116 – Sensory Healing After Developmental Trauma ft Marti Smith

In this episode we are talking all about the powerful impact of sensory healing after developmental trauma. We discuss: 

• The concepts ‘sensory healing’ and ‘developmental trauma’  

• The Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics by Dr Bruce Perry

• The 6 R’s of a trauma-compassionate treatment plan: rewarding, relational, relevant, respectful, rhythmic, and repetitive 

• Low-cost, budgeted sensory activities to maximise the potential for healing after trauma 

• Precautions we need to be aware of when integrating sensory strategies into trauma-informed care 

• We we need to move away from traditional behaviour management approaches towards a focus on relational understanding 

• Fostering curiosity and a relational approach in therapy 

• Animals and farm-based care in therapy 

• Real-life clinical examples and Marti’s clinical reasoning  

• Writing and publishing a book: self-published vs traditional publishing (Marti has done both!) 

• And SO much more! 

Marti Smith is an esteemed occupational therapist based in Austin, Texas, where she works at a care farm dedicated to serving individuals who have experienced trauma and adversity. With a profound commitment to healing through sensory integration, Marti has authored two influential books: The Connected Therapist: Relating Through the Senses and Sensory Healing after Developmental Trauma: The Connected Therapist's Guide to Low-Cost Activities for Working with Children. Her work emphasizes the importance of sensory strategies and relational approaches in trauma-informed care, making significant contributions to the field of occupational therapy. 

You can learn more about Marti Smith and her books here: 

• Marti's website