Using Sensory Strategies with System-Involved Youth to Prevent and De-escalate Explosive Behavior

Dr. Laura S. Anderson

Training Description

For those that support youth in the foster care system, we learn a lot about the impacts of trauma on children and teens. The field is continuing to understand more about the overlap between developmental trauma and the sensory processing system. As an adoptive parent myself, understanding the sensory system and its influence on behavior and emotions changed my family’s life and the work I do with foster and adoptive families. This training will provide information about how the sensory system impacts behavior, and explosive externalized behavior, in particular. We will explore ways to apply the understanding of the sensory system in the prevention of dysregulated behavior, as well as in the de-escalation, if outbursts occur. Participants will leave with greater theoretical understanding and tangible strategies which can be applied within current efforts to support system-involved youth.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

· Identify at least 2 elements of the sensory system & 3 ways that sensory issues trigger big behaviors;

· Identify and explain 3 strategies to help prevent explosive behavior; and

· Identify and explain 3 sensory strategies to help deescalate a dysregulated system-involved youth.

Agenda

12:00-12:15pm Sign In and introduction

12:15-12:30pm Introduction to the sensory system

12:30-12:45pm Sight, sound, taste

12:45-1:00pm Vestibular and proprioceptive systems

1:00-1:15pm Discuss sensory issues triggering big behaviors

1:15-1:30pm Sensory seeking behaviors

1:30-1:45pm Sensory avoidant behaviors

1:45-2:00pm BREAK (CE hours will not be offered for this time)

2:00-2:15 pm Ways to use sensory system to avoid/prevent explosive behaviors

2:15-2:30pm Common sensory triggers

2:30-2:45pm Discussing soothers from a sensory standpoint

2:45-3:00pm Golden rule - soothe first, shape later

3:00-3:15pm Getting caregiver buy in

3:15-3:30pm Scripts with caregivers of system-involved youth

3:30-3:45pm Using sensory strategies for de-escalation of system-involved youth

3:45-4:00pm Case examples

4:00-4:15pm Summary & Wrap-up

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 Oakland. 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 (4.0) 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.