Mindfulness and occupation: Considerations for occupational therapy practice with children and youth (April 9, 2024)

Presented by: Kirsten Smith, PhD, OT Reg. (Ont.)

Mindfulness is growing in popularity and has been applied to a range of client populations. There is emergent evidence that mindfulness may support occupational engagement in children and youth receiving rehabilitation services (Jackman, 2014; Smith et al., 2023).  Occupational therapists need clinically-relevant research to support their decision-making with regard to the uptake of mindfulness in clinical practice. This webinar will provide an overview of the presenter's recent research into occupational therapists' use of mindfulness in clinical practice with children and youth. The webinar will open with an overview of the theoretical links between mindfulness and human occupation, then will provide concrete examples from the presenter's research to highlight these links. While this webinar will focus on the findings of the presenter's research, it will provide takeaway messages on application in practice and will close with an opportunity to try some brief mindfulness practices that participants can take into their clinical practices.

After taking part in this webinar, participants will be able to: 

1. Identify the relationship mindfulness and human occupation.
2. Understand the potential contribution of mindfulness to pediatric clinical practice.
3. Apply simple mindfulness techniques to a range of clinical encounters.

Level  Intermediate (3-5 years of experience in this specific area of practice)

Area of practice Health Promotion & Wellness, Pediatrics

Client age group Young children (0-4 years old), Children (5-12 years old), Adolescents (13-19 years old)