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Sensory Programming for Patients with Severe and Persistent Mental Illness in a Secure Setting

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CE Credits: 1.5 Credits
Length: 1.5 Hours
Level: Introductory
CE Eligibility: APA, ANCC, CPA
Training Style: Video
Category: Personality Assessment
Intended Audience: Mental Health, Correctional, and Legal Professionals

Training Description

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services at Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center (SRSTC) recognizes the unique needs of those who have sexually offended with severe and persistent mental illness and the need for alternative approaches to treatment. As occupational therapists at SRSTC we offer sensory programming to these patients in a variety of ways to enhance function and promote patient engagement in treatment. Throughout this presentation, participants will have the opportunity to learn the theory and neurobiology that drive sensory interventions. Participants will be given the opportunity to recognize the impact of sensory behaviors on activities of daily living. Participants will be introduced to interventions used to maintain optimal level of arousal through use of sensory diet and sensory behavior modification strategies for use with sensory dysregulation. This presentation explores practical tools that can be used with patients who experience severe and persistent mental illness in individual or group sessions. Sensory recommendations are made with consideration given to characteristics within the individual patient and the environment and the impact of peers, staff, and family who are affiliated to the patient. Interventions are designed for a secure setting and can be implemented both on and off patient living units.

Trainer Biography

Kendall Doersch, OTR is a board-certified occupational therapist licensed through the Wisconsin Occupational Therapy Association (WOTA) employed at Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center (SRSTC) since March 2019. She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and French from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse and her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. Her professional interests include physical dysfunction and rehabilitation, mental health issues, and the interaction that occurs when these two concern areas coincide within the same patient.

Sharon Mendez, OTR is licensed through Wisconsin Occupational Therapy Association (WOTA) and board certified through NBCOT. She has worked in mental health clinical practice at Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center (SRSTC) for the last 19 years. She previously had worked as an outpatient occupational therapist for 3 years with focus on work hardening, biofeedback, and chronic pain. Her work with chronic pain drew her toward her interests in mental health. Her role as an occupational therapist at SRSTC has been multi-faceted to include co-facilitator of sex offender treatment groups, work with health services in addressing patients’ medical and cognitive rehabilitation needs, focus on release planning, use of occupational therapy based assessments, and development of sensory programming at SRSTC.

Learning Objectives
At the end of this training you will be able to…
    • Discuss important concepts and theories that drive sensory programming for those with severe and persistent mental illness.
    • Identify symptoms of sensory dysregulation, like various patient behaviors and changes to ADL performance.
    • Identify the value of a sensory diet and the impact of sensory diet on maintaining optimal levels of arousal for best function.
    • Discuss sensory techniques that can be used to deescalate a patient before a behavioral outburst occurs.

1 Sponsorship: Multi-Health Systems, Inc. (MHS, Inc.) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. MHS maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The American Nurses Credentialing Center accepts Continuing Education Credit sponsored by the American Psychological Association. The Global Institute of Forensic Research, provider #1371, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Global Institute of Forensic Research maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 6/8/2022-6/8/2025. Social Workers completing this course receive continuing education credits. Multi-Health Systems, Inc. (MHS, Inc.) is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. MHS maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Multi-Health Systems, Inc. (MHS, Inc.) has been approved by NAADAC as an approved Continuing Education, Provider No. 144308. Programs that do not qualify for NAADAC credit are clearly identified. MHS maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The Global Institute of Forensic Research (GIFR) has been approved by NBCC as an approved Continuing Education provider. ACEP No.6711. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. GIFR is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Global Institute of Forensic Research (GIFR) is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0337. Multi-Health Systems, Inc. (MHS, Inc.) is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0036.

2 Refund/Cancellation Policy: If you wish to request a refund on account of technical difficulties, please contact [email protected].

3 Commercial Supports: Multi-Health Systems, Inc. (MHS, Inc.) reports no conflicts of interest in the development and sponsorship of this training. MHS receives no commercial support for its Continuing Education programs or from its presenters.

Note 1: The CPA's approval of an individual, group, or organization as a CE Sponsor or Provider is restricted to the activities described in the approved application or annual report form. The CPA's approval does not extend to any other CE activity the Sponsor or Provider might offer. In granting its approval, the CPA assumes no legal or financial obligations to Sponsors, Providers, or to those individuals who might participate in a Sponsor or Provider's CE activities or programs. Further, responsibility for the content, provision, and delivery of any CE activity approved by the CPA remains that of the CE Sponsor or Provider. The CPA disclaims all legal liability associated with the content, provision, and delivery of the approved CE activity.