Sensory Modulation
Sensory Modulation means using your senses or body to regulate how you feel and calm your mind
Sensory Modulation is a therapeutic approach occupational therapists use to support people with self-regulation in order to manage emotions, cope with life’s demands and improve overall mental health and wellbeing. This is based on sensory processing – the way our nervous system interprets and reacts to sensory stimuli, including sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touch and movement.
When we feel anxious, overwhelmed or distressed it is not always possible to simply calm down or to use thinking techniques to help us feel in control (a top-down approach). Sensory interventions offer an alternative option by using our senses in order to regulate our arousal states and our bodies through a bottom-up approach.
Understanding your own sensory processing style and preferences can help you to:
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Improve your health and wellbeing.
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Decrease your risk of burnout.
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Improve your ability to focus and have more energy – improving your productivity
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Cope more effectively in your daily life.
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Improve your relationships.
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Manage your emotions better.
We are all unique and different and each one of us reacts to the world around us and processes sensory input differently.
We have our own unique sensory profile with different thresholds, which explains how much input we can tolerate before the brain overloads and a stress response is triggered. It also explains what sensory input we prefer or gravitate towards. For example, one person needs to lie down in a quiet room to relax, whilst another person might find this frustrating and need movement to de-stress. Some people become overwhelmed in busy and noisy environments – and another person can’t concentrate when it is too quiet..
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Our own unique sensory profile impacts all areas of our lives – how we prefer to socialise and what hobbies we choose, our work and productivity, how we communicate and build relationship, how we react to the world around us, etc. Understanding our own unique sensory needs and preferences can help us make changes to our surroundings, choose the best activities and coping techniques and help us cope more effectively with daily life.
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We can all benefit from sensory strategies to calm or alert our systems when we are stressed or feeling overwhelmed. People with certain health conditions, such as trauma, anxiety, depression or ADHD, can sometimes have additional challenges with sensory processing.
What I can offer
I am a Sensory Intelligence® Practitioner and have many years of integrating sensory modulation into my occupational therapy practice to support others to manage their lives better.
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Information on sensory processing and sensory modulation.
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An occupational therapy assessment interview to understand how your sensory processing style might impact your work and home life.
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Access to the Sensory Matrix™/Senses@Work Matrix™ assessment with a full report detailing your individual sensory processing style and tailored sensory management strategies.
Pricing for initial assessment session: £200
Get in contact to book your
Sensory Matrix™ or Senses@Work Matrix™ assessment and treatment.
Clients with whom I have used sensory modulation as part of their occupational therapy intervention has commented that: