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Here at Bright Spot we've designed our adult program to support you in understanding how your own neurological system processes sensory input, and the impact this can have in your daily life. We want to help you use your own strengths, to discover and implement the supports that work best for you to engage in life to the fullest. Our goal is to learn about your priorities, and come alongside you to facilitate a process to harness your unique skills to navigate challenges in daily life. We will meet you with a neurodivergent-affirming relationship to celebrate your unique individuality and mode of operation, to boost confidence, enjoyment, and satisfaction in life.

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What to expect about our approach and  evaluation process:

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• Our work together will be a collaborative process throughout intervention. 

  • This means that you and the therapist are working together to develop activities, strategies, and home programming to put intervention into action in your own life. 

  • That is to say: our approach requires active engagement, communication, and dedication within and between our sessions to be effective.

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• Our first three sessions will involve information gathering - 

  • Interview, questionnaires, and an occupational performance measure. 

  • This allows us to gain an understanding of your individual life circumstances, sensory processing differences, current level of function, and priorities. 

  • And this will help us to determine whether we are the best fit for each other.

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• Then education and collaborative goal setting will help to establish the best plan for an individualized course of therapy. 

  • This will allow us to recognize and measure growth and progress over time,

  • and to make sure that we're really helping you, so that our time together carries over to real improvements in your quality of life.

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Approaches we use to help you meet your goals may include: 

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• Exploration, discovery, and education about your own sensory profile

• We will assess how your neurological system and your body processes input to and from all of your sensory systems, including vestibular (movement), proprioceptive (joint movement and force), and interoceptive (internal systems, e.g. thirst, hunger, sleep/wake cycle, and emotion processing).

• Education about the function and integration of the eight sensory systems

• Gaining knowledge and understanding of your specific sensory differences - this be a powerful way to improve your daily functioning, your ability to relate to others, and your ability to find joy in life. Your therapist will help you understand your sensory differences and work with you to set up a program that supports your needs. 

• Developing awareness of arousal levels, and how those correspond to sensation and emotion

• Identifying individualized strategies and developing methods of integrating them into your own daily routines

• Wellness Recovery Action Planning 

• Supports for executive functioning, planning, organizing, and scheduling

• Self regulation and emotional regulation

• Sessions with partners or family members to help them understand and support you 

• A SECRET (From the STAR Process)

• Self-Advocacy 

• Mindfulness 

• Therapeutic listening

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               There are five main types of intervention: ​

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Remedial Intervention 

This involves the skilled use of sensory and motor treatment activities and equipment, including engagement in activities that provide increased tactile, proprioceptive, and movement opportunities, such as suspended equipment (e.g., various swings); intensified physical activities, engagement in mediated tactile experiences, and activities that promote motor planning, organization of time and space, bilateral integration, and postural-ocular skills. These are designed to have a lasting impact for processing sensory information.

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Sensory Lifestyle

Involves a daily routine or plan with individualized, supportive sensory strategies (e.g., rocking chair, quiet space, aromatherapy, weighted blanket), identified physical activities (e.g., yoga, swimming) and materials (e.g., sensory kits containing music, stress balls, items for distraction). These are used throughout the day, as needed to help manage sensory modulation problems (e.g., touch, movement, visual or auditory sensitivity) and related emotions and behaviors, such as anxiety, to help change sensory processing patterns, minimize crisis escalation, or promote calming for overall health and wellness.

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Environmental Modifications and Adaptations

such as lighting, use of white noise machines, wall murals, and other types of furnishings and equipment to increase or decrease the sensory stimulation a space provides. In some settings, sensory rooms, sensory stations, or sensory carts may be used to achieve these goals.

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Education

of individuals, family members, and/or other community members about the influence of sensory functions on occupational performance and how to minimize their negative impact on function; and proactively help prevent and deescalate maladaptive behaviors.

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Accommodations and Adaptations 

We would investigate strategies or supports to improve tolerance of uncomfortable environments or to improve function (such as noise cancelling headphones, or other items) to manage hyper sensitivities and improve attention, self-regulation, or organizational difficulties to increase effectiveness in performing school, work, household management, or parenting tasks.

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