Understanding Sensory Needs: Interoception & Neuroception with Elen Nathan

Interoception is the sense of our internal messages from the body. Feelings of hunger, thirst, fullness, messages from organs like the bladder & bowel to tell us if we need to go to the toilet now, or if we can wait, and messages from our cardiovascular system like an increased heart rate that may indicate stress or excitement are just some of the experiences we might have from our interoceptive sense.

Neuroception is our sense of safety and danger. How we decide if we want to walk down that dark path or not. If we choose to pat the dog we are walking past or not. How we feel safe in someone else’s home, our own home, or our classroom.

Not all people sense interoception or neuroception the same. What feels safe for one person, feels dangerous for another. One person may feel hungry all the time, while others may not feel hunger or thirst at all. Our emotional regulation is built from an understanding of the internal senses within our body, so no amount of sticker charts, behaviour plans or toilet plans will work if the person has sensory differences which have not been accounted for in the plan. Neurodivergence, sensory processing differences and trauma are all areas where a person may experience the sensory world differently from others, and we must understand and make space for these differences if we are to support them effectively and respectfully.

As we move away from behavioural approaches which reward or punish survival responses, towards relationship and connection approaches, this training weaves together the neurosciences of  Trauma Informed Care, Neurodiverse Affirming Care, Polyvagal Theory and Ayres Sensory Integration, as we take a deep dive into the two sensory systems which underpin these approaches.

Where: Online via Zoom

Contact: Faye Johnson –  [email protected]

For more information and to register – please visit the website:

**Note our Special Offer***

https://www.grow.co.nz/understanding-sensory-needs-interocep-and-neurocep/