As an occupational therapist and self-proclaimed Interoception Groupie, I’m passionate about empowering individuals with self-understanding, self-regulation, health, well-being, and social connection. Occupational Therapy Practitioners (OTPs) like myself seek ways to help clients in meaningful ways. When doing so, interoception can be a crucial consideration to incorporate into the occupational therapy process.
Interoception is our “eighth sense” and helps us to perceive a wide variety of sensations within our bodies. For example, a gurgling stomach, full bladder, loose muscles, pounding head, racing heart, and sweaty skin are all sensations some might experience because of interoception.
These interoceptive sensations provide vital clues to what emotion or body needs we feel. For example, our body sensations can be clues to thirst, hunger, sleepiness, need for a toilet, pain, body temperature, anxiety, or excitement.
Because interoception helps us to be clear on how our body feels, it becomes a vital aspect of successfully regulating our body needs and emotions and, in turn, participating meaningfully in a variety of occupations (think toileting, eating/feeding, pain/healthcare management, sleep, and so on).
Why Should Occupational Therapy Include Interoception Activities?
Individuals may struggle with stress management, emotional regulation, and self-awareness without proper interoceptive abilities. Children with poor interoceptive skills may struggle with toileting, feeding, and sleeping. Adults may have difficulty managing chronic pain and illnesses or recognizing when their body tells them they feel anxious or tired.
If you are an OTP supporting client engagement in any of the following areas, you should consider including interoception activities (if you are not already). This list is not exhaustive but includes a few common areas of participation that are influenced by interoception:
Toileting/Continence
- Feeling the need to ‘go’
- Feeling the difference between the need to pee or poop
- Feeling when you are fully finished eliminating
- Feeling clean enough to stop wiping
- Feeling wet/dry or soiled/clean
- Feeling loose or tight enough to eliminate
Feeding/Eating
- Feeling hungry
- Feeling thirsty
- Feeling full and knowing when to stop eating
- Feeling interested or disgusted by food
Pain or Healthcare Management
- Feeling sick and seeking out help (e.g., medicine, medical appointment)
- Feeling injury (e.g., a broken bone, appendicitis, infection, bruise)
- Feeling the difference between a minor injury vs. a significant injury
- Feeling details of symptoms in order to communicate them to others
Sleep
- Feeling sleepy and knowing when it is ideal to go to bed
- Feeling well-rested or need for more sleep
- Feeling regulated enough to fall asleep and learning what your body needs to ‘slow down”
Body Temperature
- Feeling cold and need for protection
- Feeling overheated and need for protection
- Feeling what your body needs to wear for safety in extreme weather
Sensory Regulation
- Feeling sensory regulated or sensory overwhelmed
- Feeling the need for a break from specific sensory stimulation (and identifying what stimulation causing the feeling of sensory overwhelm)
- Feeling how specific sensory input makes the body feel
Affective Emotional Regulation
- Feeling emotionally regulated or dysregulated (being clear on how one feels)
- Feeling the need for self-care
- Feeling details of different emotions
- Feeling how specific activities make the body feel
- Feeling the need to seek out comfortable experiences and avoid uncomfortable experiences
Social Connection
- Understanding inner feels so that it can be expressed to others
- Putting a word to an inner experience so that there is mutual understanding
- Understanding and expressing what is needed for comfort and felt safety
- Advocating for what the body needs
It is Official: Interoception is Included in The Occupational Therapy Practice Framework
The American Occupational Therapy Association also supports the importance of interoception in the occupational therapy process. When their most recent practice framework was published in 2020 (OTPF-4), it included interoception as a client factor that OTPs should consider in the supports they provide. This inclusion was big news—after years of advocacy, interoception is officially included in this guiding document. Before 2020, many OTPs were learning about interoception and incorporating it into practice. Still, this publication will provide better odds that even more OTPs, especially aspiring OTPs, will learn about this important science.
While our interoception resources are being accessed and used by lots of different professionals, OTPs are poised to be a significant contributor to a client’s interoception journey. Check out our courses that are approved for AOTA CEs (with more coming!).
Kelly Mahler is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development with Approved Provider Number 00742. AOTA does not endorse specific course content, products or clinical procedures.
Using Interoception Activities in Occupational Therapy: Applicable to Many Settings and Client Groups
Interoception is a highly changeable process, and research has found that interoception activities (including our very own Interoception Curriculum) can help clients with a wide variety of profiles. For example, interoception activities are helpful for adults and children with chronic pain, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and addictions. Interoception activities have also been found effective by autistics and ADHDers. While interoception activities can be helpful for almost all people, they should be a consideration when supporting clients who are experiencing a breakdown in participation.
The basis of interoception activities is body mindfulness—activities that encourage us to notice how our body feels in the present moment. By focusing on our internal sensations, many times, we can gain more insight into the signals our bodies are sending us. Importantly, to get the most benefit, interoception activities need to be offered in affirming ways that foster inner curiosity and validation. There’s no wrong way to feel, and we all have highly unique inner experiences. By helping each person connect to their own unique interoceptive sensations, they can make informed decisions about their well-being and health.
Explore More Interoception Resources for Occupational Therapy Practitioners
Our resources are ideal for OTPs working in various settings and with various client ages and needs. If you want lots of practical ideas and strategies to help foster interoceptive awareness, check out our interoception resources, including our award-winning Interoception Curriculum and Interoception Activity Cards!
