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8 million people in Canada have chronic pain and this number is growing (Government of Canada, 2021). Occupational therapy professionals therefore encounter many clients experiencing chronic pain in a variety of practice settings. Several evidence-informed self-management techniques can support people living with pain, including meditation (e.g., la Cour & Petersen, 2015), cognitive behaviour therapy (e.g., Knoerl et al., 2016), acceptance and commitment therapy (e.g., Hughes et al., 2017), expressive writing (e.g., Ziemer, 2014), gratitude journalling (e.g., Boggiss et al., 2020) and visualization (e.g., Álvarez-García & Yaban, 2020). Occupational therapy professionals can teach these self-management techniques to help people with pain participate in their meaningful occupations.
This workshop is ideal for occupational therapy professionals who wish to increase their understanding of chronic pain and strategies that can be used to support people living with pain. An overview of chronic pain and the occupational therapy role will be provided. Participants will gain fundamental information on how the following self-management techniques can support people living with pain: meditation, cognitive behaviour therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, expressive writing, gratitude journalling, sensory modulation and visualization exercises. Lecture, self-reflection, case studies, and group discussion will be utilized to assist you in furthering your knowledge and clinical reasoning.
10:00 - 11:30 a.m. (ET) | Understanding pain: Pain science |
11:30 - 11:45 a.m. (ET) | Break |
11:45 to 1:15 p.m. (ET) |
Introducing the occupational therapy role: Pacing, goal setting and meaningful activity |
1:15 - 1:45 p.m. (ET) | Break |
1:45 - 3:15 p.m. (ET) | Self-management techniques |
3:15 - 3:30 p.m. (ET) | Break |
3:30 to 5:00 p.m. (ET) | Continue with self-management techniques, Case study considerations, questions |
By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:
Occupational therapists (OTs), occupational therapist assistants (OTAs), and students in occupational therapy or OTA/PTA programs who wish to gain knowledge on practical self-management strategies for people living with pain.
Please note: Each participant is responsible to ensure they apply the information within the context of their licensure, provincial/territorial legislations, institution regulations, scope of practice, etc.
Areas of practice
Acute Care, Autism/Neurodiversity, Brain injury/Concussion/Spinal Cord, Caregiver/Family Education, Case Management, Chronic Disease Management, Chronic Pain, Generalist, Hand Therapy, Health Promotion & Wellness, Indigenous Health, MSK Rehabilitation, MVA Rehabilitation, Neurology, Older Adults, Orthopedics, Occupational Therapist Assistant, Palliative/EOL Care, Primary Care, Return to Work
Client age group
Adolescents (13-19 years old), Adults (20-64 years old), Older adults (65+ years old)
Workshop level
Beginner (0-2 years of experience in this specific practice area)
Please note: Participants with more than this stated level of experience are welcome to attend the workshop. The workshop content will be geared towards those with 0-2 years of experience.
Zara Dureno, Reg. OT (BC)
Zara Dureno is an occupational therapist with her Master of Occupational Therapy from the University of British Columbia and undergraduate degree in psychology with a focus on neuroscience. She is passionate about all things neurological health and has a practice base of clients with concussion, mental health and chronic pain diagnoses. She has a lived experience with chronic pain, having recovered from a serious horse back riding injury. She has taken many courses and done a lot of research on these subjects. Zara has done several presentations both locally and internationally and is very passionate about this field of care on a personal and professional level.
Early bird rates: Registration and payment completed by March 27, 2024
CAOT Members and Associates | CAOT Student/ Provisional Associates & Retired Members | Non-member* |
$215 | $190 | $270 |
Regular rates: Registration and payment completed after March 27, 2024
CAOT Members and Associates | CAOT Student/ Provisional Associates & Retired Members | Non-member* |
$265 | $240 | $320 |
Registration deadline: June 7, 2024 at 9:59 a.m. (Eastern Time)
Please note that CAOT does not offer group registration fees.
*It may be more cost effective to become a CAOT Member or Associate rather than pay the non-member rate. See “Can a non-member register for a Workshop?” in our Professional Development FAQs to know which membership category you are eligible for.
Included in your registration fee:
Online workshop, access to the recording for a period of 14 days following the workshop, electronic copy of presentation slide handouts, opportunity to network and make connections with other occupational therapists interested in this topic, electronic certificate of attendance.
All cancellation/refund requests must be sent in writing to education@caot.ca. All cancellation requests received by May 22, 2024 will be given a full refund minus a $50.00 administrative fee. All cancellation/refund requests between May 23 and 29, 2024 will be given a 50% refund. No refunds will be given after May 29, 2024. Substitutions and transfers requests received by May 29, 2024 are permitted and are subject to a $50.00 administrative fee.
If you are exceptionally unable to complete the workshop, please reach out to education@caot.ca by 25 days following the end of the workshop for extended access to the recording (up to one month after the end of the workshop) or a one-time transfer to another offering of the same workshop if currently open for registration.
CAOT reserves the right to modify the workshop title, description, registration dates and information on the workshop webpage. CAOT will notify participants on or before April 26, 2024 if there is insufficient registration by that date and reserves the right to cancel a Workshop due to insufficient registration up until May 10, 2024. CAOT reserves the right to modify the offering, interrupt Workshops, change the timing of a Workshop, cancel a Workshop or change the technology for the Workshop due to the presenter no longer being able to present the Workshop, severe weather, power failure, building closures or other special circumstances that are beyond the control of CAOT by notifying participants as soon as possible. If the Workshop is cancelled by CAOT, registrants will receive a full refund of the registration fee. CAOT will not be responsible for other costs or expenses incurred by registrants as a result of any such changes.