Touch Intervention to Improve Child & Adolescent Behavior

Coping Strategies, Pressure Touch, Sensory Integration, Sensory Modulation /

Evidence based touch strategies are an important part of my occupational therapy interventions for children and adolescents with behavioral, psychiatric, developmental, and sensory processing challenges. Although touch is a component of typical attachment and development, many excellent mental health therapists do not include touch in their interventions with children and adolescents, and warned me against […]

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Preschool & Kindergarten Strategies for Complex Behavior Challenges

1 Comment / Coping Strategies, Environmental Adaptations, FAB Strategies, Kindergarten, Preschool /

Preschool and kindergarten teachers are extraordinary, under-appreciated professionals who are confronted with helping children develop the foundation for academic achievement, while often simultaneously developing the social skill prerequisites for learning in students with behavioral challenges.  Some preschool and kindergarten students may also demonstrate “complex behavioral challenges” including significant social, developmental, and sensory processing challenges that

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Sensory-Motor Strategies to Improve Self-Control

Coping Strategies, FAB Strategies, Sensory Integration, Sensory Modulation /

Sensory-motor strategies are often motivating for children and adolescents, providing therapists with a useful modality for improving self-control.  DBT www.linehaninstitute.org and CBT intervention http://apt.rcpsych.org/content/7/3/224.full can improve self-control in children and adolescents, but are often ineffective for youngsters who have significant cognitive deficits and/or a very limited attention span. Sensory-motor strategies offer a motivating and effective component

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Combining Sensory Integration with Behavioral Strategies

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FAB (Functionally Alert Behavior) Strategies synthesize sensory integration with behavioral strategies to help children and adolescents with behavioral, developmental, and sensory processing challenges.  Some therapists limit themselves to using only sensory integration or behavioral techniques.  However, combining these interventions provides opportunities for structure and child-centered movement that improve behavior in children with complex needs.  Sensory

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Sensory Strategies for Childhood Trauma

5 Comments / Uncategorized /

After 20 years as a pediatric occupational therapist, I got a job as Mental Health Coordinator at Head Start and immediately discovered that children with behavioral problems and an early trauma history respond dramatically to developmental and sensory integration interventions. Many of my children who had childhood trauma and behavioral problems showed sensory discrimination, as

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Sensory Strategies in Adolescent Psychiatry

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The FAB Sensory Match Strategy uses individualized sensory coping strategies and reinforcement to reduce self-injurious behaviors in adolescents with psychiatric challenges.  Effective treatment approaches for self-injurious behavior such as DBT, CBT, and ARC teach adolescents to use generalized coping strategies to replace self-injurious behaviors.  However, research reports that adolescent self-injurers have significantly increased sensory modulation

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FAB Pressure Touch Strategies

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The FAB Pressure Touch Strategies help reduce anxiety, increase communication, and improve behavior with children who have self-control, developmental, and sensory processing challenges. FAB Pressure Touch was developed by adapting and synthesizing evidence-based Massage Techniques, QST, Knickerbocker Sensory Integration strategies, Trager Body Work, and NDT touch strategies to meet the needs of children with developmental,

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Possible implications of New DSM-5 PDD Diagnosis for OT, PT, and ST

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Given the DSM-5 diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder “ASD” as a single diagnosis with differing degrees of severity and a subcategory of restricted repetitive behaviors occupational, speech-language, and physical therapists are uniquely qualified to offer important diagnostic input. ASD is categorized as Level 1 requiring support, Level 2 requiring substantial support, and Level 3 requiring very substantial

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FAB Strategies Workshops

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I’ve been getting several enquiries from therapists, parents, and teachers interested in taking my FAB (Functionally Alert Body) Strategies workshops.  FAB Strategies offer evidence based transdisciplinary mindfulness, sensory processing, handling, behavioral, art, music, and activity strategies for children with behavioral, developmental, and sensory challenges. I would enjoy discussing setting up workshops with you and can

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