STARS - Student Therapy and Resource Services

Disordered Eating Behaviors: Identify and Treat the Underlying Trauma - Live Webinar
2023-10-04 06:00 - 14:00 (America/Phoenix)
As you perform your typical intake with a new client, you review their eating habits. There are indications of abnormal eating behaviors like yo-yo dieting and restrictive eating. The client guiltily says things like “I know I should eat heathier.”
Your guard is up, but you quickly move along when their problems don’t take the form of a full-blown eating disorder like anorexia or bulimia.
Non-DSM-5® disordered eating is more common than most clinicians realize, and these behaviors are frequently hiding something deeper –serving as a coping mechanism for the unresolved trauma that lies beneath. Without addressing the trauma behind the disordered eating, your client will fail to find the relief they seek.
Whether you specialize in eating disorders or not, now you can learn to assess and treat disordered eating from a trauma-informed, body-positive lens for improved outcomes! Lori Kucharski, PhD, LMFT-S, LPC, CEDS-S will guide you step-by-step through the skills and essential treatment techniques you need for every stage of therapy, including:

Tools to sensitively and effectively gather accurate information about your clients’ disordered eating behaviors
Interventions from EMDR, Polyvagal Theory, and more
Insights from non-diet, body-positive paradigms to reframe clients’ damaging relationship with food

Sign up today to help your clients resolve their traumas and release unhealthy disordered eating behaviors with this powerful non-diet paradigm!

Developing Executive Functioning Strategies - Webinar
2023-09-29 07:00 - 09:00 (America/Phoenix)
As clinicians and educators, we have a unique knowledge-base and skillset to improve our own executive functions as well as that of our clients. When we identify strategies for working “smarter not harder,” we are better able to enrich the executive functioning skills while targeting goals. After completing this course, participants will be able to: describe executive functions, identify your own executive functioning strengths and weaknesses, identify the co- occurrence with neurodiverse populations, and select strategies you will embed into your existing practice tomorrow.
Highlights

Improve your executive functioning strengths and reduce weaknesses
Practice multiple techniques for improving executive functioning skills
Practical applications for functional strategies you can use the next day

#7366 Managing Pediatric Behaviors in Rehabilitation Treatment Sessions - Live Webinar or Self Study
2023-09-28 17:00 - 19:00 (America/Phoenix)
Why everyone needs a hopping penguin! This course offers a guide to identifying behaviors and utilizing
antecedents and consequences effectively. The purpose of this course is to introduce the functions of interfering behaviors that can reduce or block progress towards attainment of therapy goals, as well as showing ways to utilize modifications of antecedents and consequences to reduce or eliminate these interfering behaviors. Using the research based approaches of behavior analysis, this presentation will provide guidance for changing the trajectory of sessions. The presentation will utilize a video samples of real kiddos to demonstrate application of material.

Instructor: Amy M Prince, MA-CCC, SLP, BCBA and Amber Ladd, MA-CCC, SLP, BCBA

Suicide and Self-Harm in Adolescents: Effective Assessment and Intervention Strategies for Young People in Crisis - Live Webinar
2023-09-28 08:00 - 16:00, 2023-08-10 08:00 - 16:00 (America/Phoenix)
Helping young people heal is your greatest reward.
But when treating adolescents with depression, anxiety, and trauma the full extent of their suffering is not always obvious. Many in distress wear a mask of strength while secretly harming themselves or hiding their struggle with thoughts of suicide. You worry that you could be missing critical signs.
This seminar will provide you with the assessment tools you need to unmask self-harming and suicidal thoughts, adapt interventions from DBT and CBT to work with the distinct challenges of treating suicidal and self-harming adolescents, and manage the specific confidentiality and liability issues that accompany working with minors.
There’s too much at stake to be unprepared!
Sign up today and leave this critical program confident and capable in using these vital assessment tools and treatment techniques to bring hope and healing to vulnerable young clients!

Infant Positioning Strategies Progressing Development while Promoting Safe Sleep - Webinar
2023-09-28 07:00 - 14:00 (America/Phoenix)
Since the launch of the Back to Sleep campaign in 1994, there has been a drastic shift in the way we care for infants. It is difficult to radically change one aspect of infant care without influencing other areas. We continue to see this effect with the rise of certain infant diagnoses in pediatric clinical practice. Clinicians routinely face the same questions from parents and caregivers seeking advice on “what is best for my baby?”, fielding questions on SIDS and safe sleeping practices. Infant Positioning Strategies is a comprehensive continuing education course that navigates the maze of information to give clinicians the confidence and skills to effectively address them, improve outcomes, and teach parents how to keep their infants safe. What you know could save a baby’s life!
In this interactive course, we will take a deep dive into the information on safe sleeping practices, the leading theories on sudden infant death and highlight recommendations that will safeguard babies from preventable situations that endanger them. Participants will glean a wealth of information about evaluating and treating the now common diagnoses of torticollis, plagiocephaly, and other developmental delays in relation to the consequence of the back sleeping practice. Hands-on evaluation and advanced treatment techniques will be demonstrated in an interactive format. The topics of related reflex integration and sensory processing as it correlates to exclusive supine positioning will also be discussed. Participants will walk away from this course with a wealth of tools and knowledge to use immediately in the clinic.
Highlights

Application of the NIH Safe Sleep recommendations and the practice of back sleeping to achieve a safe sleep environment
Evaluating warning signs of torticollis, plagiocephaly, and other common developmental delays
Hands-on labs for manual torticollis techniques, plagiocephaly positioning, home exercise programs with caregiver carryover
Assessment and treatment tools specific to improving feeding, sensory processing, reflex integration, and motor development
Best practices for ergonomic body position techniques while using car seats and other baby apparatuses

Changing the ADHD Brain: Moving Beyond Medication - Live Webinar
2023-09-22 05:00 - 13:00 (America/Phoenix)
Many persons diagnosed with ADHD prefer not to take medication. There are various reasons for this including side effects and concerns with long-term use. In this seminar, you will learn more about these reasons, as well as alternative interventions for ADHD.
Looking at ADHD from a developmental perspective, we will consider reasons for the apparent increase in ADHD diagnoses over the past two decades. By understanding the way the brain works in ADHD, you will be able to better identify a variety of strategies to significantly impact the nervous system and positively influence symptoms of ADHD in your clients.
Not only will you walk away with information about some of the most common non-medication interventions for ADHD such as computerized cognitive training, mindfulness meditation, and neurofeedback, you will also learn a variety of practical strategies that can be implemented immediately and at low cost.
We will navigate the vast research on exercise, movement, diet, sleep, disruptive technologies, supplements, and the impact of the environment on ADHD, summarizing the findings and applying the information to “real life”. You will leave this seminar with the tools and knowledge to develop a holistic approach to working with adults and children with ADHD.

“Break Through” Self-Regulation Interventions for Children and Adolescents with Autism, ADHD, Sensory or Emotional Challenges - Live Webinar
2023-09-22 05:00 - 13:00 (America/Phoenix)
Message from Your Presenter …
No one ever said that working with children with autism, ADHD or sensory disorders is easy. Theo will only eat white foods, tends to be buried in his own world and melts when he is transitioned too quickly. Steven, in 6th grade, has ADHD, poor organization skills and an attitude that is hard to break through. But, how do we help a child break through the self-regulation issues that limit their achievements?
That was the question I posed to myself twelve years ago. I set out to learn as much as I could about theories, techniques, and research that could help make the lives of these young people much more manageable and promising. I took intensive courses on multi-sensory approaches, sensory integration, self-regulation, yoga, autism, ADHD and became a Certified Autism Specialist in 2016. I have extensive experience adapting these techniques to make them usable in a variety of settings while working closely with teachers, aides, child study professionals and parents.
Join me as I guide you through a broad set of self-regulation interventions culled from my years of research and practice along with strategies for adapting them to your setting. You will leave my program with the essential skills, interventions and strategies to help children find harmony with themselves, their families and the world around them!
You will learn:

The most effective calming, sensory, motor or behavioral techniques for a given type of behavior
Peer-to-peer video feedback as a social intervention for children and teens with ASD
Sleep interventions for children with erratic sleep schedules
Interventions for Repetitive and Restrictive Behaviors for a child with stereotypy
Organization strategies for home and school for teenagers with ADHD
And more!

I look forward to seeing you there! Register today!

#7479 BREATHE YOUR WAY TO BETTER BONE (and ALL) HEALTH THE MEEKS METHOD®- Live Webinar
2023-09-21 17:00 - 19:00 (America/Phoenix)
#7479 BREATHE YOUR WAY TO BETTER BONE (and ALL) HEALTH
THE MEEKS METHOD®

With a focus on the Breath in Optimal Body Alignment, this highly experiential webinar will be centered on how we can breathe in many ways for better bone and overall health. This webinar will introduce you to the concepts that your bones also breathe and the importance of breathing during exercise. You will learn and practice safe, therapeutic, and functional breathing movement and exercises that you can use in professional and personal lives the very next day.
To ensure good breathing technique, Sara will demonstrate several breathing exercises via embedded videos. Beginning with Noticing the Breath to Breathing in Athletics and ancient Yogic Breaths, these concepts can take you and your clients further into functional movement than they or you might have thought possible. Focusing on optimal body alignment will provide more room for the internal organs (especially the lungs and heart).

The innovative, comprehensive, evidence-based, 12-point approach of The Meeks Method® has been shown to be safe and effective for many musculoskeletal and spinal conditions. Participants will be able to question Sara Meeks during the presentation and, in addition, will have available complimentary handouts of The Re-Alignment Routine and a full-color PDF copy of the PowerPoint presentation.

Instructor: SARA M. MEEKS, PT, MS, G.C.S, K.Y.T

Trauma Informed Care: What Does An Occupational Therapy Practitioner Need To Know? Live Webinar
2023-09-21 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Phoenix)
The significance of recognizing and addressing the complex impacts of trauma on both clients and practitioners, to not only tailor interventions that foster holistic healing and growth but also empower us to forge deeper therapeutic connections, will be explored in this course. This content will help you learn how to use evidence-based strategies rooted in trauma-informed principles to extend compassionate support to those we serve and cultivate an empathetic foundation to navigate our own personal and professional experiences of trauma.

Learning Outcomes

After this course, participants will be able to identify basic principles of trauma and trauma-informed approaches.
After this course, participants will be able to recognize the impact of trauma on the brain and human behavior.
After this course, participants will be able to list 6 trauma-informed strategies recommended by the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD).

Agenda

0-5 Minutes
History and Definition

5-10 Minutes
Types of Trauma

10-15 Minutes
Current Evidence & Barriers to TIC

15-20 Minutes
The Impact & Symptomology of Trauma

20-35 Minutes
Understanding the Impact of Trauma on the Brain

35-40 Minutes
Attachment Theory and Trauma

40-50 Minutes
Case Study

50-55 Minutes
Strategies for TIC for Patients and Practitioners

55-60 Minutes
Resources; Summary and Q&A

Neuroscience for Clinicians: New Brain Science for Trauma, Anxiety, Depression and Substance Abuse - Live Webinar
2023-09-21 08:00 - 16:00 (America/Phoenix)
Neuroscience has given us incredible insights into the workings of the brain and its connection to our mental health. Recent research reveals that neuroplasticity takes place all through life, so you can offer hope for real change no matter how long your client has suffered. But talking to your clients about their brain and what’s happening inside it is often difficult or overwhelming.
Learning how to not only communicate with clients about the brain but what specifically is going on inside of theirs has immense value in improving interventions and client compliance. Making neuroscience a must-have in every clinician’s toolbox when looking for creating lasting change.
In this workshop, you will participate in enjoyable learning experiences that provide you with the clear principles and background you need for utilizing neuroscience in your work. You will learn:

Ways to talk with your client about what’s going on in their brain
How to refine interventions and learn new ones through brain science
The ways that therapy and relationships help regulate stress
How and where neuroplasticity occurs, and ways to use it therapeutically
Strategies for using CBT, DBT, mindfulness, and Polyvagal Theory to overcome resistance, activate creative responses, and turn problems into potentials
Ways to add new dimensions to each therapy session and initiate lasting change using top-down, bottom-up, and horizontal methods

Easily and confidently incorporate these effective neuroscience techniques and tools into your very next treatment session!

The Pruning Effect On The Teenage Brain (It’s Not Just Hormones) - Live Webinar
2023-09-19 09:00 - 10:00 (America/Phoenix)
Adolescent brain changes during puberty will be highlighted in this course. We will consider how these changes may affect behaviors and participation in life tasks. What we used to blame on hormones is now attributed to a pruning effect that helps the brain become more specialized. As educators, this information is crucial when planning interventions.

Live Webinar
Tue, Sep 19, 2023 at 12:00 pm EDTCEUs/Hours Offered: AOTA/0.1 Intermediate, OT Service Delivery, Foundational Knowledge, 07754; CE Broker/1.0 CE Broker #20-1100302; IACET/0.1; NBCOT PDUs/1.25 Intermediate, Pediatrics

Learning Outcomes

After this course, participants will be able to differentiate between a developing teen brain and an elementary student’s brain.
After this course, participants will be able to evaluate what parts of the brain activate and deactivate during adolescence.
After this course, participants will be able to analyze and apply specific considerations for evaluation and treatment during adolescence.

Acceptance & Commitment Therapy Made Easy: ACT for PTSD, Anxiety, Depression & Personality Disorders - Live Webinar
2023-09-19 06:00 - 14:00 (America/Phoenix)
Are your current techniques just not working?
You’ve experienced the frustration; you have a client who seems to just not break through. You’ve tried your best, but the outcome is the same: he or she progresses for a while, then regresses again.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is the popular transdiagnostic approach that you can integrate into your practice to achieve positive therapeutic outcomes with difficult-to-treat clients.
Join ACT expert and presenter Daniel J. Moran, as he delivers an exercise and intervention-heavy course that will give you the tools you need to more effectively treat clients with PTSD, anxiety, depression or personality disorders.
You’ll learn how ACT weaves mindfulness strategies with cognitive behavioral change strategies to revolutionize client outcomes, as well as discover a variety of ACT techniques for helping clients who are struggling to make difficult behavior changes due to the presence of painful thoughts, feelings and memories.
By shifting client focus to their own values, ACT sets clients up to embrace behavior change that is meaningful to them while simultaneously fostering skills that allow clients to more effectively handle impulsive actions based on current thoughts or emotions.
Sign up today, and Dr. Moran will guide you step-by-step through highly practical, evidence-based ACT skills that you can apply in your practice immediately!

Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and Tapping: Evidence-Based, Mind-Body Treatment Approach to the Anxiety Spectrum Disorders - Live Webinar
2023-09-18 08:00 - 16:00 (America/Phoenix)
What do you do with anxiety and trauma clients who do not improve?
The anxiety spectrum exemplifies the disorders where emotions override thought. Fragmented memories get stored in the body. The Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) collapse this uncomfortable emotional and physical reactivity, freeing a path for spontaneous insights and clearer thinking.
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a comprehensive mind-body treatment that desensitizes three areas: unwanted thoughts, emotions, and physical reactions. EFT combines physical interventions derived from restorative (self-applied) acupressure theory with cognitive interventions.
EFT is an evidence-based practice with over 100 published studies. One published study demonstrated a 24% decrease in cortisol (stress hormone) level in the EFT group (Energypsych.org). EFT is an effective brief therapy and belongs in every therapist’s tool box.
Transform your clinical excellence. Bring EFT into your practice and treat resistant problems that other methods failed.
This seminar focuses on cutting-edge techniques of EFT to treat the anxiety spectrum disorders, including:

Phobias
Generalized Anxiety
Social Anxiety Disorder
Panic
OCD
Acute Traumatic Stress Reactions

These mind-body methods are emerging into mainstream mental health, trauma treatment, coaching, employee assistance programs, and sport psychology arenas as a rapid, effective, non-invasive, calming, desensitizing tool. Do not miss this opportunity to learn evidence-based techniques you can use immediately with your clients and improve treatment outcomes.

Adapting Low Vision Screening and Treatment Techniques for the School Setting - Webinar
2023-09-16 07:00 - 09:00 (America/Phoenix)
Visual deficits often get masked as cognitive deficits where poor academic performance is blamed on lack of motivation and attention. This course highlights the case study of a high schooler with visual deficits as she handlesher academic demands in high school. The course teaches clinical observations, visual screenings, evaluation, and treatment interventions that can be implemented not only in the outpatient therapy setting but also within the classroom. The attendee will be able to address these visual deficits and add tools to improve academic engagement and self-confidence.
Highlights

Learn clinical observations, standardized tests and practical interventions for identified visual deficits in a real-world case study.
Identify treatment resources and strategies to improve functional visual performance at home and in school.

Seating and Positioning Strategies for the Pediatric Population - Webinar
2023-09-14 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Phoenix)
In the United States, it is estimated at least 150,000 children utilize a mobility device and many of them will receive therapy services during their life. Clinicians working with children who have or may need a mobility device should have a basic understanding of the needs and process of obtaining one. This course will review basic concepts of equipment and principles when recommending equipment. The course will provide strategies in determining wheelchairframes and accessories as well as seating components. After completing this course, the clinician will be able to participatein mobility evaluations and recommendations with the involved team.
Highlights

Confidently provide proper recommendations forseating and mobility devices for the pediatricpopulation
Providing wheelchair skills for patient independence
Performing a mat screening to observe functional deficits
Early mobility skills and timing of making assisted mobility recommendations

DBT for Neurodivergent Clients: Adapted Techniques to Improve Emotional Regulation and Interpersonal Skills in Clients with ADHD, ASD, and more! - Live Webinar
2023-09-14 06:00 - 14:00 (America/Phoenix)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) has helped thousands of therapists improve their client’s life skills quicker and more effectively than they ever thought possible…
…but if you work with clients who are neuro divergent, you could be missing key ingredients to successfully integrate DBT practices into their lives.
Whether it be talking too fast or not giving enough processing time, using analogies or idioms that don’t work, or even expressing frustrations over client manner of participating, you might unwittingly be perceived as shutting them down or trying to fix them and make them neurotypical rather than equip them to build an abundant life in their own way.
Join neuro diverse speaker and DBT expert Hannah Smith, as she shows you highly effective ways to adapt this powerful treatment for this population and learn how to coach these skills in an accessible & inclusive way.
You’ll gain:

Helpful tools to present DBT concepts to your neuro divergent clients and make them more accessible and useable
Client-focused ways to target DBT skills, such as emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness that do not come across as “be more neurotypical”
Increased confidence and competence in identifying and working with key aspects of neurodivergence
…and so much more!

Clients are crying out for skills to help them manage the overwhelm but not so they can “be neurotypical” – and DBT, like no other therapy, includes whole-person/whole brained skills that can do this.
Register today!

Integrating Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) - Webinar
2023-09-13 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Phoenix)
Professional organizations and governing bodies require the use of evidence-based practice (EBP). Although there is a growing expectation that practitioners incorporate evidence into practice, there are many barriers to implementing EBP. Those who use evidence-based interventions have improved client outcomes, quality of services, and job satisfaction. This course will focus on strategies for understanding scholarly articles for any discipline or topic. Participants will learn howto identify relevant evidence through critical appraisal of journal articles. Participants will review tools and resources, and will have hands-on experiences to help overcome barriers and improve use evidence in practice. Through hands-on practice, participants will learn strategies that can be implemented immediately. Each participant will be challenged to reflect on their current use of EBP and develop an action plan.
Highlights

Effective tools to identify and develop a plan utilizing evidence-based practice (EBP)
Practical strategies for integrating evidence- based interventions to improve client outcomes
Tools, resources, and hands-on experiences are provided to help overcome barriers and improve use evidence in practice
Lower healthcare costs, improve job satisfaction, funding and reimbursement, and increase in quality of services using EBR

Food and Mood: A Therapist’s Guide to The Role of Nutrition in Mental Health -Live Webinar
2023-09-13 07:00 - 15:00 (America/Phoenix)
Diet is an often-ignored aspect of the prevention of poor mental health and the promotion of good emotional health. The causes of behavioral health problems are complex, and nutrition is a valuable yet often missing piece of the puzzle to help clients improve their emotional state.
Imagine if you could feel more confident talking with clients about nutrition from a therapist’s point of view, and do so while adhering to our ethical code.
Kathleen Zamperini, LPC, NCGC-1, CMHIMP, brings a unique perspective as a licensed professional counselor with a degree in nutrition and certification with the Mental Health Integrative Medical Institute. She uses the language of a therapist to explain key concepts of integrating a cognitive behavioral approach with nutritional strategies to improve treatment outcomes.
Discover the clinical applications to transform the way your clients view food and revolutionize your clinical toolbox to ethically educate clients about nutrition and how they can make lasting changes.

From Meltdowns To An Occupation-Centered Approach For Self-Regulation And Management - Live Webinar
2023-09-12 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Phoenix)
How to incorporate sensory strategies for emotional management and self-regulation in pediatric practice is emphasized in this course. Emphasis will also be on preventing behaviors and meltdowns related to sensory processing, collaborating with teachers and parents to implement them into daily routines, and monitoring outcomes for documentation and program evaluation. You will have the opportunity to create a plan for a child on your caseload for generalization to practice.
Agenda

0-5 Minutes
Introduction/Objectives

5-10 Minutes
Intro to Packet and Case Introduction

10-30 Minutes
Meltdowns and Sensory Processing

30-55 Minutes
Polyvagal Theory; Behavior vs. Meltdowns

55-70 Minutes
Case Study

70-85 Minutes
Self-regulation Approach (Bottom-up Approach)

85-100 Minutes
Self-monitoring Approach and Connection to Top-down Approach

100-115 Minutes
Goal Attainment Scaling with Occupation

115-120 Minutes
Summary; Q & A

Effective Strategies for Integrating Visual & Motor Learning - Webinar
2023-09-11 14:00 - 16:00 (America/Phoenix)
In today’s practice more and more clients are being referred for visual, motor, sensory processing, and coordination deficits related to poor self-regulation, motor, visual processing, apraxia/discoordination, and fine motor abilities. Many of these underlying deficits go undetected and thus children are slow to progress and master visual & motor goals.
This course will teach you how to recognize and helpclients overcome these weaknesses, which can be difficult toaddress due to the complexity of the underlying limits. Thisworkshop will improve your confidence and abilities in observation, analysis, treatment planning, and interventionsto improve visual motor outcomes. Upon completion, you will understand the hidden but essential link between treatment of underlying deficits and improving visual and motor outcomes.
Highlights

Innovative techniques to improve your clients’ functional visual motor integration and outcomes
Sensory integration feedback process and how it impacts motor output and coordination

# 306 CAN-EAT Approach …Using medical, motor, & therapy strategies in pediatric feeding - Webinar
2023-09-08 05:00 - 2023-09-09 13:00 (America/Denver)
Pediatric feeding and swallowing problems that effect infants and children may be complex and often involve a combination of factors including issues that can make eating painful or difficult. In order to successfully remediate feeding problems, clinicians must understand how medical and nutritional issues can contribute to feeding disorders and use a comprehensive approach to intervention. The CAN-EAT Approach© is a 2-day workshop focusing on medical, nutritional, and therapeutic strategies for children with pediatric feeding disorders.

This course will allow participants to describe how pediatric feeding disorders are defined in the literature, what the contributing factors include, and how this relates to clinical practice. Identify primary gastrointestinal issues (gastroesophageal reflux, constipation, motility disorders, eosinophilic esophagitis, and visceral hyperalgesia) during a feeding evaluation and explain how these issues affect a child’s feeding skill development and ability to progress. Participants will analyze a child’s oral motor function and apply the knowledge in treatment making recommendations for appropriate diet, utensil use, and development of a therapy plan for skill development. Identify signs and symptoms of pharyngeal dysphagia or risk for pharyngeal dysphagia in a child and make appropriate recommendations for further assessment or treatment. Analyze moderate and complex pediatric feeding cases identifying barriers to feeding progression and apply principles to prioritize treatment strategies and write appropriate goals. Describe and apply examples of therapeutic techniques to reduce gagging, improve liquid and food acceptance, improve chewing skill, and wean from a feeding tube.

In the CAN-EAT Approach© “CAN” stands for comfort and nutrition which come first. Day one will focus on strategies to build GI comfort and good growth as well as explore other medical issues that interfere with feeding progression. Day two will focus on therapeutic strategies from a variety of philosophies. “EA” represents establishing acceptance of the spoon, easy textures or mealtime routine. Then “T” stands for therapy for skill development and feeding progression. Therapeutic strategies for common feeding problems will be explored in depth through lecture and video demonstration.

Information is applicable to infants and children from birth to 21 (class will discuss infants but is not focused on infant feeding issues)

Instructor: KRISTEN BRACKETT, MS, SLP/CCC

Identifying the Root of Challenging Behaviors - Webinar
2023-09-07 12:00 - 14:00 (America/Phoenix)
Many of our children are inundated with rules and expectations that change throughout their day at home, school and other settings. It can be challenging for children to process and navigate these changing situations and can often result in challenging behaviors. As providers, it is our role to work with families and teams to identify the “why” behind the behavior. It is important for families and team members to use a collaborative approach to identify supportive strategies, promote independence with daily tasksand encourage positive social interactions. This proactive methodology takes time, effort and energy before everyday activities to promote child success. Facilitated opportunities for self reflection allow for increased emotional awareness and improved self-regulation skills for children to be able to use appropriate strategies within a variety of environments more independently.
Highlights

Clearly identifying the behavior and the function of behavior through a systematic framework in a collaborative manner
Creating developmentally appropriate strategies with individualized modifications and accommodations
Reflective practices with collaboration to support children and help to generalize evidence-based strategies in daily routines and interactions

Creating Visual Supports for Children with Autism - Webinar
2023-08-30 16:00 - 18:00 (America/Phoenix)
This 2-hour dynamic course will take you on the autism journey to help you understand the importance of visual supports and early intervention for this growing population. Not only is “making visual” essential, it can also help to improve classroom success and daily living skills. It is time to think outside the box and get creative in your home, classroom, and therapy settings. Participants will be provided practical visual supports and strategies to use in the home, natural setting, therapy setting or school. The course will provide participants with low budget resources they can implement tomorrow as well as a greater appreciation of the child with autism.
Highlights

Ideas and strategies that help children with autism spectrum disorders through sensory integration, communication, behavior, daily living, social skills, and education
Develop visual supports, schedules, and social stories that can benefit young children with autism
Select practical visual supports that can be used to help engage the young child with autism

Athletic Foot and Ankle Injuries - Webinar
2023-08-26 07:00 - 09:00 (America/Phoenix)
Foot/ankle injuries are some of the most encountered injuries in the athlete. When these injuries are not managed, there is diminished training time, increased time away from competitive sport, increased risk for re-injury, decreased quality of life, and long-term negative outcomes to the health of the athlete. This course will address foot/ankle injuries that may be uniquely seen in athletes to improve the clinician’s understanding of these pathologies. The content will focus on the most current evidence for the management of these injuries along with evidence based manual therapy, neuromuscular retraining, and therapeutic exercise interventions. Along with the presentation of the current research, we will cover slides with detail on specific manual therapy techniques, verbal and visual cues for balance training, and ideas for collaboration with other members of the sports medicine team. This knowledge will improve the clinician’s ability to effectively treat this commonly injured body region.
Highlights

Immediately improve your knowledge of foot/ankle injuries specifically encountered in the athlete
Evidence-based interventions to improve mobility, neuromuscular control, and strength in the foot/ankle

School-Based Documentation for Speech-Language Pathologists - Webinar
2023-08-25 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Phoenix)
An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a written statement of the educational program designed to meet a child’s individual needs. The purpose of an IEP is to set reasonable learning goals for the child, and to state the services that the school will provide. Every child who receives special education services and/or related services must have an IEP. To create an effective IEP, teachers, parents, school administrators, special educators, and related services providers must work as a team to improve the education of children with disabilities.
Even though various systems exist for writing IEPs and related documentation, each child’s IEP must contain specific information, in accordance with Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This information includes: the child’s present levels of academic and functional performance, annual goals, how progress will be measured, services that will be provided, supplementary aids and services, assessment accommodations, and information about the child’s least-restrictive environment for receiving these services. The process of developing and implementing this important document is of vital importance to educators, related services providers, administrators, and families.
This course is designed to help speech-language pathologists navigate the process of developing an IEP. The information presented is based on what is required by our nation’s special education law-the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA requires that specific information be included in every child’s IEP; however, state, and local school systems often include additional information in IEPs to best document that they have met certain criteria related to federal and/or state law. States and school systems have flexibility when designing their IEP forms, so it is common that documentation will look very different between states and school systems.
Highlights

Improve your knowledge of Individualized Education Program (IEP), 504, and Service Plan documentation requirements
Review the documentation and meeting process from screening/assessment to IEP development
Examine the expectations for a case manager/service coordinator throughout the IEPprocess

#7369 Understanding How Trauma Affects the Sensory Systems in Pediatrics - Live Webinar
2023-08-25 06:00 - 08:00 (America/Phoenix)
The purpose of the course is to better understand skill vs will. Often, children who grow up with adverse experiences face unrealistic expectations. This course will explore how the brain develops in relation to adverse experience and provide tools to help understand how to best encourage and support children who have experienced neglect or abuse. Tips will also be given to best support caregivers and professionals who work with children who often are resistive to therapeutic interaction due to lack of trust and felt safety. Attainment of common goals such as sleep, nutrition, overactivity, and avoidance will be discussed. (Intermediate Level)

Instructor: Marti Smith, OTR/L

Executive Function: Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment for Pediatric Clients - Webinar
2023-08-15 12:00 - 14:00 (America/Phoenix)
The Handbook of Clinical Neurology defines executive function as a high-level cognitive process that enables people to complete complex cognitive processes. Executive function includes three core cognitive processes: namely working memory, inhibition and flexibility, and it has a regulating effect on people’s behavior with a mediating role in sensory processing and behavioral performance. Many pediatric diagnoses include predominant symptomology of executive functioning disorders. However, the executive function of children is pliable and malleable. As therapists, we should know which evaluations are available, and which evidence-based treatments can be used for improved executive functioning as needed for age-appropriate activity engagement.
This course will present proven evaluation tools and treatment strategies to address executive functioning delays. Understanding the evidence pertaining to executive functioning in children and adolescents will improve reimbursement for treatment of these clients, support, and education you can provide to families, and address the needs of the whole client including these cognitive delays. This course will help therapists treating executive function delays improve evaluation and treatment in their pediatric clients.
Highlights

Practical identification and evaluation for executive functioning issues in pediatric clients
Effective evidence-based treatment for improving executive functioning delays such as memory, motor, and self-regulation

Rehabilitating the Youth Athlete: ACL Injuries - Webinar
2023-08-12 08:00 - 10:00 (America/Phoenix)
Rehabilitation following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is extensive and has many different components. When treating the youth athlete there are unique considerations that require additional understanding to provide evidence-based care. This course will discuss phases of ACL rehabilitation pre-operatively through return to sport. This course will also touch on youth athlete ACL tear epidemiology, risk factors, and evidence-based ACL injury prevention strategies. Attendees will review the evidence behind physical therapy care along the full timeline of ACL treatment with a focus on the youth athlete. At the end of this course, attendees will have improved treatment progression skills and criterion-based knowledge they can apply immediately to their youth ACL reconstruction patients.
Highlights

Immediately improve your ACL rehab skills to treat your youth patients more effectively
Practical assessment and re-assessment strategies for returning a youth athlete to sport
Effective, evidence-based interventions for all phases of ACL rehabilitation in the youth athlete

Self-Regulation Interventions for Children & Adolescents: Reduce Frustration, Emotional Outbursts & Oppositional Behaviors - Live Webinar
2023-08-11 07:00 - 15:00 (America/Phoenix)
This seminar will help you to better intervene with the challenging child—the one who won’t sit still; doesn’t follow directions; often throws tantrums; or has difficulty waiting for their turn. They may “hit first and ask questions later”. They react impulsively and have difficulty expressing what they need or what is frustrating them. We know this child is intelligent, caring and kind, but their behavior doesn’t reflect these positive qualities. These are the children who confuse and frustrate parents and who overwhelm teachers and peers. They struggle to meet basic expectations and are unable to succeed in school, with peers and at home.
Join clinical psychologist Dr. Ehlert and learn to effectively intervene with the emotional and behavioral dysregulation of children with High-Functioning Autism, ADHD, Learning Disabilities and Sensory Processing Disorders. Through hands-on activities and dynamic discussion, you will learn techniques, behavioral strategies, problem-solving strategies and brain training exercises to:

Address the sensory, language and executive functioning processing deficits that trigger them
Increase their self-control, social success, emotional control and task completion
Teach flexibility, tolerance, thinking it through and decision-making
Reduce the frequency and duration of their tantrums and emotional outbursts

Walk away with proven emotional, behavioral and processing strategies that lead to social and academic success!
