Abstract
Background:
• Stevens Treatment Programs (STP) is a residential treatment facility that specialized in adolescent males with extensive sexual trauma histories. (Stevens Treatment Programs, 2023)
• Individuals with psychiatric conditions typically have different sensory needs than the "normative" sample. (Brown et al., 2020)
• Multi-sensory environments increased prosocial behaviors such as active participation while decreasing distress and discomfort (Breslin et al., 2020)
• Observed differences in behaviors of criminal/psychiatrically diagnosed youth when given controlled or achievement-oriented leisure activities. (Quake-Rapp, 2008)
• Effective engagement is a protective factor that helps young offenders from engaging in illegal activities as passive time-out leisure negatively affects mental health. (Farnworth, 2000).
Objectives:
To determine If youth specific sensory strategy education and implementation can increase adolescent youth participation and prosocial behaviors.
Does sensory strategies training for behavioral support staff and use of sensory rooms help to increase prosocial behaviors and reduce maladaptive behaviors in residential youth?
Faculty Mentor
Andrea Fairman, Ph.D., OTR/L, CPRP, ATP
Graduation Date
2024
Document Type
Poster
Recommended Citation
Fonseca, Madison BS, OTS and Fairman, Andrea Ph.D., OTR/L, CPRP, ATP, "A Sensory Approach to Working with Youth who have Experienced Sexual Trauma" (2024). Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstones. 33.
https://scholarsarchive.jwu.edu/otd_capstone/33
