One of the top priorities during my job search was to find an environment that supported my learning, primarily through mentorship and continued education. I was looking for a clinic that not only talked the talk but was able to show proof of walking the walk. One of the first places I searched for evidence of this when interviewing with The Center was this section of the website, where I found multiple articles citing evidence of continuing education provided by the clinic. I am so pleased to be here just a few months later, taking my turn to share with you all some of the educational experiences I have received at The Center.
This fall, one example that stands out to me was the opportunity for new occupational therapists and speech and language pathologists at The Center to participate in the Growing Developmental Minds Course, taught by Sherri Cawn, MA, CCC-SLP through the Profectum Academy. This three-part, live series introduced practitioners to the DIR/Floortime program and the Functional Emotional Developmental Capacities model. Following the lecture from Sherri, time was reserved each week to discuss relevant, real-time cases practitioners were working through for an opportunity to problem-solve together.
"… I left feeling empowered to return to the roots of occupational therapy, a focus on engagement in meaningful activities."
The DIR/Floortime program is of particular interest to new practitioners at The Center as its principles directly align with that of the clinic. DIR intends to incorporate Development, Individual Differences, and Relationships. The model is all about being present with your child through observations, tuning into their interests, and following their lead. Any preconceived agendas for what an interaction will look like are encouraged to be thrown out the window. Not having a plan can feel scary, for both practitioners and parents! Sherri encouraged us to think critically about a child’s sensory processing differences, environmental setup, and our use of self as a toy and tool to support engagement and growth within the child. With goals for sessions centered around play, reciprocity, and joy, I left feeling empowered to return to the roots of occupational therapy, a focus on engagement in meaningful activities.
"The cherry on top of this model is its emphasis on relationships. It is human nature to want to feel connected to those around us, from birth to death."
Dr. Greenspan, one of the creators of DIR/Floortime, has stressed the importance of play again and again. He believed that play is the vessel through which children can process and work through emotions. Research has strongly backed the efficacy of child-centered, relationship-based interventions in helping children develop language and social skills. Challenging children to sustain interactions and participate in a back-and-forth flow, through a playful and respectful manner, will help support feelings of felt safety, confidence, independence, and progression through developmental milestones. The cherry on top of this model is its emphasis on relationships. It is human nature to want to feel connected to those around us, from birth to death. DIR/Floortime presents a research-backed method to foster this connection with your child.
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Supporting brain and body function with tools that can be used in the clinic and at home.
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