Occupational Therapy & Sensory Integration within the Adult Mental Health Population

Katie Crowfoot

Occupational Therapists within the NHS are currently investigating the potential benefits of Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI), as a means to enhance Mental Health (MH) services. This initiative involved improving therapeutic practices, upskilling the workforce to ensure that therapists are equipped with the necessary tools and knowledge to provide exceptional patient care.

Ayres Sensory Integration, combined with Data-Driven Decision Making (DDDM), promotes a bottom-up approach to therapy. It focuses on the individual needs of person. This methodology was designed to support patients throughout their recovery journeys by recognizing and addressing their specific sensory processing challenges. By implementing ASI, therapists can better understand the factors that influence occupational performance, which is crucial for everyday life activities.

ASI aims to shed light on the various challenges individuals face in their daily lives. It fosters a greater awareness and insight into the therapeutic process. One of the key benefits of this approach is its ability to reduce occupational injustice. It ensures that all patients receive the support they need to participate fully in their communities and engage in meaningful activities.

This poster builds upon and replicates the initial data from 2003/2004 published in 2009 by researchers Brown, Shankar, and Smith, a seminal paper about Ayres’ Sensory Integration for clients with trauma. This reearch from 2009 has been key to furthering our understanding of ASI’s impact in the field of occupational therapy and mental health. Drawing on historical data and contemporary findings, Katie’s poster presents a comprehensive view of the effectiveness of ASI in improving patient outcomes.