Join Kim and Hand in Hand for the second part of a transformative learning experience. This is a follow on course to the Trauma-Sensitive Practice course held in October 2024.
If you did not attend the Trauma-Sensitive Practice course we can offer Trauma-Sensitive Practice online at a reduced price of €120. When you make the booking we will send you a link to the online Trauma-Sensitive Practice course via email. Then you can book the Psycho-Sensory Intervention separately.
Both courses are suitable for all Allied health professionals, OT,s, SLT’s, Physiotherapist, Psychologists, social workers, nurses, educators etc.
Living with trauma is a universal experience. As health professionals and educators, we are most effective supporting others when we understand how personal trauma experiences influence overall function and healing processes. This two day training will help us develop new skills in working mindfully and effectively with other people and support ourselves also.
Kim’s workshop presentation style will include a combination of lecture, video analysis, and small and large group discussions.
Discussing mental health and emotional pain was once taboo, but this is changing. Thankfully, trauma-sensitive practices are increasingly recognised and adopted by forward-thinking organizations worldwide. This shift is crucial to ensure that the individuals we serve receive the most effective support they need to thrive.
Trauma impacts every aspect of human functioning: physical, mental, behavioural, social, and spiritual. Experiences such as violence, abuse, neglect, addiction, loss, racism, and exclusion can dramatically affect development, significantly hindering anyone’s ability to function throughout life. Early developmental trauma can dramatically affect emotional regulation, relationships, learning and engagement, often necessitating adaptive coping mechanisms that can manifest as addiction or mental illness. Unfortunately, trauma is often misinterpreted, misunderstood, and minimized, leading people to respond from wounded places without awareness. When coupled with developmental disabilities or substance abuse, the challenges for those living with trauma are greatly compounded.
As professionals, our effectiveness in supporting others is maximized when we understand how personal trauma experiences influence overall functioning and healing processes. Whether we work in therapy, education, social work, child protection, or business, and whether we are counselors, police officers, or foster parents, this mental health workshop will help us develop new skills to work mindfully and effectively with others. The added benefit is that we are likely to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves as well.
With the support of Hand in Hand, the content of this workshop will be customized to the Irish context to include dialogues specific to intergenerational transmission of trauma, political trauma, religious and institutional trauma, addiction, and developmental trauma – and how we can support people in their resilience.
Psycho-Sensory Intervention (PSI) – Kells, Ireland
May 8th and 9th, 2025
Psycho-sensory intervention (PSI) is an integrative therapeutic approach that combines sensory processing and regulation with psychological insight, and relational attunement. Recognizing the dynamic interplay between the body and mind across the lifespan, PSI emphasizes how sensory experiences shape emotions, behaviour, and social connection.
This two day in-person training explores how addressing sensory processing, posture, movement, and relational dynamics can foster healing, self-regulation, and resilience. Through a sensory, cognition, and emotion lens, participants will gain practical tools to apply PSI interventions across various settings, including trauma-sensitive care, mental health, education, and with everyday interactions.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
Define Psycho-Sensory Intervention as a framework for supporting well-being, neurodiversity, mental health issues and trauma recovery.
Describe the impact of developmental trauma on sensory processing and its role in therapeutic intervention.
Examine the influence of developmental trauma on the postural and motor systems and how movement-based interventions support healing.
Integrate principles of mental health and psychotherapy with sensorimotor intervention strategies.
Apply basic practical psycho-sensory interventions in clinical, school and relational contexts.
COURSE OUTLINE:
May 8th: Foundations of Psycho-Sensory Intervention
Morning Session:
- Introduction to Psycho-Sensory Intervention
o Overview of the Spokes on the Wheel Model
o Understanding the body-mind connection in healing
- The Clinician as a Therapeutic Agent of Change
o Self-awareness, self-care, and self-compassion in professional practice
- Observing Attachment Cues Through Video Analysis
o Recognizing body language, facial expressions, and vocal tone in relational dynamics
Afternoon Session:
- Co-Regulation Through Relationship (Self-regulation as the foundation)
o Practical strategies for attuned, responsive interactions
- Techniques for Titrating States of Dysregulation
o Match, Mirror, and Move – Using relational attunement to shift nervous system states
- Impact of Developmental Trauma on the Sensory Systems
o How early trauma shapes sensory processing and regulation
May 9th: PSI in Action
Morning Session:
- Developmental Trauma and the Postural & Movement System
o How trauma impacts posture, reflexes, and motor patterns
- Sensory-Based Interventions for Developmental Trauma
o Applying body-based strategies to support nervous system regulation
Afternoon Session:
- Treating the Postural and Movement System
o Restoring body awareness, grounding, and movement integration
- Integrating Psychotherapeutic Principles into PSI
o Merging sensory, cognitive and emotional interventions for holistic care
ADDITIONAL TAKEAWAYS FOR PARTICIPANTS:
✅ Video case studies for practical learning
✅ Exploring strategies for co-regulation and sensory-based intervention
✅ Examples of PSI in practice
✅ Self-reflection prompts to deepen professional and personal awareness
RISKS & LIMITATIONS OF PSI
• Individual Variability: Responses to sensory and relational interventions differ; ongoing assessment is essential.
• Potential for Overstimulation: Sensory-based interventions should be introduced gradually and adapted based on client needs.
• Integration with Other Approaches: PSI is most effective when combined with a broader therapeutic framework.
• Ethical & Professional Boundaries: Practitioners should engage in self-reflection and supervisionwhen applying PSI.
Price: €325
Thursday 8th & Friday 9th May 2025 9:30am to 4.30pm
Location:
Headfort Arms Hotel, Kells, Co.Meath A82D2C1
This is an in person two day course in Headfort Arms Hotel in Kells, Co. Meath. The Headfort Arms hotel in the centre of Kells with a direct Bus Eireann link to the door (35 miles from Dublin on M3).
Hosted by:
