Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

An Online Resource To Promote Well-Being Among College Students With Social Anxiety Disorder, Valerie Maxine Sanderson, Steven M. Gerardi, Jerilyn Callen

Fall 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Transitioning from high school to college can be a challenge for many students, especially those with social anxiety disorder (SAD). SAD can negatively impact a student’s ability to effectively participate in school. Occupational therapy intervention could be useful to students with SAD but many do not seek out treatment due to fear of stigmatization or discrimination. Not seeking services may place students with SAD at risk of developing unhealthy coping strategies (e.g., avoidant behaviors, alcohol use). The availability of an online resource to support participation in school, without the need to disclose their condition, could be helpful to students with …

Self-Regulation For Adolescent Survivors Of Sex Trafficking: An Occupational Therapist’S Perspective, Elyse Harmon, Becki Cohill, Susan Macdermott, Karen Park

Fall 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Adolescent survivors of sex trafficking (SST) are susceptible to being in a continual dysregulated arousal state due to a lack of mastery in self-regulation. During the trafficking experience, many adolescent SST experience severe trauma and are deprived of opportunities that foster essential regulatory capacities needed for occupational engagement. The use of sensory-based approaches that focus on addressing arousal dysregulation and the impact it has on occupation is an evidence-based practice grounded in occupational therapy research.

This capstone sought to support community reintegration for adolescent SST through the development of sensory-based programming that fosters self-regulation, a skill necessary for lifelong occupational …

Enhancing Quality Of Life For Individuals With Dementia Through A Virtual Ot Based Equine-Assisted Activities Program, Lauren Fearn, Becki Cohill, Karen Park, Martha Gipson

Fall 2020 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Individuals living with dementia typically experience progressive, cognitive, and functional decline which limits their ability to communicate and fully perform activities (Pimouguet el al., 2019). Horses have been shown to benefit individuals with dementia by improving well-being, physical health, functional capacity, and social relationships (Fields et. al., 2019). A 6-week OT based virtual equine-assisted activities program was conducted to determine if participation in equine-assisted activities could improve the quality of life of individuals with dementia. Outcomes of the program resulted in improvements in mood, energy level, engagement, communication, memory, socialization, and overall quality of life.

FromSubjectReceivedSizeCategoriesLauren FearnAbstract for Poster7:11 PM26 …