Program Outline 

This course supports the clinician to gain an advanced understanding of sensory processing and integration theory, the STAR Frame of Reference, evaluation, and various strategies of intervention. The clinician will learn to apply clinical reasoning through lectures, video treatment observation and analysis with experienced STAR Institute Faculty. 

11 hours of recorded course content will be made available online through STAR's Online Learning platform and is a required prerequisite for attending the live-streamed portion of the program. This includes:

Prerequisite Content: 

• Introduction: Background information on sensory processing from Dr. Lucy Jane Miller.
  
  
• Frame of Reference: Even when the primary focus of intervention is sensory, the STAR Frame of Reference advocates for a continuous assessment of regulation, and relationships, in the context of mutable environments, social-emotional development, and attention.
  
  
• Subtypes of SPD: A complete introduction and overview of each of the Subtypes of SPD 
  • Sensory Modulation Disorder
  • Sensory Discrimination Disorder
  • Praxis
  • Posture
    
    
• Assessment: Overview of standardized assessments: Understanding standards scoring systems and "Growth scales" based on Rasch measurement.

• GA Scaling: Use of Goal Attainment Scaling and other standardized outcome measures that participants can use in their settings to evaluate treatment effectiveness.

• Research: An overview of SPD research from STAR Institute and the SPD Scientific Work Group

Online Content:

 Intervention:

• Understanding the STAR PROCESS Treatment Model.
• How to develop a customized approach for specific sensory challenges your client experiences.
• Use of the Sensory Matrix and the A SECRET model of treatment planning.
• Note-writing in clinical practice.
• Tips for writing an advanced synthesized evaluation report.

Clinical Reasoning in Assessment:

• Clinical Observation interactive discussion.
• Use of Goal Attainment Scaling to develop goals, outline service delivery, define accommodations, and develop a data collection system to evaluate treatment effectiveness.
• Family-centered interview purpose and example questions.
• Differential diagnosis of Subtypes.

A SECRET: 

• How to utilize this problem-solving tool to help explain the complexity of OT clinical reasoning to other providers.
  

Download a copy of the full course agenda here

Cost

• Full tuition: $839: this includes both the prerequisite and online portions.
• AOTA CEUs Add-on Included: Continuing Education: AOTA CEUs (2.55 AOTA CEUs)

Who Should Attend 

This mentored program is designed for Occupational Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists, and Physical Therapists to enhance diagnostic and clinical reasoning skills. Applicants must currently work with children with disordered Sensory Processing and a minimum of 1 years' pediatric experience is preferred.

Attendance Policy

Participants are required to complete all pre-requisite online course modules and attend each of the livestreamed sessions in real time to receive Certificate of Completion for the program. A brief CEU quiz must be completed and passed with at least 80% accuracy for each section to verify competency. Participants may miss 1 session during the livestreamed course to be eligible for a certificate of completion and CEUs. The course instructor(s) must be informed of any absences ahead of time. Emergencies or unplanned absences will be handled at discretion of the course instructor(s) and Director of Education.

Video recordings are typically available to all participants for up to 1 week after the recorded sessions, however this is not guaranteed due to potential technical issues. If video recordings are available, this may be reviewed in the case of a planned or unplanned absence. A brief CEU quiz must also be completed, and potential additional assignments may be requested to verify competency.

Learning Objectives

The objective of STAR Institute's Level 1 Intensive Mentorship program is to provide participants with a basic understanding of the latest research in SPD and the ability to:

• Differentiate subtypes of SPD.
• Utilize clinical reasoning tools for intervention and home adaptation developed by Dr. Lucy Jane Miller and Dr. Sarah A. Schoen.
• Recognize and develop realistic and functional goals using Goal Attainment Scaling.
• Recognize the importance of engaging families in the treatment process.
• Become familiar with appropriate tools to evaluate children with SPD.
• Observe client session videos, analyze through clinical reasoning, and discuss treatment planning.
• Become familiar with the STAR PROCESS Model for treatment.
• Address family needs and desires.
• Synthesize information in an OT assessment, write treatment notes using STAR’s clinical reasoning approach, communicate effectively with physicians and other members of a client’s team.
  

Continuing Education 
STAR Institute for Sensory Processing is an AOTA Approved Provider of continuing education. Approximately 25.5 professional contact hours (2.55 AOTA CEUs) are awarded for full completion of this program. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.

Participants receive credential certificates documenting completion of the specialized training in SPD. 

Presenter

Virginia Spielmann, PhD, OTR/L
Executive Director

ICDL Advisory Board, Colorado State University Affiliate Faculty, Salem State University Visiting Assistant Professor

Virginia Spielmann is an Occupational Therapist and the Executive Director of STAR Institute for Sensory Processing. She obtained her PhD in Infant and Early Childhood Development in August 2021 and is Visiting Adjunct Faculty at Salem State University Occupational Therapy Department, and Affiliate Faculty at Colorado State Department of Occupational Therapy. She is a published author, researcher, and well-travelled and masterful public speaker.

Dr. Spielmann delivered a TEDx Mile High (Denver, Co) talk in December 2021. She consults on television and other media projects; co-founded & authored the Critical Core therapeutic role-playing game; and co-developed the Palaana sensory lounger with SLACK Lifestyle.

Dr. Spielmann still actively provides direct occupational therapy services, mentors therapists and clinicians from around the world, and provides direct support to infant mental health and early childhood teams. Her extensive clinical experience includes autism, differences in sensory integration/processing, infant mental health, adoption, foster-care, developmental trauma, and physical disabilities. Dr Spielmann’s areas of special interest include professional reflection and reflective practice, neurodiversity affirming care, trauma informed care, and epistemologies and ontologies of health care.

Virginia is affiliate faculty at Colorado State University, Occupational Therapy Department and Visiting Assistant Professor at Salem State University.

Virginia has considerable post-graduate training, she is certified on the SIPT. She obtained her Ph.D. in Infant and Early Childhood Development with an emphasis on mental health, from Fielding Graduate University, in Santa Barbara (2021). Her Masters in Occupational Therapy from Mount Mary University, Milwaukee (2018) and her BSc in Occupational Therapy from Oxford Brookes University, England (2002).

She is a published author and contributed to the STAR Frame of Reference as part of the 4th Edition of Frames of Reference for Pediatric Occupational Therapy, alongside Dr. Miller and Dr. Schoen.  

Disclosures

• Financial: The presenter is the Executive Director of the STAR Institute, and this presentation was created as a part of her salaried position. 
• Non-Financial: Nothing to disclose.

Cancellation Policy

All registrations must be finalized or cancelled for a full refund 30 days prior to the course. Registrations cancelled less than 30 days prior to the course may be substituted or deferred to a future course sponsored by STAR Institute. Staff must be notified of substitutions at least 24 hours before the start of the event. Registrations cancelled due to a family emergency or other unexpected event, or illness will be deferred to a future course sponsored by STAR Institute.

In the event this program must be cancelled due to illness, fire, strikes, war, acts of God, terrorism or other causes that would prevent the event from taking place, STAR Institute will attempt to reschedule the event. If the event is unable to be rescheduled, STAR Institute will refund all tuition fees paid.