Trauma-Informed Care in Pediatric Therapy

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than two-thirds of children report at least one traumatic event before the age of 16. The presence of neurodevelopmental conditions can increase the risk for a child to experience trauma, including persistent trauma related to neglect or various forms of abuse. The very nature of some interventions intended to help children may in fact be harmful in the long run, inflicting trauma through forced participation, loss of agency or control, and lack of empathy from caregivers. This course will provide therapy practitioners with an overview of trauma and its impact, while identifyingways to practice therapy from a trauma-informed perspective that will enhance participation and improve therapy outcomes.

Highlights

• Recognize and reduce the effects of trauma as it impacts task participation, behaviors, and engagement in the therapeutic relationship
• Implement interventions from a trauma-informedperspective that reduce trauma during therapy and address the effects of trauma as it impacts treatment outcomes

Target Audience: Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants, Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapy Assistants, Speech-Language Pathologists