Full Course Description

2-Day Self-Regulation Certificate Course: Neurological Interventions for Multisensory Integration, Emotional Regulation and Executive Functioning

For children to be able to pay attention, actively participate and learn, their nervous systems must be regulated! Therefore, it’s essential to know the underlying brain connections related to challenging behaviors, such as hyperactivity, hypo-activity, aggressiveness, self-stimulation and inattentiveness in children and adolescents diagnosed with Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder, and ADHD.

Watch renowned self-regulation expert and author Varleisha Gibbs, PhD, OTR/L, for this advanced 2-day training and learn the connection between neuroscience and self-regulation to help you select and develop effective self-regulation interventions.

Under Dr. Gibbs’ expert guidance, you will learn proven neurologically tailored sensory strategies, environmental strategies, sensory-based tools, respiratory- based techniques, and emotional regulation techniques, as well as mindfulness, social skill programs, and music and movement—to improve regulation.

By learning how to skillfully integrate these strategies you will be able to:

  • Target the nine sensory systems, emotional regulation and executive functioning
  • Tap into the central, autonomic, and enteric nervous systems to improve regulation
  • Address primitive reflexes to improve social participation and age appropriate behaviors
  • Initiate sensorial stimuli, calming and attentiveness to reduce challenging behaviors
  • Improve working memory and reduce stress to open children up to learning
  • Address picky eating and poor sleep habits

Whether you are an expert on the brain or new to this science, Dr. Gibb’s makes it easy to understand and easy to implement! Purchase today!

Program Information

Objectives

  1. Analyze the neuroscientific research related to self-regulation and sensory processing in kids diagnosed with Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder, and ADHD.
  2. Differentiate between the characteristics of sensory processing disorder, ADHD and autism and articulate how the neurological processes of each disorder coincide with one another.
  3. Apply neurological approaches that tap into the central, autonomic, and enteric nervous systems to improve clinical intervention techniques.
  4. Determine the role of primitive reflexes and how they support or impede client functioning.
  5. Evaluate the relationship between the autonomic nervous system and behavior in clients.
  6. Determine the neurological responses aligned with intervention techniques to further enhance treatment planning.
  7. Develop appropriate clinical interventions for challenging behaviors in clients, such as hyper-activity, hypoactivity, aggressiveness, self-stimulation and inattentiveness.
  8. Implement music as a technique to initiate sensorial stimuli, calming and attentiveness in clients.
  9. Integrate a comprehensive mindfulness program to improve self-regulation in clients.
  10. Utilize role play activities to assess levels of arousal among clients.
  11. Develop a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses a variety of clinical concerns, including social skills deficits, picky eating and sleeping issues.
  12. Implement strategies to address reciprocal regulation between the child and caregiver in order to improve clinical outcomes.

Outline

The Neuroscience Behind Self-Regulation

  • A look at Sensory-Motor Pathways
  • The emotional brain and its connection to executive functioning: Brain dissection video
  • Hyper-activity, hypo-activity, aggressiveness, self-stimulatory, and inattentiveness: Neurological dysfunction
Linking Neuro and Sensory Integration to Behaviors
  • Sensory, cognition, and emotions
  • Self-regulation effects on behavior: Flapping, inflexibility, rigidity, lack of inhibition, poor social skills, risk taking
  • Autonomic Nervous System and its connection to behavior (ie. stress, fear, and primitive reflexes)
  • The power of primitive reflexes and how they impede on function
  • Tools and strategies for assessing primitive reflexes
Aligning Symptoms/Characteristics with Interventions
  • Video case study analyzations:
  • ADHD: Diagnosis and current treatment strategies
  • Autism: Diagnosis and DSM-5™ updates
  • Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)
Self-Regulation Techniques and the Vagus Nerve Connection
  • Communication strategies that provide control
  • Self-management and behavioral strategies
  • Address picky eating and poor sleep habits
  • Music to initiate sensorial stimuli, calming and attentiveness
  • New interventions for vestibular, proprioceptive, auditory, smell and vision work
Apply Neuroscience to Interventions: Hands-on Activities
  • Brain Gym®, sensory diets, and MeMoves™ and their neurological connection
  • Self-Regulation and Mindfulness 7-Level Hierarchy program
  • Address primitive reflexes and improve social participation and age appropriate behaviors
  • Tool to assess child’s arousal levels to organize interventions
Treatment Plan for Challenging Social, Eating, and Sleeping Behaviors
Video case examples:
  • Perform a virtual evaluation
  • Develop a treatment plan
  • Goal development
  • Re-assessment: When is it needed and when to discharge
Psychoeducation for Children and Parents to Address:
  • Psychosocial concerns and experiences of caregivers
  • Reciprocal regulation and interaction activities

Target Audience

  • Occupational Therapists
  • Occupational Therapy Assistants
  • Speech-Language Pathologists
  • Counselors
  • Social Workers
  • Educators
  • Psychologist
  • Marriage & Family Therapists
  • Physical Therapists
  • Physical Therapist Assistants

Copyright : 03/04/2021

Sensorimotor Interventions to Improve Social, Emotional, and Cognitive Functioning: Neurological Approaches for Children and Adolescents with Autism

Join author and expert Varleisha Gibbs PhD, OTD, OTR/L, as she teaches you how to skillfully apply strength-based sensorimotor interventions for improving social, emotional, and cognitive function in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Drawing on the latest research in neuroscience, Dr. Gibbs will guide you through the underlying neuroanatomical connections to help you better select and develop appropriate interventions.

You’ll learn: 

  • Activation of the Vagus nerve, music and movement techniques, and breathwork for emotional regulation and social participation 
  • New self-regulation and mindfulness techniques to support arousal levels along with new assessments and treatments to organize daily interventions 
  • Environmental modifications to support optimal function of children with autism 

Dr. Gibbs will share techniques from her books Self-Regulation and Mindfulness (PESI Publishing & Media, Summer 2017) and from her latest book on Trauma Treatment in ACTION (PESI Publishing & Media, 2021). 

Program Information

Objectives

  1. Demonstrate the neurological connection to the various sensory strategies for treating children and adolescence diagnosed with autism.
  2. Employ treatment techniques such as mindfulness, activation of the Vagus nerve, music and movement, and respiratory-based techniques to improve client level of functioning.
  3. Integrate environmental modifications to support optimal function of children with autism.
  4. Assess the cause and effect of intervention techniques as they relate to neurological function.

Outline

  • Variations in the Presentations of Autism 
    • Impact on appropriate selection of intervention 
    • Looking at the duality of function and dysfunction 
    • Neurological connections to emotions and sensorimotor function 
  • Tools for Assessing: 
    • Areas of strength and areas revealing potential for growth 
    • Environment and context to identify opportunities for adaptation and modification 
    • Arousal levels assessment tool: Concrete method used for daily schedules and to organize daily interventions 
  • Neurological Connection to Treatment Planning 
    • Sensorimotor strategies to address the individual needs of children and families 
    • Adapt and modify activities and the environment to support the child’s needs 
    • New interventions for vestibular, interoception, proprioceptive, auditory, smell and vision work 
    • The Self-Regulation & Mindfulness program    
    • Addressing primitive reflexes   

Target Audience

  • Licensed Clinical/Mental Health Counselors 
  • Marriage & Family Therapists 
  • Occupational Therapists 
  • Occupational Therapy Assistants 
  • Physical Therapists 
  • Physical Therapist Assistants 
  • Psychologists 
  • Social Workers 
  • Speech-Language Pathologists 
  • Teachers/School-Based Personnel 

Copyright : 04/22/2021

Self-Regulation and Mindfulness

Varleisha Gibbs, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, has created a unique, evidence-based resource for helping children who have trouble self-regulating, staying focused, managing their senses and controlling their emotions.

Based on the latest research in neuroscience, Self-Regulation & Mindfulness provides highly practical, kid-friendly lessons to teach therapists, parents, educators, and children about their brain and body, so they can build the needed skills to self-regulate.

  • Hands-on activities
  • Step-by-step exercises
  • Coloring pages and worksheets

Clear, concise, and fun activities to address your children's arousal, attention, and social participation:

  • Touch and Heavy Work
  • Hydration and Oral Motor Activities
  • Metronome, Timing, and Sequencing Exercises
  • Right and Left Brain Integration Methods
  • Patterns and Repetition Recognition
  • Vision and Sound Skills
  • Movement Coordination
  • Inhibition Techniques