Using Sensory Strategies to Manage Challenging Behaviors

Dr. Laura S. Anderson

Training Description

Many times, classical behavioral strategies work well to manage challenging behaviors. Yet there are groups of system involved children for whom some of these classic strategies do not work well. Sensory integration challenges are being discussed with greater frequency. As both a child and family psychologist and the parent of a child with sensory integration needs, Dr Anderson will cover fresh ways of thinking about behavioral management utilizing what we know about sensory integration and behavioral regulation. This course will explore brain science research and review how it can guide us to find practical, helpful techniques and approaches for managing challenging behaviors in system involved youth. We will examine ways to use knowledge about sensory integration to help caregivers stay connected to the children in their care AND manage challenging behaviors. Learning about sensory integration needs has dramatically changed Dr. Anderson’s practice and she is excited to share new ways to think about and address challenging behaviors of system involved youth when classic behavioral strategies are not sufficient.

Learning Objectives

1. Identity 3 ways that brain science explains the importance of understanding sensory needs as part of the explanation for challenging behaviors

2. Identify 3 ways to utilize knowledge about sensory issues to help keep caregivers connected to the youth in their care

3. Explain 2 important ways that trauma and sensory needs impact behavior differently

Agenda 

9:00-9:30am Explore key takeaways in the brain science literature that helps understand the link between

trauma, sensory issues and behavior

9:30-10:00am Supporting caregivers in utilizing sensory strategies to stay attached to children in their care

10:00-11:00am Identifying sensory needs and learning to prevent behavioral outbursts utilizing sensory

strategies

11:00-11:15am Break (CEUs will not be offered for this time)

11:15am-12:15pm Focus on a clear 5-step process for utilizing sensory informed strategies

12:15-12:45pm Case examples

12:45-1:15pm Summary and evaluations

Meet Our Trainer

Dr. Laura S. Anderson is a clinical child and family psychologist who is licensed in Hawaii and California, and she has worked with youth and families for over twenty years. Dr. Anderson is currently based primarily in Hawaii. Her areas of expertise include school-based behavioral health, assessment, support for adoptive families, support for gender expansive youth and their families, foster care consultation, and the provision of cross-culturally sensitive care. She is lucky to have had wonderful clinical mentors and enjoys teaching others things she has learned “in the trenches” of direct service to children, adolescents, families, schools, and various other agencies. Dr. Anderson enjoys working with kids, families, and systems as they overcome barriers, build on their strengths, and thrive.

This course meets the qualifications for (4) BBS CE hours for LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCCs, and LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences & is provided by Fred Finch Youth Center, CAMFT Provider #045295.