8:00–9:15 AM MT
The Brain-Body Connection: Where Interoception Lives

• Map the insula and brain hierarchy to connect body signals to function
• Explore theory of mind — why kids must know their own feelings before connecting with others’
• See how posture, tone, and autonomic balance shape interoceptive input
• Identify barriers like trauma, sensory over/under-responsivity, and chronic stress
• Case Study: Pediatric toileting case — illustrate how missed interoceptive cues affect daily life

9:15–10:30 AM MT
Quick & Practical Assessment: Finding Interoception Gaps

• Shift from a behavior lens to an interoception lens to uncover body signals and underlying needs
• Learn quick positional, sensory, and “organ friends” questions to screen in minutes
• Spot red flags in feeding, dressing, toileting, pain reporting, and emotional awareness
• Practice guided body awareness scans you can use with any client, in any setting
• Case Study: Teen with ADHD and frequent injuries — connect missed cues to safety concerns

10:45 AM–12:00 PM MT
Functional Implications: When the Brain Misinterprets Signals

• Break down how clients miss or misinterpret hunger, thirst, pain, fatigue, and temperature
• Link poor interoception to anxiety, meltdowns, shutdowns, and big emotions
• Teach clients to recognize anger, fear, sadness, and calm using body signals
• Reframe your role as building accurate brain-body mapping to restore participation
• Case Study: Adult post-TBI with poor hunger/thirst recognition leading to medical complications

12:45–2:00 PM MT
Experiential Lab: Therapeutic Breathing & Nervous System Reset

• Explore breathing as a bridge to interoception and self-regulation
• Practice co-regulation strategies to get kids learning-ready while keeping yourself grounded
• Safely use hot and cold contrast strategies to build interoceptive awareness of temperature
• Practice belly, rectangle, elevator, and sensory breathing for all ages
• Safely try hyperventilation reset and use pulse oximeters for biofeedback
• Play with pinwheels, bubbles, and tactile cues to make breathing exercises engaging
• Case Study: Child with anxiety — demonstrate how daily breathing practice reduced emotional meltdowns

2:15–3:15 PM MT
Breaking the Cycle: Tools for Catastrophic Thinking & Pain

• Understand how the brain amplifies pain and distress signals
• Guide patients through graded exposure and reframing to lower threat
• Use pain chips, visual scales, and structured exercises to make progress tangible
• Case Study: Client with chronic pain and fear avoidance — show functional progress with interoception-focused therapy

3:15–4:30 PM MT
Applying Interoception to Everyday Function

• Design multisensory activities to strengthen body awareness
• Pair emotional vocabulary with matching physical sensations for better self-regulation
• Build toileting programs that teach internal cues, timing, and wiping skills
• Create sensory diets for home, school, or facilities to support regulation all day
• Case Study: Dual case vignette – a child with toileting accidents paired with an adult post-stroke who struggles to sense swallow safety and recognize signs of aspiration

4:30–5:00 PM MT
Clinical Toolkits & Implementation Strategies

• Get sample goals, CPT code suggestions, and progress tracking templates
• Take home scripts and caregiver handouts to boost buy-in
• Plan how to integrate interoception work into your caseload on Monday morning
• Case Study: Side-by-side before/after example showing how improved interoception increased ADL independence

Helpful items to have on hand to enhance your learning experience:

• Bring a small variety of foods (spicy, sweet, sour, crunchy, and umami) to explore taste, texture, and interoceptive responses during the lab
• Washcloth
• Rubber band
• Pulse oximeter
• Glass of water
• Applesauce
• Straw