Module 2: Enhancing Executive Function: Going Beyond the Prefrontal Cortex

• Fresh integrative research-based and clinically-proven techniques
• Explore principles of yoga, mindfulness, breath and the gut in developing: flexible thinking, memory, planning, organization, impulse control, emotional regulation, attending behavior, task initiation and habit building
• Strategies to cultivate motivation, efficacy, carry over and decrease fear, anxiety, resistance
• Modify sensory input to increase alertness or facilitate calming

This workshop brings fresh integrative research-based and clinically proven techniques to enhance initiation, engagement, attending behavior and memory, as well as processing and self-monitoring.

Together, we will explore integrative tools we can use with challenges such as: the kid who scores well on tests but performs poorly in school, who is distracted and impulsive, who lacks motivation or is hindered by anxiety.

On day one, we will explore the foundational elements of brain function, effects of the gut and sensory input, as well as stress and fear. The second day we will devote our time to learning and experiencing specific strategies that will make a real difference in children’s lives:

• Developing healthy habits
• Yoga
• Mindfulness and meditation
• Breath
• Self-generation and determination
• Impulsivity and healthy social connections

Sought after occupational therapist and international lecturer, Lorelei Woerner-Eisner shares her 20 plus years of experience, continuing education, and therapeutic techniques, as well as her integrative perspective on wellness.

This seminar will provide you with a broader and deeper view of executive function that will increase your effectiveness as a therapist. You will leave with ideas to stimulate your own creativity, and strategies to facilitate cooperation and carry-over in your clients. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to explore integrative and cutting-edge treatment ideas!

OUTLINE

Principles of Executive Function

• Attention and sustained focus
• Engagement and initiation
• Optimization and monitoring
• Efficiency and sequencing
• Memory storage and retrieval
• Inquiry and analyzing
• Solution and organization
• Holarchical Model of EF

Levels of the Whole Person

• Physical – movement, posture and anatomy
• Breath and physiological systems
• Intellect – cognition, self-expression and sensory
• Personality – preferences, values and behaviors
• Emotional tone and the subjective
• Brain development & autonomic nervous system (ANS)
• Pruning and the use it or lose it principle
• Vagus nerve’s relation to physical and emotional effects

Effects of Stress on EF

• The effect on neural networks
• Cortisol and fight/flight effect on the brain
• The differences between fear and anxiety
• Getting to the basis of anger and frustration

The Gut Brain

• Enteric nervous system: the “second brain”
• Neurotransmitters in the gut that affect mood
• The ADHD-gut connection
• Enhance mood and memory through nutrition

Sensory Processing

• 3 developmental levels of regulation
• Swings effect on the Reticular Activating System
• Adjustments in sensory input to create balance
• Calm the sympathetic nervous system thru sensory input

Strategies to Develop Healthy Habits

• Using your mind to change your brain
• The power of thought and visualization
• Routines and steps to build habits
• Method of enhancing neurogenesis and neuroplasticity

Yoga, Mindfulness and Meditation Principles

• Mind-body-breath connection
• Yoga poses for self-regulation
• Interoception to build deeper self-awareness
• The power of the pause

Breath and Regulation Techniques

• Using breath to affect arousal levels
• Increasing and decreasing heart rate and blood pressure
• Supports movement and posture
• Techniques for focus, delayed gratification and processing in the pause

Sensory Processing Strategies

• Using the sensory systems to promote self-regulation and calm the sympathetic nervous system
• A look at rhythmicity and touch as factors in enhancing EF

Attention-Memory Connection

• Learning requirements for memory
• Emotion-motivation connection
• Intrinsic motivation to enhance processing
• The driving force of optimism and hope
• How multi-tasking is counter-productive
• Strategies that support focus and recall

Putting the pause on Impulsivity

• Marshmallows: the importance of learning to wait
• Anti-rush therapy to promote waiting
• Do-overs to teach healthy alternatives

Self-Generation and Self-Determination

• Promote delayed gratification, self-monitoring, task initiation, emotional control
• Supporting persistence to stick with dull and challenging activities
• Allowing time for processing, planning and self-correction

Strategies for Healthy Social Connections:

• Using the whole self as a therapeutic tool: emotion, modeling and positioning
• The power of relationship in therapeutic effectiveness
• Cuing and facilitation to promote participation, engagement and increased independence
• Teaching tolerance and other awareness

Treatment Strategies for Challenging Emotions

• Decreasing stress to facilitate EF
• Understanding fear, as the basis for many challenging emotions
• Using the teachable-moment “failures”

OBJECTIVES

1. Explore challenges in executive function through integrative techniques and a whole person perspective.
2. Explain the significance of brain development and the autonomic nervous system on executive functioning.
3. Apply effective yoga poses that create alertness and those that calm and facilitate focus.
4. Explore the mindfulness – meditation continuum and how to use these techniques to enhance executive functioning.
5. Identify breath-related strategies that support self-regulation.
6. Describe the gut-brain connection and how it can affect executive functioning.
7. Explain the emotion-motivation-attention-memory connection and how to facilitate toward learning and recall.
8. List strategies to develop healthy habits and self-discipline.
9. Explore strategies to get around the “shut-down” effect that stress and anxiety play on EF.
10. Describe 2 new techniques that diminish impulsive behaviors and facilitate delayed gratification.
11. Describe a new perspective of therapeutic use of self and the environment to help promote healthy social connections.
12. Identify strategies to help your client learn to take more ownership of their own well-being.

ADA Needs
We would be happy to accommodate your ADA needs; please call our Customer Service Department for more information at 1-800-844-8260.

Satisfaction Guarantee
Your satisfaction is our goal and our guarantee. Concerns should be addressed to: PO Box 1000, Eau Claire, WI 54702-1000 or call 1-800-844-8260.