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What to Look for in a Sensory Integration Provider

Not all therapists who say they provide sensory integration intervention have the training needed to truly provide SI intervention.

This is a specialized area of practice—and it requires advanced training.

At a minimum, therapists should have completed 100+ hours of post-professional education in Sensory Integration through a reputable, evidence-based program.

This level of training is essential for understanding how to properly assess and treat sensory challenges.

Well-established training programs include:

University of Southern California (USC)*
STAR Institute
Evaluation in Ayres Sensory Integration® (EASI)

Advance education is critical, but education alone is not enough. Ongoing mentorship is essential, along with active participation in research, conferences and professional collaboration. This is how therapist develop their clinical reasoning and ensure their intervention adheres to sensory integration theory.

*The University of Southern California (USC) is currently the only program that offers a searchable directory of therapists who have completed a comprehensive 100+ hour certification program in Sensory Integration.

You can use this directory to verify whether your therapist has completed USC’s program:

USC Searchable Directory

Families are also encouraged to ask their therapist directly about their training.

Specifically:

Which Sensory Integration program did you complete?
How many hours of formal SI education have you received?

These are reasonable and important questions to help ensure your provider has the training needed to deliver high-quality Sensory Integration intervention.