$775.00 USD

Nourishing Connection: Trauma Informed Feeding Therapy

Course Description: This course is a deep dive into the complex nature of becoming a neurodiversity affirming trauma informed clinician, specifically in feeding therapy. There has been a push toward using these principles in feeding therapy to honor the differences in our clients and improve their mental health. However, what do these words even mean? How do you grow your practice that feels authentic to you and your presence as a clinician. In feeding therapy, which can oftentimes feel very medical, it is still important to humanize the experience of mealtime and promote learning about food in a way that feels safe and uses play to its core. This course will not only review these principles, discuss how to implement them and dive into other individual differences that may impact our neurodivergent patients, but it will also focus on how to work to understand yourself as a clinician better and how these changes may impact you. Each session has two parts: the first is to watch the prerecorded lecture, and the second is to join the instructor for LIVE discussions and questions and work to implement what resonates with you and your patients. The lectures must be viewed before the LIVE weekly discussions. This change is not easy, but it is worth it and will increase your satisfaction as a clinician.

 

Objective: 

1 Describe what trauma informed care is and how it can be implemented in feeding therapy
2 Demonstrate use of play-based strategies to create a safe space in feeding sessions
3 Describe the impact of various individual differences of clients and families and how to accommodate and support them during mealtime
 
Course Timeline 
Session 1 (LIVE 120 minutes ): Pediatric Feeding Disorders:  7/16/25
 
Session 2 (120 min; live): Feeding Basics: Medical etiologies to consider and referrals with Michelle Dawson:  7/23
 
Session 3 (120 min; live): Trauma informed care and Neurodiversity affirming care- 7/30
 
Session 4 (120 min; live): Therapeutic use of self, counseling and coaching-8/6
 
Session 5 (120 min; live): Feeding, Attachment, and Mental Health 8/13
 
Session 6 (120 min; live): Feeding and Play 8/20
 
Session 7 (120 min; live): Feeding and Sensory with Karen McWaters- 8/27
 
Session 8 (120 min; live):Gestalt Processing and Feeding-View by 9/3
 
Session 9 (60 min-prerecorded): Case Studies and Goal Writing-View by 9/17
 

 

Bio: 

Erin Forward, MSP CCC-SLP, CLC is a speech-language pathologist and certified lactation counselor. Erin works as an SLP at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in an outpatient setting. She has advanced training in pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders, early language, AAC, and trauma, specifically for medically complex children. Erin is an Expert  DIR®Floortime Provider and is a TBRI® Trained Practitioner. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor's degree in CSD and Psychology and from the University of South Carolina with her Master’s in Speech Pathology. She is the regular co-host of "First Bite: A Speech Therapy Podcast" with Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, where she shares her experiences and evidenced-based practices from her time working in early intervention/home health, NICU/PICU, GI clinic, and outpatient clinic settings. She was awarded an ASHA Distinguished Early Career Professional Certificate in 2021 for her dedication to the field. She is a current member of the ASHA Leadership Development Program graduating in February of 2023.

 

Additional Information

Speechtherapypd.com

Advanced Level

1.80 ASHA CEUs



Course Disclosure

The content of this course is based on the research and experience of the presenter. You are responsible to do your own research to determine if the information and skills taught are appropriate for your clients/students/patients.

Disclosure Statement for Erin Forward

Financial

Erin receives a salary from Cincinnati Children's Hospital. She is the host of "First Bite: A Speech Therapy Podcast," for which she receives compensation from SpeechTherapyPD.com. She also receives compensation for numerous presentations from SpeechTherapyPD.com. She also receives profits from the sales of "First Bite Boutique".

Nonfinancial

Erin Forward volunteers with ASHA Pediatric Feeding and Swallowing Disorders for the ASHA 2024 Convention. She is also a volunteer with Feeding Matters and a member of ASHA, ASHA SIG 13. Erin is also a contributor to the book Chasing the Swallow and a member of the DIR SC Coalition.

 

What People Are Saying:

"This course has been transformative in my educational journey as a graduate speech-language pathology student. Erin offers her knowledge and expertise to guide you in understanding feeding through various aspects of a child’s profile—sensory, praxis, medical history, caregiver engagement, prior mealtime experiences, and the impact of trauma. Erin’s unique ability to blend research, theory, and clinical practice into engaging presentations and discussions, created such a rich learning experience for me. Erin fosters a warm and collaborative environment that encourages problem-solving and so much collaboration! Her approach, grounded in the principles of connection, comfort, and curiosity, has transformed my understanding of feeding therapy. Erin guides you to understand feeding therapy holistically, along with the importance of connecting and collaborating with caregivers. I highly recommend this course to clinicians and SLP graduate students. Erin’s expertise offers valuable guidance on understanding a child’s individual profile and how this understanding is critical in feeding therapy. I will always be grateful for the knowledge I have gained with this course."

Muna

This course is everything you'd hope for and more in a feeding course! Erin is a wealth of knowledge, compassion, and collaboration. The course is built on the foundation that connection and comfort are at the root of feeding intervention and Erin gives us permission to build that client-therapist connection before even presenting food during a feeding session. This is the permission that I needed to become an effective and trusted therapist for my clients. Erin provides deep insight into a variety of feeding challenges, theories that support child development, and supports participants in collaborating and critically thinking through different etiologies that may be impacting a child's feeding. This holistic course is unlike any other feeding course currently available and has been a game changer for my practice.

Makenzi

I can't speak highly enough about Erin's Nourishing Connection course. From the moment I enrolled, it was clear that this was going to be a transformative experience. Erin was truly exceptional—passionate, welcoming, and incredibly knowledgeable. She created an environment where every question was valued and every participant felt supported, free from any judgment.Gaining Erin as a mentor and a friend is an invaluable experience. What really set this course apart was its unique approach to learning. It wasn't just about absorbing information; it was designed to prompt critical thinking and engage us deeply with the material. The course provided a robust framework for clinical decision-making that has already proven invaluable in my practice. It’s rare to find a course that so effectively combines theoretical insight with practical application, and I’m incredibly grateful for the experience. This course has not only enhanced my professional skills but also rekindled my enthusiasm for continued learning in speech pathology.

Maddy Lee