Helping Youth Strive: Mindfulness Practice for Rehab Professionals
Presented by Melissa Sevestre
This course provides a comprehensive exploration of mindfulness as a clinical tool for rehabilitation professionals working with school-age children and adolescents. Pediatric clinicians often face challenges in addressing youth experiencing emotional dysregulation, anxiety, and difficulty focusing, which can significantly hinder the progress of traditional rehabilitation. This course addresses these barriers by examining the evidence-based principles of mindfulness and its direct influence on attention, executive functioning, and coping skills. Participants will learn to navigate developmental considerations and debunk common myths to effectively integrate these practices into various clinical settings. By mastering age-appropriate techniques—such as breathing exercises, guided imagery, and sensory grounding—rehab professionals can foster resilience and improve therapeutic outcomes for youth with diverse abilities. This course is designed for occupational therapists, physical therapists, and other healthcare providers working in school-based, outpatient, or inpatient pediatric rehabilitation environments.
Learning Outcomes
- Outline the core principles and evidence base of mindfulness interventions in pediatric care
- Identify how mindfulness practices can influence attention, emotional regulation, and coping skills in school-age children and adolescents
- Recognize developmental considerations when introducing mindfulness to youth with diverse abilities and rehabilitation needs
- Select age-appropriate mindfulness exercises, such as breathing techniques, body scans, and guided imagery, for use during rehabilitation sessions to support self-regulation and participation in daily occupations.
Meet your instructor
Melissa Sevestre
Dr. Melissa Sevestre has been an occupational therapist for more than 18 years. She earned her bachelor’s degree in special education with a focus on intellectual disabilities from the University of Central Florida. She spent three years teaching individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and autism…
Chapters & learning objectives
1. Mindfulness in Practice: An Introduction
This chapter establishes a foundational understanding of mindfulness by defining its core principles of nonjudgmental awareness and observing the present moment. It is essential for clinicians to recognize how these constructs support emotional regulation and focus while learning to identify and dispel common myths that may act as barriers to implementing these practices with children.
2. Research Insights: Mindfulness for Children and Adolescents
In this chapter, participants will examine the scientific evidence supporting the use of mindfulness to enhance cognitive functions such as working memory and executive functioning in youth. Understanding these research-backed emotional and behavioral benefits allows practitioners to justify the integration of mindfulness into treatment plans for patients experiencing stress, anxiety, or ADHD.
3. Mindfulness Strategies for Resilient Youth
This chapter provides a practical toolkit of age-appropriate mindfulness exercises, including box breathing, guided imagery scripts, and the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique. By learning to tailor these specific strategies to the unique needs and preferences of each child, rehabilitation professionals can empower youth to manage restlessness and emotional overwhelm both during therapy sessions and in their daily lives.
More courses in this series
The Impact of ACEs and SDOH on Youth Mental Health
Melissa Sevestre
Shaping Futures: How Mental Health Influences Youth Development
Melissa Sevestre
Partnering for Wellness: Rehab’s Role in School Mental Health
Melissa Sevestre
Building Resilient Youth: Coping Strategies for Rehab Professionals
Melissa Sevestre
Helping Youth Strive: Mindfulness Practice for Rehab Professionals
Melissa Sevestre
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