Interoceptive awareness and sensory processing interventions can be integrated by selectively using the FAB Strategies® curriculum to develop a foundational body awareness for functional behavior and learning. The FAB Strategies® curriculum can help children and teenagers with Learning, Post-Traumatic Stress, Autism Spectrum, and/or other mental health disorders. However, therapist’s need to individualize FAB Strategies® to the preferences as well as developmental, behavioral, and sensory needs of each client.
The initial foundation of body awareness involves progressively developing a felt sense of the front & back, top & bottom, and two sides of the body. Once this proprioceptive foundation is established in the body, it can be extended to the classroom. Finally, students can be taught to apply these directional concepts to their paper in reading and writing (review previous post).
It is helpful as a component of sensory processing and/or trauma-informed care (e.g., assuming and treating all the students you work with as if they may have PTSD) to be sensitive to each student’s preferences regarding touch. Never touch children or adolescents without first getting their consent. Often students are least sensitive to non-touch mindfulness, then mechanical touch, deep pressure massage, and finally most sensitive to slow, light affective touch.
FAB Strategies options that help teach the basic front-back, top-bottom and sides concepts without the need for any physical contact include the mindful clock sitting and mindful clock standing strategies. The downward movement in the mindful clock standing strategy can be particularly helpful as a grounding activity for children and teens who experience flashbacks or dissociation (a state of extreme dysregulation sometimes experienced by students with PTSD or psychotic disorders).
To provide deep pressure using mechanical touch therapists can use the Roll a therapyball-Core strategy Clinical Video In addition to use of the therapy ball, mechanical touch can be provided through using a vibrating bath brush. Finally, interoceptive affective touch can be applied through the back X and spine walking strategies (Click to review previous FAB Sensory Modulation Strategies post).
FAB Strategies combine interoceptive awareness with sensory integration strategies. They also offer a variety of interventions that can be individualized to the preferences, developmental level, and sensory challenges of the client. My next post will offer additional non-touch mindfulness strategies for children and adolescents with typical cognition that combine relaxation with body awareness.
