The SECU Youth Crisis Center (YCC), a Monarch program, has recently enhanced its services by transforming a storage room into a calming sensory space designed to help children cope during mental health crises. This sensory room provides an important therapeutic resource for youth experiencing distress, supporting them in regaining emotional control and building coping skills.
What is a Sensory Room?
A sensory room is a carefully designed space that uses therapeutic lights, sounds, textures and activities to support children in managing stress, anxiety, and frustration. The goal is to create a calming environment that aids in emotional regulation and provides a safe space for youth to de-escalate.
At the SECU YCC, Monarch experts in occupational therapy (OT) have incorporated a variety of sensory activities aimed at helping children regain control over their emotions. These activities include textured floor squares, fidget toys, noise-canceling headphones and even a “crash pad” bean bag chair for physical comfort.
Benefits of the Sensory Room for Children in Crisis
Sensory rooms offer numerous benefits, especially for youth facing a mental health crisis. Children can use the space to calm down and refocus when feeling overwhelmed or upset. The sensory room supports youth in building coping skills that are essential for managing emotions in the future.
For instance, children can explore activities like pressing a wall light to control the lights, sitting in an inflatable sensory canoe for deep pressure therapy or using a cuddle ball to reduce anxiety. These tools help empower youth by giving them choices and control over how they calm their bodies and minds.
Helping Youth Develop Coping Skills
The sensory room is a critical tool in OT, which is used to strengthen sensory-based coping techniques. Since the YCC began integrating OT in 2020, the sensory room has proven to be an invaluable resource. Through regular use, children learn strategies that help them navigate anger and frustration more effectively, both in the moment and in future situations.
Training staff to use the room has also been beneficial. Not only can they guide children through therapeutic activities, but they can also benefit from using the space themselves, particularly in reducing burnout that is common in mental health professions.
Safe and Accessible Therapeutic Activities
Every item in the sensory room has been carefully selected for its ability to help children de-escalate and regain a sense of calm. With activities like liquid sensory tiles, weighted lap pads and textured mats, the sensory room offers a wide range of options to meet the unique needs of each child. The room’s design encourages children to actively engage with calming activities, helping them develop lasting coping strategies.
For children struggling with the urge to self-harm, the textured squares on the floor offer a therapeutic outlet, while the weighted lap pad can provide comfort and security. The availability of a timer ensures that each session remains manageable, typically lasting 20 minutes to prevent overstimulation.
Empowering Youth and Staff Through the Sensory Room
Using a sensory room not only benefits children but can also support staff. As the mental health field is known for high rates of burnout, the ability for staff members to use the sensory room helps them refresh and re-energize during the workday. It fosters a holistic approach to mental health care, where both children and staff have tools to manage their emotional well-being.
The sensory room at the SECU YCC provides an innovative way for youth to cope with mental health crises. By offering a peaceful environment filled with therapeutic tools, it helps children regain emotional balance, strengthen coping skills and empower them to face future challenges.
For more information on OT services at the YCC or to learn more about how sensory rooms can support children in crisis, visit here, or visit here for more information about the services we offer.