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Treatment Planning Brainstorm Session
A big piece of therapy is treatment planning - as a therapist, you spend a lot of time planning and executing treatment sessions for your clients. The more clients you have, the more treatment plans you have! It’s time consuming and can oftentimes be frustrating.
We took 7 common treatment planning challenges and brainstormed ideas! The challenges we discussed ranged from lack of time, keeping it fun and play-based, to writing goals and burnout.
If you’re a therapist, this episode is for you! Be sure to share it with your fellow therapists!
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Treatment Planning Brainstorm Session
Treatment planning is a crucial part of a therapist’s role when it comes to helping children with sensory challenges. However, it can also be one of the most challenging aspects of occupational therapy (OT).
Therapists often face numerous hurdles from balancing limited time to keeping sessions engaging and play-based. Whether you're an OT professional seeking new strategies or a parent wanting to understand what goes on behind the scenes, this guide will provide valuable insights.
The Art Of Play-Based, Goal-Oriented Therapy
Occupational therapists value structured, evidence-based approaches but must maintain a child-centric, fun atmosphere. Creating a plan that blends fun with progress toward developmental goals is a common challenge.
For example, making tooth brushing a less stressful task can start with an activity analysis to pinpoint struggles such as force modulation or mid-range control. Integrating games like Jenga to build these skills playfully can set the stage for future success.
OT Tip: Use motivating themes, such as incorporating a child's favorite characters (e.g., Minecraft), to enhance engagement.
Time Crunch: Managing A Busy Therapy Schedule
Time is one of the most significant barriers. Therapists often juggle packed schedules with minimal gaps for planning.
Here are some practical tips:
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Mental Planning Over Physical Setup: Focus on mentally planning sessions using sticky notes or brief outlines. This method saves time while keeping you prepared.
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Simplify Your Approach: Limit the number of activities per session. Focusing on one or two core activities conserves time and often leads to better outcomes.
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Multi-Use Setups: Implement setups like sensory paths or versatile obstacle courses that can be used across different sessions and modified as needed.
Keeping Ideas Fresh Without Overhauling Plans
After years in the same environment, it’s easy to feel you’ve exhausted your ideas. Here’s how to keep things creative:
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Leverage Peer and Online Resources: Networking with fellow therapists and exploring platforms like Pinterest can help refresh your idea bank.
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Continue Your Education: Investing in courses like those from PESI or Sensational Brain can reinvigorate your treatment strategies.
Navigating Minimal Supplies And Small Spaces
Therapists in school or mobile settings might only have limited resources. Here’s how to make the most of what you have:
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Use Simple, Multipurpose Tools: Items like therapy balls and painter’s tape can be used in numerous ways to develop fine motor, proprioceptive, and vestibular skills.
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Primitive Reflex Work: Incorporating reflex integration activities doesn’t require much equipment and can be powerful for preparing the body for higher-level tasks.
Overcoming Burnout And Finding Novel Ideas
Burnout is real and affects even the most dedicated therapists. If you’re feeling overwhelmed:
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Identify Your Stressors: Pinpoint whether your workload, environment or lack of inspiration is the main issue.
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Trade Ideas and Clients: Collaborating with colleagues or even swapping clients for a fresh perspective can rejuvenate your practice.
Remember, parents appreciate seeing their child’s therapists motivated and enthusiastic, as this energy translates into more effective sessions.
Next Steps
Treatment planning doesn’t have to be an uphill battle. You can build a sustainable, engaging practice by simplifying your process, integrating play, and staying connected with professional development resources.
For parents, understanding these strategies can help foster more collaborative partnerships with therapists, creating a supportive environment for every child’s growth.
BORING, BUT NECESSARY LEGAL DISCLAIMERS
While we make every effort to share correct information, we are still learning. We will double check all of our facts but realize that medicine is a constantly changing science and art. One doctor / therapist may have a different way of doing things from another. We are simply presenting our views and opinions on how to address common sensory challenges, health related difficulties and what we have found to be beneficial that will be as evidenced based as possible. By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or your children. Consult your child’s pediatrician/ therapist for any medical issues that he or she may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Rachel Harrington, Harkla, Jessica Hill, or any guests or contributors to the podcast, as well as any employees, associates, or affiliates of Harkla, be responsible for damages arising from use of the podcast.
Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. We try our best to keep things fair and balanced, in order to help you make the best choice for you.
This podcast should not be used in any legal capacity whatsoever, including but not limited to establishing “standard of care” in a legal sense or as a basis for expert witness testimony. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy of any statements or opinions made on the podcast.
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