Trauma Informed Care presentation at AOTA and KOTA

November 25, 2024

Kristin Blackham (Teaching Professor), Natalie Centers (Adjunct Professor), Bridget Strotman (current student), Hallie Foy, and Valerie Miller presented a short course at the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and Kentucky Occupational Therapy Association (KOTA) on trauma-informed educational practices in occupational therapy. Trauma-informed care has become the standard approach to service delivery among occupational therapy practitioners. However, the opportunity to use this approach in occupational therapy education is largely overlooked despite the pervasive nature of trauma. Approximately 65-85% of students in higher education have experienced a traumatic event, and trauma impacts every area of occupation. Minimizing opportunities for re-traumatization in service delivery is a crucial component of trauma-informed care as safety is the goal. To be a trauma-informed educator is to understand the occupational disruption caused by trauma and to adjust service delivery to meet the needs of trauma survivors. This presentation applied the tenets of trauma-informed care to occupational therapy education, providing steps for educators interested in implementing changes within their occupational therapy program or with students on their Fieldwork experiences. The presenters united over their common passion to promote optimal learning environments to shape the future of our profession.