A group of eager new graduate and early career Occupational Therapists (OT) recently engaged their senses at a dynamic sensory workshop, immersing themselves in the world of sensory-informed practice.
The "Introduction to Sensory Approaches" workshop, run by the AMHS Occupational Therapy team, offered a hands-on exploration of sensory integration strategies and practical insights into their application with consumers.
While typically open to all disciplines, this particular session was exclusively open to new OT graduates, early OT career professionals, and OT students.
OT Professional Lead Karen Russell said the workshop’s primary goal was to empower attendees to experiment with sensory modalities alongside their consumers.
"Participants learn to identify and understand the sensory preferences of the people they work with, and how to apply sensory approaches to support them in achieving their OT goals," Karen said.
“For example, suggesting the use of a weighted modality can help someone manage anxiety while attending a lecture.”
In addition to practical applications, participants explored the neuroscience behind sensory approaches to treatment and how to communicate these concepts in a clear, accessible way for their consumers.
Although sensory-informed practice has been a valued approach in the mental health field for over a decade, the sensory approaches workshop was a relatively new initiative for AMHS.
After a successful pilot in 2023, the AMHS Occupational Therapy team now offers multiple workshops each year, introducing professionals to the proven benefits of sensory-based approaches in enhancing consumer wellbeing.