猫咪社区

Championing Trauma-Informed and Resilience-Building Practices in Pediatric Occupational Therapy

This session explores how occupational therapists can champion trauma-informed and resilience-building practices for children and youth impacted by adversity. Drawing from the foundations of mental health and the sensory processing framework, participants will discover strategies for promoting regulation, safety, and connection in therapeutic and educational settings. The presentation highlights the integration of sensory-based interventions within a trauma-informed lens—emphasizing predictability, empowerment, and choice to support participation and engagement. Attendees will gain tools for fostering resilience by embedding sensory supports within daily routines and environments to enhance self-regulation and emotional well-being.

Through case studies and discussion, this session connects current evidence with practical application, aligning with the growing call for school-based and community OTs to address mental health across tiers of service delivery. Participants will leave with actionable strategies to design safe, supportive, and healing environments that help children move from surviving to thriving.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define trauma-informed care and its relevance within occupational therapy practice for children and youth.
2. Explain how sensory processing and regulation frameworks support trauma recovery and resilience.
3. Identify sensory-based interventions that promote emotional regulation, safety, and participation.
4. Integrate trauma-informed and sensory-based strategies into daily routines across clinical, school, and community settings.
5. Develop approaches to foster resilience and promote occupational engagement through meaningful, strengths-based interventions.

Our Presenter:

Dr. Katie Everson, OTD, OTR/L
Dr. Everson is an Associate Professor in the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program at the University of Charleston, where she leads curriculum design in mental health, assistive technology, and community-based practice. She also serves as faculty with Baylor University’s OTD program, expanding her research and teaching in mental health and sensory-based interventions.

With extensive experience in pediatrics, mental health, and community OT, Dr. Everson’s work focuses on trauma-informed care, sensory modulation, maternal mental health, and children born exposed to substances. Her scholarship and presentations—including at the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) national conference—center on building resilience and empowering occupational therapists to integrate sensory and trauma-informed frameworks across all practice settings.