Origins and Development
Sensory Ladders for Self-Regulation began in 1999 as “Sensory Levels,” first published as part of teaching materials and adapted DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy) Skills Training resource booklets for inpatient units in Cornwall’s Be Smart Programme (Smith, 2002). Recognised and promoted by the National Institute for Mental Health Excellence (NIMHE) in 2006, Sensory Ladders became a cornerstone of best practice within mental health services.
Global Influence and Accessibility
Kath Smith and Ros Urwin, renowned therapists and researchers, have generously shared Sensory Ladders®️, along with Sensory Spiders and Sensory Grids, as valuable therapeutic resources internationally over the past 25 years. These tools have been integral to training programmes and workshops across the UK, Ireland, and globally, making them widely accessible for DBT therapists and multidisciplinary mental health teams.
A Holistic and Integrated Approach
Influenced by the Paediatric Alert Program and Ayres’ seminal theory of sensory integration (Ayres, 1972), Sensory Ladders®️ offer therapists a combined top-down and bottom-up strategy. They seamlessly integrate with other therapeutic approaches, such as DBT, enhancing self-awareness, self-regulation, and client-centred practice. Crucially, they pioneered early approaches to co-production and co-design in therapeutic settings.
Supporting Complex Needs and Trauma
Initially designed for learning disability and mental health services, Sensory Ladders®️ help healthcare professionals address unmet needs by reframing behaviours often labelled as challenging. They provide trauma-informed perspectives, offering a powerful reframing of adaptive responses like fight, flight, or dissociation. Sensory Ladders®️ specifically target critical issues such as sleep dysregulation and negative self-states, offering meaningful insights and supportive strategies.
Person-Centred and Collaborative
Creating Sensory Ladders®️ involves deeply individualised and personalised processes developed within safe and therapeutic relationships. Therapists begin by understanding the person’s narrative, strengths, and sensory challenges. This co-creative exploration promotes curiosity, self-discovery, and the integration of new sensory strategies for everyday environments, including personalised Sensory Spaces at home, school, or in the community.
Integration with Other Therapeutic Models
Sensory Ladders®️ resonate strongly with developmental, sensory-motor theories and complementary therapeutic models such as Attachment Theory, Polyvagal Theory, Perry’s Neurosequential Model, and DBT. These integrated approaches underline the necessity of safe environments for developing new therapeutic skills and achieving lasting change.
Therapeutic Exploration and Risk-Taking
Developing a Sensory Ladder®️ encourages active exploration and informed risk-taking, enabling individuals to gain more profound awareness of their sensory-motor experiences. Therapists and individuals collaboratively engage in “curious wondering,” exploring new behaviours and self-regulatory practices within a supportive therapeutic framework.
Transforming Service Delivery
Sensory Ladders fundamentally shift perspectives on behaviour, reframing misunderstood or unmet needs. This powerful tool has notably impacted service delivery in health, social care, and educational contexts, encouraging a deeper, empathetic understanding of individuals’ sensory experiences and adaptive behaviours.
Visual Communication and Practical Application
As a visual communication tool, Sensory Ladders simplify complex interactions between the individual, their environment, and daily activities. They provide a clear structure for understanding sensory events, enabling tailored interventions that improve the individual’s ability to engage and participate meaningfully in everyday life.
An Open-Access Global Initiative
Sensory Ladders®️ Global, sponsored by The Sensory Project, embodies social justice by offering free, open-access learning resources worldwide. Driven by therapists, parents, and volunteers, this initiative ensures universal accessibility, empowering everyone to benefit from this transformative tool.
In the spirit of social justice, we are pleased that Sensory Ladders®️ Global is sponsored by The Sensory Project, fueled by infectious generosity of therapists, parents, and other volunteers across the globe who have joined us in translating this very special open-access learning opportunity for everyone everywhere, anytime.
Learn about Sensory Ladders FREE
Sponsored by The Sensory Project
References:
Bhreathnach E. Sensory modulation: A training course presented by Plymouth Community NHS Trust Learning DisabilityService. Plymouth, 2001.
Brown S, Shankar R, Smith K, et al. Sensory processing disorder in mental health. Occupational Therapy News 2006; May:28-29.
Shankar, Rohit & Smith, Kathryn & Jalihal, Virupakshi. (2013). Sensory processing in people with Asperger syndrome. Learning Disability Practice. 16. 10.7748/ldp2013.03.16.2.22.e658.
Smith, K (2002) Abstract and Training pack: Sensory and Adult Mental Health, BAOT Annual Conference and presented to Cornwall Partnerships NHS Trust CPD Training Day.
Williams MS, Shellenberger S. ‘How does your engine run?’ A leader’s guide to the alert program for self-regulation. Albuquerque, NM: Therapy Works, 1994.21.