Sensory intelligence and occupational therapy Level 2: Application to adolescents and adults with mental illness (April 2025)

March 27 to April 9th, 2025 (on your own) 

Thursday, April 10th, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (Eastern Time)

What time is this for me?

Occupational therapists in Canada must facilitate clients’ use of their strengths and resources to sustain occupational participation (ACOTRO et al., 2021). Occupational therapists can use sensory modulation interventions successfully to assist people with various mental illnesses to regulate emotional and physiological arousal (Kandlur et al., 2023), while keeping their clients’ occupation at the centre of practice. Sensory modulation is an effective approach for the self-management of anxiety (Wallis et al., 2018), depression (Canbeyli, 2022), adult ADHD symptoms (Adamou et al., 2021), and sensory processing difficulty in autism spectrum disorder (Lin et al., 2019), as well as other mental illnesses.
In the first, basic “Sensory intelligence and occupational therapy” workshop, an overview was provided of sensory modulation concepts, assessments and applications for self-regulation in mental health and illness. This workshop will provide an opportunity for occupational therapy professionals to apply their prior knowledge to clients with mental illness. Five diagnoses that are commonly seen in community and return-to-work mental health settings were chosen - ADHD, anxiety, autism spectrum disorder, depression and PTSD. For each illness, the typical symptoms and functional difficulties will be reviewed, what and how to assess, and how to assist such a client to self-regulate their emotions and arousal levels sustainably for optimal participation in their daily occupations. Workshop participants will participate actively by completing a pre-workshop assignment and readings on a case study, and work in small groups to present their findings on a case study with a specific diagnosis, and an occupational therapy plan to other participants, while the workshop facilitators will provide examples, guidance, facilitate discussion and answer questions. Workshop participants are also asked to bring a case study from their own practice for discussion.

**Please note this a Level 2 workshop and participants must have completed the Level 1 offering in April or November 2024**

Preliminary agenda

November 14 to 20, 2024 (on your own)

Friday, November 22, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)

Introduction and context of the workshop Review of assessments Diagnostic applications for breakout groups:            1) autism, 2) ADHD, 3) anxiety, 4) depression Review of sensory modulation interventions - sensory snacks, sensory diets, sensory ergonomics PEO Framework expansion

Example case study: PTSD
Problems and symptoms Assessments and results Sensory modulation intervention PEO Framework expansion

Breakout case study groups
Discuss case study assessment according to the template

Presentations of case studies assessment 

Learning objectives

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

1. Identify which symptoms and occupational barriers may be present
2. Identify what assessments to complete with regards to the sensory modulation and why
3. Consider elements of person, occupation and environment in assessment and intervention
4. Consider sensory snacks, diet and ergonomics and how to help your client choose and implement them
5. Understand how the sensory modulation interventions fit into the total occupational therapy plan and goals

Target Audience

Occupational therapist clinicians, Occupational therapist educators, and Students in occupational therapy programs who wish to assist people with various mental illnesses with optimal everyday occupational participation by implementing sensory modulation interventions to regulate their emotional and physiological arousal.

Client age group

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

Areas of practice

Autism/Neurodiversity Chronic Pain Dementia Mental Health Return to Work Sensory Integration & Processing Veterans Affairs or Armed Forces

Workshop level

Intermediate (3-5 years of experience in this specific practice area)  - Please note that this is a Level 2 workshop and participants must have completed the Level 1 Sensory intelligence workshop from April or November 2024. Please note: Participants with more or less than this stated level of experience are welcome to attend the workshop if they have attended the Level 1 workshop prior. The workshop content will be geared towards those with 3-5 years of experience. 

Presenters

Tia Steyn

Tia Steyn Consulting, located in Vernon, British Columbia, is led by Tia Steyn, an occupational therapist with a 25-year career spanning public, private, military, and academic sectors in South Africa and Canada. Her expertise now focuses on mental health. Since 2017, she has specialized in sensory modulation for adults, recognizing its significant impact in helping clients manage stress and anxiety in their daily lives. Tia offers personalized approaches for individuals to help them achieve their goals. she holds a B. Occupational Therapy from Stellenbosch University, a PG Dip in Hand Therapy from the University of Pretoria, and license with COTBC (College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia) as Martha Steyn. She is a member of CAOT (Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists) and holds certifications in various therapeutic techniques and professional development. 

 Dr. Annemarie Lombard 

Dr. Annemarie Lombard, Founder and CEO of Sensory Intelligence Consulting, is a registered Occupational Therapist with Health Professions Council of South Africa with a Ph.D. in Occupational Therapy (University of Cape Town) with 33 years of international experience in sensory integration and sensory processing. She authored "Sensory Intelligence: Why It Matters More Than IQ and EQ" in 2007 and a chapter on Sensory Play to "Rethinking Learning through Play" in 2020 and has made substantial contributions to academia, reviewing articles, and sharing her insights through various media outlets. Passionate about expanding sensory processing's applications, her focus shifted towards making sensory modulation more accessible in schools, families, and workplaces, since early 2000. She emphasizes the role of Occupational Therapists in promoting mental health and rehabilitation. She designed a CPD-accredited adult/adolescent sensory processing course, training over 500 practitioners since 2012. 

Registration fees

Early bird rates: Registration and payment completed by February 5, 2025

Regular rates: Registration and payment completed after February 5, 2025

Registration deadline: April 9, 2025 at 11:59 a.m. (Pacific Time)

Please note that CAOT does not offer group registration fees.  *It may be more cost effective to become a CAOT Member or Associate rather than pay the non-member rate. See “Can a non-member register for a Workshop?” in our Professional Development FAQs to know which membership category you are eligible for.   

Included in your registration fee:

Online workshop, access to the recording for a period of 14 days following the workshop, electronic copy of presentation slide handouts, opportunity to network and make connections with other occupational therapists interested in this topic, electronic certificate of attendance.

Cancellation/refund policy

All cancellation/refund requests must be sent in writing to education@caot.ca. All cancellation requests received prior to March 15, 2025 will be given a full refund minus a $50.00 administrative fee. No refunds will be given after March 15, 2025. Substitutions and transfers requests received by March 15,2025 are permitted and are subject to a $50.00 administrative fee.

If you are exceptionally unable to complete the workshop due to personal or family health issues, please reach out to  education@caot.ca 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 February 21, 2025 if there is insufficient registration by that date and reserves the right to cancel a Workshop due to insufficient registration up until March 7, 2025.

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.

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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 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. If you require additional special arrangements for accessibility, please contact education@caot.ca or 1-800-434-2268.    

Please note that workshop is offered in English.