Sensory Integration Education

At SIE, we are delighted to extend our warmest congratulations to our former Chair, Dr Sue Allen, on being awarded a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Reading, School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences. 

Her thesis "How can we best support mothers of children with sensory processing differences that impact participation in daily occupations from a coaching perspective?” is a vital contribution to the field of sensory integration and processing.

We recently caught up with Dr Allen to congratulate her and to delve deeper into the important findings from her research:

About the Research: Exploring Group Coaching as a Support Strategy

Many children experience sensory differences that disrupt both their own and their family’s participation in everyday activities. These challenges often increase maternal stress, yet research into effective, scalable support solutions remains limited.

Dr Allen's research spanned four key studies to address this gap:

Study 1: Scoping the Evidence

A scoping review revealed emerging evidence for individual carer or family coaching approaches, but highlighted a significant lack of research into group coaching, especially online formats.

Studies 2 & 3: Listening to Mothers

Using semi-structured interviews with six mothers and a survey of 132 mothers, Dr Allen explored the lived experiences of families. Mothers described how sensory differences affected daily life and relationships and emphasised the value of:

- Being listened to

- Gaining knowledge and understanding

- Adapting the environment and activities

- Support from social networks, media, professionals and direct interventions

The study also compared mothers of autistic versus non-autistic children. While both groups benefited similarly from supportive strategies, mothers of autistic children reported greater challenges in everyday activities, particularly in school and community settings.

Study 4: Piloting a Group Coaching Intervention

Dr Allen piloted a brief online group coaching programme using Occupational Performance Coaching (OPC) with 11 mothers. The results showed that the intervention was feasible and:

- Mothers found the coaching helpful in building social connections

- Maternal stress was reduced

- Child occupational performance improved

Key Insights and Implications

Dr Allen’s findings highlight the need to broaden the way we support families:

- Only one third of parents currently receive direct intervention—representing a missed opportunity to reduce stress and improve participation.

- Support should extend to both the child and the mother, regardless of formal diagnosis.

- Universal care can be enhanced by promoting public understanding of sensory differences and their real-world impact.

- Group-based OPC shows promise as a practical, scalable support tool.

Dr Allen also reflected on the bigger picture:

“Occupational Performance Coaching is a powerful tool. It allows us to support mothers in a way that not only reduces stress but also strengthens participation for their children. Just as importantly, we can foster community understanding. Sharing the message that sensory differences are real and impactful helps build the support networks families need.”

Looking Ahead

Dr Allen’s PhD is a milestone not only in her academic journey but also in advancing our understanding of how best to support families navigating sensory challenges. Her work reaffirms the importance of relationship-based, evidence-informed interventions that are both accessible and empathetic.

Congratulations, Dr Allen, from all of us at SIE. We are proud of your achievements and deeply grateful for your continued contributions to sensory-informed practice. 

Additional Information

Dr Allen's full thesis can be viewed here.

Two open access articles already published are:

Mothers’ Perspectives: Daily Life When Your Child Has Sensory Differences

Coaching Parents of Children with Sensory Integration Difficulties: A Scoping Review

Dr Allen’s ORCID link is https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8634-7632