Program Outline

Level 2 Mentorship participants must be an occupational therapist and may be selected to work with STAR Institute clients and their families, which includes leading treatment sessions each day with the support of expert-level STAR Institute faculty. Extensive opportunity for reflection and collaboration with other mentees is included.

The primary objective of STAR Institute's Level 2 Mentorship: Advanced Treatment is to develop, deepen, and apply clinical reasoning in action as first introduced in STAR Proficiency Level 2. This course will have participants deconstructing and then re-constructing therapeutic use of self in the context of a sensory-regulation-relationship based  framework. Participants will engage in self-study reading, shared discussion questions, self-reflection/embodiment exercises, clinical supervision, and group reflection focused on treatment observation. Following the in-person group work, participants will apply concepts to their own caseload and bring findings to lead a group discussion.

Mentees will observe live daily treatment sessions and engage in group observation, inquiry, problem-solving, and treatment planning. In addition, mentees will participate in individual guided clinical- and self-written reflection activities. Learning activities will focus on deepening mentees’ understanding and application of concepts covered in earlier STAR Proficiency courses (clinical observation, attunement, follow-up questions, reflection-on-action, and reflection-in-action).

Following the in-person portion of the course, mentees will apply knowledge to their own practice through a process of guided observation and self-reflection. During these 4 weeks, mentees will video record at least 4 treatment sessions with a client (same client for all sessions) and complete written reflections with guided prompts. Mentees will use these recorded sessions to create a 3-5 minute video compilation of their application of live-course content and progression with the client. This video compilation along with reflections will be presented to the group during the mandatory online discussion group.

Instructor

Virginia Spielmann (she/her), PhD, OTR/L
Executive Director

Virginia has considerable post-graduate training, she is certified on the SIPT and is currently completing her Ph.D. in Infant and Early Childhood Development with an emphasis on mental health, with Fielding Graduate University, in Santa Barbara. 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.

Cost

The full tuition for this program is $2,800. Upon submitting the application, there is a non-refundable deposit of $450 (applicable toward the $2,800 tuition). For those accepted into the program,the $450 deposit is nonrefundable should you cancel your registration. However, if for any reason we are unable to accept your application, your deposit will be fully refunded. Remaining tuition payment of $2,350 is due by prior to the start of the first session. Payment plans options are available. Contact our Education Team at education@sensoryhealth.org for more information. 

Who should attend

This course is only open to licensed and practicing Occupational Therapists who hold a STAR ProCert 1 credential and who have completed ProCert Level 2.

Attendance Policy

No more than TWO mentees will be selected to work directly with a STAR Institute client and their family, which includes leading treatment sessions each day with the support of expert-level STAR Institute faculty. This will be determined within two weeks of the start of the program.

In addition:

• Participants should be prepared to actively participate in discussions and group reflection
• Each night, participants will complete written reflections on the daily treatment session and their own experiences during the mentorship process
• Participants will write and receive feedback on daily treatment notes
• The group will work together to create home or school recommendations using A SECRET

Participants are also asked to bring a laptop computer to access the readings and review videos as homework to discuss each day. Note: you will need to have a movie making program installed on your laptop or desktop computer (iMovie for Mac, Windows Media Player or Windows Movie Maker for PC) that you are familiar with and comfortable using in order to create your 3 to 5-minute video compilation of your progression over the 4 weeks.

Participants must stay for the entire duration of the program during all 5 days. 1-2 hours of homework per night of mentorship will also be required. This will include video review and analysis, treatment note writing and/or other activities as determined by your Mentor.

In addition, participants must attend the online discussion group time and date TBD.

Continuing Education

Competency credentials are awarded to participants who demonstrate proficiency at the Level 2 course criteria. Participants receive credential certificates documenting completion of the specialized training in SPD.

STAR Institute is an AOTA Approved Provider of continuing education. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA. 

31 Professional Contact Hours (3.1 CEUs) are awarded for full completion of the program.

Daily Schedule

Most days will begin at 9am and end at 5:00pm; however, this may vary depending on clinical observations scheduled at the treatment center. A detailed daily schedule will be provided on the first day of the Mentorship program

ALL PARTICIPANTS ARE EXPECTED TO STAY THE ENTIRE DURATION OF EACH DAY. LATE ARRIVALS OR EARLY DEPARTURES ON ANY DAYS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Learning Objectives

• Integrate professional reasoning with sensory-relationship-regulation framework and apply in direct treatment planning and intervention
• Engage in guided reflection to develop and foster therapeutic use of self with clients and families
• Using constructivist learning theory, develop and integrate understanding of body-based experiences and apply to treatment planning and intervention for clients
• Develop the ability to reflect in action, applying a dynamic cycle of attunement<>reflection<>response<>attunement during therapeutic client interactions.
• Create a treatment video compilation and guide group clinical reflection of learned and applied constructs
  
  

Cancellation Policy

If STAR Institute receives notice of cancellation:

- At least 7 weeks before the program start date, all payments will be refunded.
- At least 15 business days prior to the program start date, 50% of the full tuition will be refunded.

The full tuition will be charged to participants who cancel 14 business days or less before the program start date or who fail to appear for the program.

If STAR Institute receives notice to reschedule for another session:

- At least 7 weeks before the program start date, all payments will be transferred.
- 14 business days or less before the start of the program, 50% of the deposit will be retained.

Because it is necessary to schedule a STAR Institute client for individual participant, cancellations or voluntary schedule changes by participants are strongly discouraged.