Using a Strengths-Based Approach to Behavior – Digging Deeper to Improve Self-Regulation

$250.00

Cara Koscinski, OTD, MOT, OTR/L, CAS

Six Contact Hours
$250.00

We are no longer asking if it’s SENSORY or BEHAVIOR – We are digging deep to improve self-regulation.

Are you juggling behavioral outbursts during your sessions?

By shifting your perspective and considering all behavior as communication, you can approach your sessions with confidence. Regulation, sensory coding, interoception, reflex integration, top-down or bottom-up processing, and decreased communication all affect a child’s behavior. Behaviors affect all disciplines in all settings. Students who need to move in order to learn often struggle with self-regulation throughout the school day. In this online course informed by the most recent and exciting research, you will learn to help increase students’ flexibility. Implement the techniques in this fun course and you’ll immediately improve your effectiveness, children’s participation, and therapeutic outcomes in all settings and disciplines.

Print Brochure
Categories: , , ,

OBJECTIVES

Learning Objectives:
Participants completing this course will be able to:

1) Explain that behavior is communication when a child is dysregulated.

2) Describe recent research connecting movement, sensory, and executive function to behavior and emotion in children.

3) Define the importance of movement to higher-level brain function and occupational performance.

4) Identify the difference between proactive and reactive responses to tantrums/meltdowns.

5) Discuss the impact of trauma on a child’s performance.

6) Identify how the ability to regulate during occupation is affected by retained reflexes and decreased complex movement patterns.

7) Define executive function and impact on regulation in children of all ages.

8) Summarize interoception and relation to emotion and theory of mind.

9) List at least ten fun and engaging activities that can be used immediately to improve regulation of children.

Target Audience: 

PT, PTA, OT, OTA, SLP, Students

Course Level 

Introductory

FACULTY

Cara N. Koscinski, OTD, MOT, OTR/L, CAS

Dr. Koscinski earned her post-professional Doctorate in Occupational Therapy in 2019 at Rocky Mountain University, a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Duquesne University in 1997; and BS in Health Sciences at Duquesne University in 1996. Cara earned her certification as an Autism Specialist in 2021 through the International Board of Credentialing and Education Standards. She is a former professor at the University of St. Augustine’s MOT and OTD programs and currently mentors OTD students’ capstone projects through the University of Florida, Texas Woman’s University, and many others. Cara also provides occupational therapy services, advocacy, and consultations as The Pocket Occupational Therapist. She enjoys speaking and delivering keynote addresses and courses to therapists, teachers, and through CEU organizations such as PESI and OccupationalTherapy.com. Cara utilizes and teaches others about trauma-informed approaches and received an award for her work in this area. Her website www.PocketOT.com contains products designed to support the busy occupational therapist, is AOTA-approved for delivering PDUs, and helps caregivers learn advocacy and using strengths-based approaches for their children.

Cara is a mother to her own two adult autistic sons. Not only does she understand occupational therapy, but she is able to appreciate the unique perspective of the caregiver. This is evident in her additional training and drive to seek new and fun ways to help children to achieve their goals. When she could not find comprehensive books to help guide her, Cara decided to write her own! She has published six books for caregivers and therapists and wrote a chapter for the Autism in Lockdown book. Her books sell worldwide and have won multiple awards. Cara’s seventh book about the Train Model for executive function will be released in the fall of 2023.

Service to the special needs community invigorates Cara. She is the OT advisor and regular columnist for Autism, Asperger’s, and Sensory Digest; is an advisor, completing over 1000 hours of volunteer work, for the Real OT Solutions cursive handwriting program; and has completed volunteer work with multiple organizations such as Future Horizons and the Autism Society of America. It is Cara’s mission to provide education to her clients and students while showing the unique value of occupational therapy.

Financial Disclosures:
Cara provides occupational therapy services, advocacy, and consultations as The Pocket Occupational Therapist and receives financial compensation. She enjoys speaking and delivering keynote addresses and courses to therapists, teachers, and through CEU organizations such as PESI and OccupationalTherapy.com. She receives an honorarium for continuing education courses and seminars, including this one. Her website www.PocketOT.com contains products designed to support the busy occupational therapist, is AOTA-approved for delivering PDUs, and helps caregivers learn advocacy and using strengths-based approaches for their children for which she receives financial compensation. She has published six books for caregivers and therapists and wrote a chapter for Autism in Lockdown book for which she receives royalties.

Non-Financial Disclosures:
She is the OT advisor and regular columnist for Autism, Asperger’s, and Sensory Digest; is an advisor, completing over 1000 hours of volunteer work, for the Real OT Solutions cursive handwriting program; and has completed volunteer work with multiple organizations such as Future Horizons and the Autism Society of America

COURSE SCHEDULE

Pre-Recorded Webinar

30 minutes – Module 1: Is This YOU? Group participation as a way to pre-test knowledge, build buy-in and two case study introductions
30 minutes – Module 2: Research review and discussion
45 minutes – Module 3: Regulation, Effective Coding in Sensory Processing, & Brain Development Executive Function – Doing Skills and Effect on Occupational Performance
15 minutes – Break
1 hour – Module 4: Trauma, Survival, and Somatic Experiencing
1 hour – Module 5: Retained Reflexes, Movement, and Connection with Emotions with audience activities
45 minutes – Lunch
45 minutes – Module 6: Interoception – Everywhere, All the Time!
45 minutes – Module 7: Proactive and Reactive Strategies Focusing on a Fun, Play-Based Approach
30 minutes – Review Case Studies – group work
15 minutes – Q and A

6 contact hours

CEU'S

Educational Credits

6 contact hours

A post-test will be required at the conclusion of the webinar.

Approved for 6 contact hours by NYSED’s State Board for PT.

Application has been made to NJBPTE for CE credit approval.

AOTA-Approved Provider Program

TSI is an AOTA Approved Provider of Professional Development. PD activity approval ID #Pending. This Live PD is offered at 6 contact hours or .6 CEU’s, Introductory level, Domain of OT: OT Service Delivery. AOTA does not endorse specific course content, products, or clinical procedures.

AAWK Brand Block - Color Long - Name OnlyThis course is offered for 0.6 ASHA CEUs (Intermediate Level)

ASHA CE Provider approval and use of the Brand Block does not imply endorsement of course content, specific products or clinical procedures.