Postgraduate Courses for Therapists
MSC IN SENSORY INTEGRATION
Find out more about our university accredited SI Practitioner training:
Postgraduate Courses
With a 25-year heritage of training therapists in sensory integration (SI) and sensory processing topics, SIE offers accessible, affordable and accredited SI training. Choose from our suite of short online courses, Masterclass webinars or university-accredited postgraduate qualifications.
Short Online Courses for Therapists
Your solution to continuing professional development requirements, our short online courses for therapists are lifelong learning at your fingertips. Choose from our wide array of introductory and intermediate level topics at affordable prices.
Qualify as an SI Practitioner or Advanced Practitioner
If you are looking to add Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI) therapy skills and qualifications to your practice, see our UK university accredited postgraduate qualifications in SI. Currently, these are open to graduate occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, and physiotherapists.
Module by module, build your knowledge, confidence and clinical skills to gain a PGCert in SI and the title of SI Practitioner, awarded by SIE. For clinicians looking to enhance their career and practice, we recommend the PGDip in SI which focuses on clinical practice; clinical application of research; and clinical service development. Successful completion of our PGDip converys the title of Advanced Practitioner, awarded by SIE. If you want to contribute to the growing body of evidence relating to sensory integration and sensory processing, Advanced Practitioners can proceed to the MSc in SI.
All our postgraduate courses are accredited by the award-winning Sheffield Hallam University, one of the largest allied health professions education providers in the UK. You can access our interactive, high-quality teaching online, from anywhere in the world. Study at times that are convenient to you. Our Advanced Practitioner eMentors will support you at each step of the way. You will enjoy the benefits of the university’s full student support and library resources from Day 1. We offer interest free payment plans. Students booking onto the full MSc course may be eligible for Postgraduate Student Loans.
Sensory Integration Difficulties
“Sensory integration” refers to the processing, integration, and organisation of sensory information from the body and the environment. Simply put, this means how we experience, interpret and react to (or ignore) information coming from our senses. Difficulties with using the information from our senses can affect our behaviour and ability to carry out daily tasks.
Sensory integration or sensory processing difficulties are long-term and have a big impact on everyday life and learning. But with professional advice and, if appropriate, therapy, much can be done to support improvements in a person’s daily functioning. This is how you, as an SI-trained therapist, can make a difference to the lives of your clients with SI difficulties.
It’s Very Likely That Some of Your Current Clients Have SI Difficulties…
Sensory integration difficulties are more common than you might think. They can co-occur with other diagnoses, including autism, ADHD, OCD, genetic syndromes, DCD (dyspraxia) and learning disabilities.
A 2009 study (1) found that as many as 1 in every 6 children has sensory processing issues that make it hard to learn and function in school.
Amongst autistic students and SEN students, the prevalence of sensory integration or processing difficulties is even higher. Research (2) has found that 66% of autistic children show definite differences in sensory behaviours and 32% of children with special education needs (not autistic) show different sensory behaviours.
A 2020 paper (3) found that sensory processing difficulties predicted executive and cognitive dysfunctions in inhibitory control, auditory sustained attention, and short-term verbal memory in autistic children within a school context.
What Will SI Training Add to Your Practice?
Sensory integration therapy, specifically Ayres Sensory Integration, is recognised as evidence-based practice for autistic individuals. Dr A Jean Ayres, an occupational therapist and psychologist with a strong interest in neuroscience, pioneered the understanding of sensory integration from her research and practice in the late 60s and 70s. A growing body of evidence now supports clinic-based sensory interventions, in particular Ayres Sensory Integration Therapy, to help individuals achieve their goals.
Sensory Integration Therapy is a specific evidence-based SI therapy which should only be practiced by trained practitioners. SIE’s SI qualifications will train you to provide sensory integration interventions to people in a range of different settings and across the lifespan. You will be able to negotiate and set appropriate goals, which reflect both your client's priorities and their sensory processing and integration needs.
Qualify as an SI Practitioner or Advanced Practitioner
If you are looking to add Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI) therapy skills and qualifications to your practice, see our UK university accredited postgraduate qualifications in SI. Currently, these are open to graduate occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, and physiotherapists.
Module by module, build your knowledge, confidence and clinical skills to gain a PGCert in SI and the title of SI Practitioner, awarded by SIE.