Professional Workshops

A woman smiling in front of a presentation screen that reads 'Sensory Processing & Regulation' by Michelle Drogemuller, Senior Occupational Therapist, Wattle Tree Therapy.

Learn practical tools to support the children in your community.

Facilitating a friendly and down-to-earth forum for learning and collaboration, Michelle offers information tailored to your community of staff, families and children.

Participants will discover evidence-informed, practical strategies to support the children they care for.

All professional development workshops encourage self-reflection to shift positive changes in staff and parent confidence, and outcomes for child development.

Flexible coaching and collaboration is available following a workshop, to support you in applying the practices in your real-life, everyday setting with children.

Workshops are for your community of:

  • Early Childhood Educators and Teachers

  • Allied Health Professionals

  • Support Workers

  • Policy Makers

  • Parents, Carers and Families

Close-up of a child's hand reaching into a woven basket filled with wooden blocks, some with numbers and illustrations, placed on a woven mat outdoors, with greenery in the background.

Workshop Areas

    • Understanding the eight senses

    • Understanding emotional and behavioural regulation

    • Recognising stress responses

    • How to support children’s development of self-regulation

    • Co-regulation

    • Developing interoception: the inner sense

    • Evidence-based sensory strategies

    • Self-regulation for adults

    • Creating sensory spaces

    • Tailored content for your audience

    • Optional individualised sensory assessment, to encourage self-reflection

    • Optional inclusion of activities and sensory tools

    • A neurodiversity-affirming approach throughout

    • Includes handouts and Certificate of Attendance

    • Evidence-based benefits of play

    • Discovering children’s play styles

    • Discovering adult play styles - what’s your play style?

    • Supporting genuine social connections through play

    • Play and neurodiversity

    • Play and child trauma

    • What to do if you don’t feel like playing

    • Creating playful environments

    • Self-reflection for staff to allow meaningful changes in practice

    • A neurodiversity-affirming approach throughout

    • Options for tailored inclusions for your team

    • Includes handouts and Certificate of Attendance

    • Workshops can be facilitated with the community of families, parents and carers who access your service

    • Information is adapted to be accessible and relatable to real-life, everyday family contexts

    • The format of a Family Workshop is less intensive, and includes conversational style Q&A

    • Topics are based on your community need, and can include sensory and self-regulation, play and social connections, child development, toilet learning, etc.

    • Coaching and collaboration is available following a workshop

    • This service is adapted to your needs, and support can include email, phone calls, online groups or meetings, or visits to your Centre

    • Coaching can support your team, and the families in your community, in applying the practices in your everyday settings with children

  • Do you hold workshops on areas other than listed?

    • Yes! Other topics can include:

    • Child development; milestones, developmental differences, and navigating neurodivergence in an affirming way

    • Supporting areas of social communication, fine motor skills, toileting, etc.

    • Workshops and support can be tailored to your needs

    Where do you hold workshops?

    • In person at your workplace, or at another venue of your choice

    • Servicing Adelaide, and some areas of regional South Australia

    • Online workshops are possible

    Are after hours or weekend workshops available?

    • Yes

    What do all workshops include?

    • Communication with you to tailor the content to your needs

    • Folders including handouts

    • Certificates of Attendance

    What are the fees?

    • Investment varies based on the duration of your desired workshop, number of participants, and coaching needs

    • Please enquire below

Enquire here

Testimonial

“Earlier this year, our team had the privilege of participating in Michelle’s Sensory Regulation Workshop through Wattle Tree Therapy, and it was an outstanding professional development experience.

Michelle delivered a workshop that was interactive, down-to-earth and incredibly engaging. Her ability to break down complex sensory processing concepts into clear, relatable language meant that every staff member, regardless of background knowledge and experience, walked away with a deeper and more practical understanding of sensory regulation.

The workshop also included hands-on sensory tools, meaningful activities to promote regulation, and plenty of opportunities for reflective discussion. Staff particularly valued learning:

  • the opportunity to explore their own sensory preferences and how these relate to our clients,

  • how the brain responds to stress,

  • how to identify early signs of dysregulation,

  • the difference between sensory and co-regulation strategies, and

  • practical ways to respond compassionately and effectively when clients become dysregulated.

Overall, this workshop has had a lasting positive impact on our practice, our confidence, and our understanding of sensory needs; both for ourselves and the clients we support. I would highly recommend Michelle and Wattle Tree Therapy to any organisation seeking high quality, evidence-based and uplifting professional development.”

Renee Erich - Director of Bloom Mentoring Services

Let’s work together

Contact me with any questions, and I’ll be in touch soon.