Whats the EEA?
By Jessica Jordan, MS, OTR/L
One of Our Philosophies
The EEA is one of our philosophies here at SUNRISE THERAPIES! We have this in the forefront of our mind before we approach any activity with a neurodivergent individual, as we want all of the individuals and families we serve to understand how we presume competence and aim to have each session be meaningful, fun, and backed with expertise and knowledge from serving the neurodiverse community.
The Expectation
The expectation is the first part of our EEA model. As humans we usually prefer to know what is expected of us. Think about if you started a new job and the job expectations were not listed for you. I think we could anticipate ourselves feeling: anxious, nervous, jittery, unmotivated, and not really connected to what we are doing. For us here at SUNRISE Therapies, giving an expectation might include:
Listing our schedule/activities for the session, while remaining flexible in our game plan.
Emphasizing and clearly defining what we are looking for as your OT (i.e “when you extend those arms I want you to push the bar up, up , up to the sky”).
The Explanation
The explanation is the why behind what we are doing. That is imperative in order for any individual to feel intrinsically motivated and feel as if what they are doing is meaningful. The explanation may be for the individual, but it is also crucial for any other family members to understand as well. This is usually the part where we (as OTs) can geek out a bit and emphasize our passion in what we do for all the individuals we serve.
The Affirmation
Lastly, affirmation station coming in HOT! Affirmations help reframe negative self-talk, build self-confidence, and cultivate a positive mindset. Affirmations help us rewire our brains. Scientific evidence prove the benefits including reducing stress and improving self competence.
A few of our favorites include:
“I can do hard things!”
“Here and now is where my power is.”
“I am focused on what I can control.”
“I have unlimitied potential.”
Take Home Points
If you can’t tell already, we are extremely passionate about the work that we do with the individuals and families we serve in every way! We are so excited to be launching a course geared to those practitioners wanting to transform their understanding of OT, neurodiversity, and fueling that desire to be the change we wish to see in the world. Our Amplifying Competence course will be launching in April 2024 and we CANNOT wait!