Your host, Sarah, sits down with Dr. Cathy Cavaliere and discusses the topic of sensory health.  Dr. Cavaliere is not only a pioneer in this area, but she is breaking down the barriers as to what we as OT practitioners can do with our sensory processing knowledge.   Dr. Cavaliere is assistant professor in the Occupational Therapy Program at Dominican College where she teaches both research courses the Adolescence course. Dr. Cavaliere graduated from Quinnipiac College’s Occupational Therapy Program in 1998. She received her PhD in Health Science from Seton Hall University in 2010. Her doctoral work involved investigating the physiologic components of sensory processing disorders (vagal tone) and the differences in the physiologic responses to sensation in children with autism and typically developing children. Dr. Cavaliere has been a practicing clinician for over 20 years and has spent 15 of those working in pediatrics in various settings including schools, early intervention and community based clinics. She opened her own private practice in 2014 where she serves children and adolescents with sensory processing disorders and their families. She spends much of her clinical time coaching and empowering families to become self- aware and self- confident both as individuals, and as a family unit. Dr. Cavaliere’s unique approach to working with families and individuals combines a sensory informed perspective along with a polyvagal informed perspective. The combination has shaped her thought and her approach intervention. Dr. Cavaliere has completed Mentorship Level 1 &2 and the Research Mentorship at the STAR center for sensory processing disorders. She is currently an instructor in training with STAR center. She has lectured extensively to various audiences including scholars, colleagues, teachers and parents, on sensory processing and related topics. Dr. Cavaliere is passionate about the role of sensory health in overall health and well-being. She is spearheading a Sensory Health clinic at Dominican College. The mission of this clinic is to increase awareness of the importance of sensory health in well-being and the impact that sensory processing can have on supporting mental and physical health among college students. In addition, this clinic will serve undergraduate students on a one to one basis who are at risk for academic failure or mental health challenges. Further, Dr. Cavaliere is conducting an expansive critically appraised topic on the role of sensory processing in health and well-being including the role of sensory processing in mental health, physical health, resilience, relationships, self-actualization, addiction and incarceration. This will be presented as a short course at the 2020 AOTA National Conference in Boston.