Sensory Integration Education

Learning Objectives:

• Demonstrate ACTION approach treatment strategies for individuals and organizations
• Examine the neurological connections and implications to lived experiences resulting in trauma and social determinants of health
• Apply methods and strategies to provide trauma-responsive care 
• Analyze Intergenerational, Organizational, Social, and Cultural trauma

By now, most have heard of trauma-informed care. While it is a great start, it is time we move from being informed to being responsive. That is where the ACTION from Trauma Approach comes into play. Trauma is so pervasive, the clients you serve may very well present with a history of trauma that can impact your provision of care and negatively affect their treatment outcomes. They may struggle to follow through with treatment recommendations, have poor session attendance, exhibit aggressive behavior, and lack trust in you as the therapy professional.  

In order to be of support and provide effective therapeutic services, allied health professionals need to acknowledge the signs and symptoms of trauma. You must be able to identify and analyze the trauma that exists in your clients, even if your practice is not focused on mental health. You must understand trauma as a dynamic condition that presents in various forms. You must also recognize any trauma within yourself and the potential re-traumatization that you can unknowingly impose on those you serve. 

This 4-hour course delves deep into the signs, symptoms, and evidence-based intervention approaches to address the various forms of trauma. In addition to complex trauma, content acknowledges forms of intergenerational, organizational, social, and cultural traumas. Case examples further illustrate symptomology such as emotional dysregulation, musculoskeletal problems, challenges with sensory perception, poor self-regulation, the impact on self-help skills, and cognitive deficits. Dr. Gibbs provides an overview of Trauma-Informed Care and introduces the ACTION from Trauma Approach. The approach maps out neurological connections to further enhance understanding of the underlying mechanisms influencing behavior following exposure to trauma.  The ACTION from Trauma Approach also reviews activities and worksheets to assist clients in creating growth plans and provides tools to assess and address how trauma presents within organizations and social constructs. Dr. Gibbs instructs participants on how to perform specific treatment techniques and strategies including physical activities, breathwork, self-regulation, and activities to address cultural safety based on the ACTION from Trauma Approach.  Specific focus is given to how racial injustice and trauma interrupts one’s health and well-being. 

Outline:

Part 1: ACT (1.5 hours) 

• Review Trauma-Informed Care and the need to incorporate a strength-based trauma-responsive approach
  • Introduction to the five dimensions of trauma
  • Introduce the ACTION from Trauma Approach assessment and intervention planning (for individuals and families)
• Acknowledging Trauma: Introduction and tools to assess and initiate services including practitioner readiness
  • Signs and symptoms related to trauma
  • Impact on neurological functioning and outcomes
• Creating Growth: Setting the stage and developing intervention plans services
  • Resources, tools, and hands-on approaches for all age ranges
  • Teaching Neuro: A review of the underlying neurological aspects of trauma and methods to teach clients and caregivers to better inform treatment planning and intervention 

Part 2: ION Recording (1.5 hrs) 

• Intergenerational trauma: Review of research and methods to address epigenetics; how trauma is passed between generations through the DNA
  • Methods to assess family history
  • Inner child work and parent-child interventions
  • Organizational trauma: Connecting racial injustice and how systems and policies impact trauma.
• General overview of ACTION approach treatment strategies for organizations and systems
• Application of culturally informed treatment approaches and methods to develop sanctuary spaces for members of an organizations 

Part 3: Conclusion and Q & A session: (1 hr)

• Applying strategies from the ACTION from Trauma Approach to case scenarios
• Review of the “N”: Now is the time for a call to ACTION to address client needs with a trauma-responsive approach.