Authors: Kath Smith and Donna Guest
Occupational Therapists in the United Kingdom have used the theory of Ayres’ Sensory Integration (ASI) to work with clients from across the lifespan who have experienced trauma to support their understanding of their unique sensory preferences and differences; and how this understanding can support improved participation in everyday life. Typically those deeply traumatised and distressed, with a language barrier, struggle to use and benefit from traditional talking therapies. Sensory Ladders are uniquely individualised and personalised, are presented visually, and are, therefore, a non-verbal solution, providing targeted support that is accessible. Improved awareness of self-states and how and which sensory strategies to use for self-regulation promote successful engagement and participation in everyday life.
Sensory Ladders (Smith, 2001) formalises psychoeducation as part of ASI with individuals across the lifespan, where it supports personal understanding of unique sensory strengths and challenges including with praxis; ‘doing the right thing, at the right time and in the right way’.
For survivors of trauma, sensory integration is an intervention that addresses embodied cognition and supports self-regulation, which can positively affect an individual’s engagement and participation in occupation (Brown et al., 2006; Brown et al., 2009; Champagne et al., 2010). Smith (2006) describes that what is alerting for one person may be calming for another, depending on individual arousal levels and sensory thresholds.
Following successful online Sensory Ladders psycho-education training for occupational therapists in Gaza and Ukraine(2021), this pilot study explored face-to-face small-group psycho-education and individual sessions using Sensory Ladders. The pilot will inform and enhance programme development, and a more extensive follow-up study exploring Sensory Ladders and their use with displaced people seeking safety in the United Kingdom.