Therapeutic Brushing Guide: An Occupational Therapy Sensory Regulation Tool
$2.90
Therapeutic Brushing is a sensory tool often recommended by occupational therapists to:
- Decrease tactile defensiveness
- Support emotional regulation
- Connect with a child
- Provide calming input before bed
While research on its effectiveness is largely anecdotal, it’s a valuable option among sensory and calming tools. This resource is ideal for therapists learning about brushing or sharing it with families, caregivers, or clients.
Description
Therapeutic Brushing is a practice sometimes recommended by occupational therapists for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to:
- To decrease tactile defensiveness (oversensitivity to touch or other textures)
- As an emotional regulation tool in times of frustration
- As a way to connect with your child
- To use before bed as a way to provide calming input
While much of the research is anecdotal as to how effective this tool is for specific reasons, it can be considered one of the many sensory and calming tools available.
This resource is a great tool for therapists to learn more about brushing or for therapists to provide to families, caregivers or clients when recommending this tool.
Included in this download:
- Overview of Therapeutic Brushing
- When to Use a Therapy Brush
- How to Use a Therapy Brush (with visual diagrams)
- Where to Use a Therapy Brush (with visual diagrams)
- 8 Considerations
- + NEW: Therapeutic Brushing notes template for caregiver education
Why You Need a Sensory Brushing Guide:
✅ Supports Sensory Regulation: Therapeutic brushing helps calm the nervous system and improve body awareness.
✅ Reduces Sensory Sensitivities: Beneficial for children with sensory processing disorder, autism, or ADHD who struggle with tactile input.
✅ Provides Step-by-Step Guidance: Clear, easy-to-follow instructions ensure safe and effective use of the Wilbarger Brushing Protocol or similar techniques.
✅ Improves Focus & Self-Regulation: Helps children transition between activities, manage emotions, and stay engaged in daily tasks.
✅ Perfect for Home, School & Therapy: A valuable tool for occupational therapists, parents, and educators looking to implement sensory strategies effectively.
Your download and use of this product implies understanding of the Terms of Use, which can be found within this document.
