SAFE PLACE: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Treating Children with Complex Trauma and Sensory Processing Disorder – A Training Program

  • Presenters: Sarah Sawyer, MA, OTR/L and
    Teresa May-Benson, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA
  • Level: Advanced
  • Contact Hours: 6.0 contact hours or 0.6 AOTA CEUs.
  • AOTA Areas: Occupational Therapy Service Delivery, Foundational Knowledge
  • Audience: Occupational therapists, OT assistants, Mental Health professionals

  • Completion Requirements: To earn contact hours or AOTA CEUs for this course participants must view this course in its entirety, and successfully complete the accompanying course quiz

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Course overview

OTs working with children with sensory processing challenges are increasingly addressing co-morbid trauma and attachment concerns. Effective interventions are limited. This workshop will provide participants with the assessment and intervention knowledge necessary to implement the SAFE PLACE program, a multi-disciplinary sensory integration-based intervention for addressing attachment and complex trauma concerns in children with sensory processing dysfunction. The SAFE PLACE intervention program involves occupational therapists, mental health professionals, parent and child and encompasses concepts and philosophies from sensory integration, attachment, and complex developmental trauma theory. The SAFE PLACE model of care and core assessment strategies and intervention principles will be presented. Case studies will illustrate the components, implementation and outcomes of the intervention program. Participants will evaluate their own sensory processing style and reflect on how their sensory processing style facilitates or hinders interactions with their clients.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the course participants will be able to:

Apply a theoretical model which integrates concepts of sensory integration, complex trauma and attachment.

Analyze the appropriateness of various sensory, motor, trauma and attachment assessments for use as part of a comprehensive evaluation for planning intervention with the SAFE PLACE program.

Design an intervention that incorporates all components of the SAFE PLACE program.

Agenda


  • Introduction to SAFE PLACE (1.25 hrs)
  • Assessment and Intervention Processes (1.5 hrs)
  • Intervention (2 hrs)
  • Fidelity Measure for SAFE PLACE (1.25 hrs)

Sarah Sawyer, MA, OTR/L

Sarah is an occupational therapist with extensive clinical experience working with individuals experiencing sensory processing differences. Sarah began her career in the United Kingdom working with children, adolescents and adults with sensory processing challenges across home, school, community and clinic-based settings. In 2003 Sarah was awarded the Elizabeth Casson Trust Scholarship from Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK, to attend Tufts University to complete her post-professional masters. Sarah has broad experience evaluating and treating individuals with SPD and has specialized training in Ayres Sensory Integration®, listening therapies, feeding therapies and DIR® Floortime Approach. Sarah is also passionate in supporting individuals and families that have experienced trauma and has collaborated with several colleagues to support the development of the role of OT in mental health and specifically the intersection of sensory processing, trauma and attachment. In addition to her role of President of SPIRAL Sarah supports the development of new programs, research and clinical initiatives within OTA The Koomar Center and Cicero Therapies. Sarah also regularly shares her knowledge and experiences through mentoring and presentations

Teresa May-Benson, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Teresa is an expert occupational therapist renowned for her clinical research, mentoring and education related to related to sensory integration theory and intervention, praxis, and social competency. She is currently the owner/CEO of TMB Education, LLC and serves as President and practicing occupational therapist at OTR, Inc, a private occupational therapy practice specializing in sensory integration and social competency for children and adults across the lifespan, located near Philadelphia, PA. Dr. May-Benson has a diverse background as a clinical practitioner, having worked in private and public-school settings as well as private practice. She has authored numerous book chapters and articles on praxis and sensory integration and completed her doctoral dissertation on ideational praxis. Teresa is an education and research faculty member at the SPIRAL Foundation. In her role of educator, she currently serves as adjunct faculty at Widener University and is past faculty at Tufts University and the University of Indianapolis. She has received the Virginia Scardinia Award of Excellence from AOTA for her work in ideational praxis and is the 2023 recipient of the AOTF A. Jean Ayres Award.

Disclosure: Speakers completed this course as part of their regular employment.
ADA/Section 504: If you require special accommodations, please contact courses@thespiralfoundation.org
Cancellation Policies: Available here

Continuing Education: Occupational Therapy Practitioners/ Occupational Therapy Assistants: SPIRAL Foundation is an Approved Provider of Continuing Education for occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants by the American Occupational Therapy Association. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA

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