Working with Complex Teens
Are you an Occupational Therapist working with preteens and teens in complex scenarios?
Do you find it challenging to navigate their unique needs while aligning therapy with stakeholder expectations?
Master practical strategies to engage teens, set realistic goals, manage challenges, advocate effectively within the NDIS framework and support their developmental growth in this comprehensive workshop.
Live Workshop: Working with Complex Teens
Online learning for your OT professional development
TWO PART WORKSHOP
When: 28 February & 14th March 2025 at 12.00pm AEDT
Duration: 1.5 hours
What will you learn?
In this two-part workshop, you will gain practical knowledge and tools to:
- Engage preteens and teens by aligning stakeholder-driven goals with their motivations
- Overcome resistance and build trust through techniques like body doubling and embedding their interests into therapy
- Set realistic, collaborative goals using tools like Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS)
- Recognise and manage boundary-testing behaviours while maintaining safety and professionalism
- Apply evidence-based frameworks such as attachment theory and developmental milestones
- Structure reports to advocate effectively for NDIS funding, using standardised assessments to identify disability-related needs
- Support developmental growth by understanding how disabilities affect psychosocial, social and emotional development
Please see below a breakdown of workshop content delivered across two live sessions:
Session 1: Foundations of Engaging Complex Teens in Therapy (14th February 2025)
- Overview of key topics and goals for the workshop
- Engaging Teens: Strategies to align goals with their motivations and build trust
- Setting Realistic Goals: Introduction to GAS and collaborative goal-setting exercises
- Integrating Evidence-Based Frameworks: Overview of attachment theory and developmental milestones
- Wrap-Up and Q&A: Recap key learnings and address questions
Session 2: Advanced Application and Advocacy with Complex Teens (18th February 2025)
- Navigating Challenges: Strategies for managing boundary-testing behaviours and escalating concerns
- Integrating the BRIEF Assessment: Using results to design interventions and structure NDIS reports
- Advocating for NDIS Funding: Aligning reports with reasonable and necessary criteria
- Supporting Developmental Growth: Collaborating with other disciplines for holistic care
- Case Study Application: Interactive exercises to practise intervention and advocacy strategies
- Conclusion and Reflection: Recap both sessions and discuss practical next steps
Who is this workshop for?
This workshop is designed for OTs working with preteens and teens in complex scenarios. Whether you're a new graduate or an experienced clinician, this training will enhance your skills in engaging teens, setting goals and advocating effectively.
Why attend?
In this two-part workshop, you will gain practical knowledge and tools to:
- Gain confidence in engaging teens and overcoming resistance
- Develop skills in collaborative goal-setting using GAS
- Learn evidence-based strategies for managing challenging behaviours
- Enhance your ability to advocate effectively for NDIS funding
- Build a deeper understanding of developmental impacts and multidisciplinary collaboration
Workshop Duration: 1.5 hours x 2 workshops (3 hr total)
Cost: $180.00
About the Presenter
Laura McNab is a dedicated community-based Occupational Therapist with 9 years of experience in community work, including 5 years as an OT. She has worked extensively with organizations such as the YMCA and Child Safety, where she developed a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by preteens and teens. This experience has fueled her passion for supporting young people, particularly in the NDIS space.
Specialising in complex cases, Laura is skilled in using evidence-based approaches to engage teens and preteens, manage challenging behaviours, and align therapy goals with stakeholder priorities. Her expertise includes leveraging frameworks like attachment theory and developmental milestones, integrating standardised assessments such as the BRIEF and the Sensory Profile, and using tools like Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) to ensure measurable progress.
Through this training, Laura aims to empower fellow occupational therapists with advanced strategies for enhancing their practice, advocating effectively within the NDIS framework, and ultimately supporting young people in achieving meaningful participation and independence.
