Sensory Strategies for Counselors — An OT Perspective

We all process sensory input differently, and understanding our own sensory patterns, and those of our students, can transform the way we support learning and wellbeing in school.

In this introductory session, an experienced occupational therapist walks school counselors through the basics of sensory processing — what it is, how it presents in the classroom, and what counselors can practically do about it. Participants will learn to spot early signs of sensory processing difficulties, pick up simple strategies to share with students and teachers, and develop a clearer sense of when and how to refer to an occupational therapist.

This is a practical, accessible entry point for counselors who want to feel more confident navigating the sensory dimension of student wellbeing — without stepping outside their professional scope.

Intended Audience

This course is designed primarily for school counselors working in international and multilingual school settings. It is also relevant for learning support specialists, school psychologists, and other student support staff who work alongside occupational therapists or who encounter students with sensory processing differences in their daily practice. No prior knowledge of occupational therapy is required.

ISCA Student Standards

This course will support you in providing strategies for your students to be able to:

Regulate their sensory experiences, access learning environments with greater ease, and thrive socially and emotionally through a sensory-informed approach.

Social-Emotional (Primary)

• A1 – Social and Self-Awareness
• A2 – Relationship
• C1 – Personal Safety

Academic (Supporting)

• A1 – Self-awareness as a learner
• A2 – Effective Learning

Global Perspective & Identity Development (Supporting)

• B1 – Identity Development
• D1 – Transitions
• D2 – Adaptability

ASCA Professional Standards and Ethical Standards and Practices

Ethical Standards (2022):

• A.1 Supporting Student Development
• A.6 Appropriate Collaboration, Advocacy and Referrals
• A.10 Marginalized Populations

Professional Standards & Competencies (2019):

• B-PF 1
• B-PF 6
• B-SS 4
• B-SS 5
• B-SS 6

Essential Questions

1. How does sensory processing shape the way students engage, regulate, and learn in school?
2. How can school counselors use sensory-informed strategies within their own scope of practice?
3. When and how should counselors collaborate with and refer to occupational therapists?
4. How can the school environment itself be adapted to better support students with sensory differences?

Participants will have knowledge about:

1. The sensory systems and the neurological basis of sensory processing;
2. Common sensory profiles and how sensory differences can manifest in school-aged students;
3. How sensory processing difficulties can affect attention, regulation, behavior, and learning in the classroom;
4. The scope of practice boundary between school counseling and occupational therapy.

Participants will be able to:

1. Recognize early signs of sensory processing challenges in students;
2. Share simple, practical sensory strategies with students and teachers;
3. Identify when a student's needs go beyond the counselor's scope and how to refer appropriately to an occupational therapist;
4. Collaborate with OTs and other student support staff around students with sensory needs.

Sandra

Sandra is an occupational therapist at Linden Global Learning & Support Services, a Berlin-based student support agency that provides psychoeducational assessments, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, counseling, academic coaching, and behavior and learning support to international schools worldwide. Trained in the United States and holding an additional Master's degree in the Psychology of Health from the UK, Sandra has worked across the full range of pediatric occupational therapy for over two decades — spanning the USA, Australia, France, and Germany — including teaching pediatric occupational therapy at university level. She currently works with international schools in Germany and offers services in English, French, Italian, and German.

Sandra has worked across the full range of pediatric settings, from hospital-based services to schools and community care. Her breadth of experience has shaped a practice that is evidence-based, creative, and firmly family-oriented. In addition to her direct work with children and families, she supports school staff through professional workshops, helping teachers and support teams build practical, sensory-informed strategies into their everyday practice. Her specialties include sensory integration and regulation, executive functioning, fine motor and visual motor development, social skills, and coaching. She is also a trained animal-assisted therapist and, where appropriate, incorporates dog-assisted therapy into her work with children and families.

ISCA Member Price: $180

Non-Member Price: $260

Dates and times of offerings:

September 15, 2026; 10:00AM to 1:00PM UTC

Contact Hours: 3 hours

Time commitment between sessions: N/A

Required Resource(s): N/A