challenges flexibly - all in the service of behavioural and task-specific goals. As such, occupational therapists are uniquely positioned to utilize systematic desensitization therapy to facilitate occupational participation.
This workshop will provide you with the skills and knowledge to effectively implement systematic approaches to exposure therapy with clients with trauma and chronic pain. Psychoeducation around the avoidance-anxiety cycle, central nervous sensitization, and how they manifest in PTSD and chronic pain will be discussed. Therapeutic tools, such as motivational interviewing and basic cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) approaches will be reviewed to promote engagement and participation. You will learn about basic nervous system downregulation strategies for managing anxiety, safety behaviours, grading challenges, and fading support. Experiential activities, group discussions, and case application will support you in learning how to co-create a systematic desensitization protocol with clients living with pain or PTSD. 

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:

• Explain the avoidance/anxiety cycle, central nervous system sensitization, and how they manifest in PTSD and chronic pain.
• Describe the occupational therapy role and scope in implementing systematic approaches to exposure therapy. 
• Integrate therapeutic tools such as basic motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), somatic experiencing, and nervous system downregulation strategies into therapy plans to support clients living with chronic pain and trauma.
• Integrate elements of fading and grading when creating a challenge hierarchy.
• Co-create a systematic desensitization protocol with clients with PTSD and chronic pain.

Registration fees

Target audience and language

Target audience
Occupational therapist clinicians, occupational therapist educators, and occupational therapist assistants who wish to increase their knowledge and skills in using exposure therapy with clients with trauma and/or chronic pain who are experiencing avoidance-related anxiety that is creating a barrier to occupational participation. Participants are expected to have a foundations knowledge of exposure therapy and systematic desensitization therapy.

Areas of practice 
Chronic Conditions, Mental Health, Military Members and Veterans, Psychotherapy, Trauma

Client age groups

Adolescents (13-19 years old), Adults (20-64 years old)

Level
Intermediate (3-5 years of experience in this specific practice area) 

Language
English

Preliminary workshop agenda

January 21, 2027 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)

10:00 - 11:30 a.m. (ET)	What is exposure therapy? Comparing exposure and response prevention (ERP), prolonged exposure (PE), and systematic desensitization therapy (SD) Central sensitization and PTSD and chronic pain Individual activity: Why are OTs uniquely positioned to offer these therapies?
11:30 - 11:45 a.m. (ET)	Break
11:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. (ET)	Comparing in vivo, imaginal, and virtual reality (VR) exposure Therapeutic tools: Basic motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioural therapy, and somatic experiencing skills Basic nervous system downregulation strategies for managing anxiety Individual activity: Guided downregulation exercise
1:15 - 1:45 p.m. (ET)	Break
1:45 - 3:15 p.m. (ET)	How to use elements of fading and grading Group activity: Creating a challenge hierarchy Co-creating a therapy plan Group activity: Creating a systematic exposure therapy plan for a given client scenario (trauma and chronic pain)
3:15 - 3:30 p.m. (ET)	Break
3:30 - 5:00 p.m. (ET)	Group activity and presentations Teletherapy Conclusion and Q&A

  

Presenter

Michelle Scott, OT Reg. (Ont.)
Michelle Scott (she/her, aka Shel) is an occupational therapist with more than a decade of experience in mental health. She worked at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) before starting her private practice in 2019, where she strives to bring an anti-oppressive lens to her work with clients with eating disorders, trauma, chronic pain, OCD, and other challenges. She started her career in mental health working as a peer support worker and brings this lens to her work in her private practice. She has been a recipient of systematic desensitization (SD) therapy herself and brings this lens to her work with clients using this approach, as well as in her teaching. Her lens combines therapeutic and clinical skills and experience with lived mental health experience to provide a unique education experience.

Workshops are recorded! Your registration includes

• Individual participation in a live workshop and opportunity to ask questions
• Handout of PowerPoint presentation
• Opportunities to network with other occupational therapists with an interest in this topic
• Access to the workshop recording for 1 month following the live sessions
• Certificate of completion

Cancellation/refund policy

All cancellation/refund requests must be sent in writing to [email protected]. All cancellation requests received by December 18, 2026 will be given a full refund minus a $50.00 administrative fee. Substitutions and transfers requests received by December 18, 2026 are permitted and are subject to a $50.00 administrative fee.
No refunds will be given after December 18, 2026. 

If you are exceptionally unable to complete the workshop, please reach out to [email protected] by 25 days following the end of the workshop for extended access to the recording (up to one month after the end of the workshop) or a one-time transfer to another offering of the same workshop if currently open for registration.

CAOT reserves the right to modify the workshop title, description, registration dates and information on the workshop webpage. CAOT will notify participants on or before January 5, 2027, if there is insufficient registration by that date and reserves the right to cancel a workshop due to insufficient registration up until January 13, 2027. CAOT reserves the right to modify the offering, interrupt Workshops, change the timing of a Workshop, cancel a Workshop or change the technology for the Workshop due to the presenter no longer being able to present the Workshop, severe weather, power failure, building closures or other special circumstances that are beyond the control of CAOT by notifying participants as soon as possible. If the Workshop is cancelled by CAOT, registrants will receive a full refund of the registration fee. CAOT will not be responsible for other costs or expenses incurred by registrants as a result of any such changes.

  Professional Development FAQs

 Provide suggestions for Professional Development

The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) is committed to accessibility as expressed in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). We provide an electronic copy of the handout approximately one week ahead of time in multiple slide layouts, auto-generated closed captioning through Zoom (excluding breakout rooms), as well as access to the recording for two weeks following the workshop. If you require additional special arrangements for accessibility, please contact [email protected] or 1-800-434-2268. 

Presented by: Megan Vrooman and Theresa Hallenen 

Therapists can struggle to provide evidence-based interventions that address the psychological challenges clients face after hand and upper extremity injuries, especially in fast-paced, productivity-driven environments. Comprehensive care must include the assessment and treatment of psychological well-being to support optimal recovery. This webinar introduces Cognitive Behavioral Informed Therapy (CBIT) as an effective approach to help clients manage both the physical and emotional impacts of their injuries. Therapists will learn practical CBIT interventions, including activity rest cycling, values based goal setting, and support groups, to integrate into their treatment programs for improved client outcomes.  You'll learn to:

• Define the principles of Cognitive Behavioral Informed Therapy and its unique application to hand and upper extremity practice.
• Examine the impact of psychological challenges on patient/client outcomes in a traditional hand and upper extremity practice.
• Formulate hand therapy intervention plan(s) that include principles of Cognitive Behavioral Information Therapy

Target audience and language

Client age groups 

Adolescents (13-19 years old) Adults (20-64 years old) Older adults (65+ years old) 

Areas of practice 

Applicable to all areas of practice (e.g., burnout, group therapy, occupational models) 

 Levels Intermediate (3-5 years of experience in this specific practice area) 

 Language English

Presenter

Megan Vrooman
Megan is an Occupational Therapist and Certified Hand therapist with 5 years of hand practice experience. She is a clinician at Duke University Health System in North Carolina in the United States as well as a clinical adjunct professor at Bowling Green State University. Megan specializes in injuries of the upper extremity to include primarily post-operative cases such as brachial plexus injuries, pediatric congenital diagnoses, sports injuries, arthritis, fractures/ligament/muscle injuries. When not working, Megan enjoys spending time with family, playing with her dog Miles, traveling, reading, baking, and exercise.

Theresa Hallenen 
Theresa is an Occupational Therapist and Certified Hand Therapist with over 10-years of experience. She works for the Duke University Health System as a senior OT. Theresa is a specialist for pre- and post-operative care within the upper extremity orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery to establish a center of excellence dedicated to traumatic nerve injury. She is an avid volunteer with the American Society of Hand Therapy (ASHT) and has served within the leadership committee since 2020.