Outline

The Neuroscience Behind Self-Regulation

• A look at sensory-motor pathways
• Brain dissection video: The emotional brain and its connection to executive functioning
• Neurological dysfunction: Hyper-activity, hypo-activity, aggressiveness, self-stimulatory, and inattentiveness

Neuro and Sensory Integration: Linking to Behaviors

• Breaking down self-regulation: Sensory, cognition and emotions
• Self-regulation effects on behavior: Flapping, inflexibility, rigidity, lack of inhibition, poor social skills, risk taking
• The power of the autonomic nervous system and its connection to behavior (ie. stress, fear and primitive reflexes)
• The power of primitive reflexes and how they impede on function
• Tools and strategies for assessing primitive reflexes

Video Case Study Analyzation: Aligning Symptoms and Characteristics with Appropriate Interventions

• ADHD: Diagnosis and current treatment strategies
• Autism: Diagnosis and DSM-5® updates
• Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD):
  • Sensory modulation disorder
  • Sensory-based motor disorder
  • Sensory discrimination disorder

Self-Regulation Techniques and the Vagus Nerve Connection

• Communication strategies that provide control: Symbolic and non-verbal
• Self-management and behavioral strategies: Behavioral contracts, checklist for tracking behaviors, video modeling
• Addressing picky eating and poor sleep habits: Desensitizing and non-threatening activities
• Music as a technique to initiate sensorial stimuli, calming and attentiveness
• New interventions for vestibular, proprioceptive, auditory, smell and vision work

Apply Neuroscience to Interventions: Hands-on Activities

• Neurological connection of current programs such as Brain Gym®, sensory diets, and MeMoves™, just to name a few!
• Integrate a mindfulness program for self-regulation
• Address primitive reflexes and improve social participation and age appropriate behaviors
• Tool to assess child’s arousal levels to be used for daily schedules and to organize daily interventions

Treatment Planning: Video Case Examples of Children Displaying Challenging Social, Eating and Sleep Behaviors

• Perform a virtual evaluation
• Develop a treatment plan
• Goal development
• Re-assessment: When is it needed and when to discharge

Psychoeducation for Clients and Parents

• Evidence-based intervention and techniques to address challenges with self-regulation
• Address psychosocial concerns and experiences of caregivers of children with self-regulation challenges
• Communicate methods to address reciprocal regulation between the child and caregiver to address the influences and interaction each have