Systematic exposure therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain (January 2027)

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 education@caot.ca. 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 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 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.

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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 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 education@caot.ca or 1-800-434-2268.