Supporting parental health through a better understanding of the parent-child dyad’s co-occupations (June 1, 2027)

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.