Sensory Integration and Mental Health:
How to Develop a Trauma Informed Practice

A Conversation with Rachel Ashcraft, MS, OTR/L, TBRI® Practitioner

  • Moderated by Erin Flynn, MS, OTR/L 
  • Level: Introductory

  • Access: All parts of the course, including assignments, must be completed within a 7 week viewing window.

  • Contact Hours: 1.0 contact hours or 0.1 AOTA CEUs
  • AOTA Areas: Occupational Therapy Service Delivery: Evaluation, Intervention and Outcomes.
  • Audience: OT, OTA, PT, PTA, SLP, Psychologist, Educator, Parent
  • Completion Requirements: To earn contact hours or AOTA CEUs for this course participants must view this course in its entirety, and successfully complete the quiz accompanying each lesson.
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Course overview

Explore how to develop a trauma informed practice. Rachel Ashcraft, co-editor of the recently released AOTA textbook “Trauma, Occupation, and Participation: Foundations and Population Considerations in Occupational Therapy” will join us to discuss how she has initiated the development of a trauma informed practice at the clinic where she practices using the Trauma Informed Oregon model. This talk will provide you with the resources to enable you to initiate, or advocate for, a trauma informed practice in your area of practice. We will also discuss the importance of therapeutic use of self and the risk factors of working with individuals with trauma.

References are provided.

Learning Objectives

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

Identify how to increase mental health knowledge for occupational therapy professionals across settings.

Recognize relationship and developmental based mental health models that compliment Sensory Integration intervention

Select intervention modalities and models that support mental health while utilizing Sensory Integration principles

Rachel Ashcraft, MS, OTR/L, TBRI® Practitioner`
Guest Speaker

Rachel Ashcraft (she/her) is a licensed and registered occupational therapist. She currently serves as President for the Alabama Occupational Therapy Association. She has been at the forefront of the national OT movement towards more trauma informed care across the profession. She has received recognition from both State and National Occupational Therapy Associations for her work with vulnerable children, including receiving the 2018 Emerging & Innovative Practice Award from The American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. and the 2017 OTR of excellence award from the Alabama Occupational Therapy Association.Rachel is a Trust Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®) Practitioner as well as a provider for the Safe and Sound Protocol®. Rachel is passionate about trauma informed OT services and has co-authored several textbook chapters on various topics related to trauma.  She also served as co-editor for the recently published AOTA textbook, “Trauma, Occupation, and Participation: Foundations and Population Considerations in Occupational Therapy”.  Rachel currently serves as the Clinical Lead for Trauma Informed Practice with Child’sPlay Therapy Center and Cicero Therapies.  Rachel founded and runs a non-profit Foster the Future Alabama which serves children in Alabama’s foster care system.

Erin Flynn, MS, OTR/L

Moderator

Robyn is a seasoned occupational therapist with over 15 years of experience specializing in sensory integration therapy. As the moderator for the SPIRAL Foundation’s 2024 Live Talk Series, Robyn brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in facilitating discussions on sensory integration. Her passion for advocacy and education in the field of occupational therapy makes her an invaluable asset to this series.


Disclosure: Erin was compensated for these talks as part of her regular SPIRAL duties. Guest speakers generously donate their time, however, they may benefit if learners choose to enroll in additional courses or programs with them.
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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