12 January 2026 – 6 PM
13 january 2026 – 8 PM
Building Blocks Therapy | Two, In-person, Four-Hour Workshops
$220 (includes CPD hours, certificate & handouts)
A hands-on, evidence-based workshop for Paediatric OTs who want to confidently support adolescents.
The purpose of this workshop is to equip Peadiatric Occupational Therapists who work with neurodiverse adolescents with specific skills and strategies, so that they can best support their clients through one of the most pivotal stages of life.
What You’ll Gain From Attending
Understand the adolescent brain and behaviour.
Build engagement and trust with teens.
Gain practical, evidence-based strategies you can use tomorrow.
Adolescence is a period of profound neurological, emotional, social, and physical transformation — a time of both challenge and opportunity. This hands-on, evidence-based workshop (delivered over two evenings) gives Paediatric OTs the tools to connect, engage, and make therapy more meaningful for adolescents.
Limited Seats Available – Early Registration Highly Recommended.
Meet Your Presenter – Alice McKinnon, Paediatric Occupational Therapist
With over eight years of experience across private and non-profit sectors, Alice helps OTs bridge the gap between research and real-world outcomes. Her clinical framework – refined through hundreds of therapy hours and lived experience with Autistic adolescents – empowers OTs to build trust, engagement, and facilitate meaningful progress in emotional regulation, independence, and social participation.
What You’ll Learn
Therapy That Connects – Evidence-Based Strategies to Build Trust, Boost Engagement, and Deliver Meaningful Results with Adolescents
Understanding the Adolescent Brain
Learn about the neurology of the adolescent brain, including key developmental changes and considerations for therapy.
Adolescent-Specific Therapy Strategies
Adolescents require tailored approaches. Explore evidence-based approaches to build rapport, increase engagement, and adapt interventions for better outcomes for clients.
Specific Focus Areas Covered in this Workshop
Transitioning to High School
Learn strategies to support Autistic adolescents and their family/carers in navigating new environments, routines, and academics.
Learn how to support executive functioning, emotional regulation and coping skills.
Supporting Puberty
Understanding the emotional and physical impact of puberty for Autistic adolescents, and gain strategies to help them manage body changes, mood shifts and changing social environments.
Communicating About Diagnosis
Learn how to discuss diagnosis with adolescents in a way that builds self-awareness and self-compassion.
Developing Life Skills
Learn strategies to support growth in independence across various domains, including public transportation use, money management, and daily routines.
Support Social and Emotional Health
Exploration of challenging high school dynamics such as bullying, peer relationships, self-esteem and emotional regulation, with strategies to support adolescents.
Executive Functioning Skills
Help adolescents build executive functioning skills to manage homework, schedules and school-related stress.
Guide Employment Readiness
Prepare adolescents for the workforce by building self-advocacy skills and following passions.
Gaming & Online Technology Use Considerations
Exploration of digital wellbeing and approaches to support Autistic adolescents.