Special AOTA INSPIRE Pre-Conference Institute | Hilton Anaheim | In-Person

Session 1: Built to Last: Using Boundaries to Sustain Our Work (3 PDUs)

Presenters: Jessica De Brun, OTD, MOT, OTR/L
Erin McIntyre, OTD, MA, OTR/L

This course will explore the essential role of professional boundaries in occupational therapy practice. Participants will learn to define and recognize healthy boundaries, examine common boundary challenges, and understand their impact on practitioner well-being and client care. Through practical, real-world strategies, learners will develop skills to set and maintain effective boundaries that support ethical decision-making, prevent burnout, and foster long-term personal resilience and professional sustainability.

Registration in AOTA INSPIRE is not required.
Register here for any/all of the 3 activities.

Jessica De Brun, OTD, MOT, OTR/L, is an educator and occupational therapy practitioner specializing in community-based mental health and program development in San Diego County, California. Her work centers on expanding client-driven mental health services that support dignity, empowerment, and meaningful participation among individuals in vulnerable and underserved communities. De Brun has previously served in OTAC leadership roles.

Erin McIntyre, OTD, MA, OTR/L, is an educator and occupational therapy practitioner whose career has centered on community-based mental health practice, with particular emphasis on trauma-informed care, recovery-oriented approaches, the lived experience of psychosis, and program development. McIntyre currently teaches and practices in San Diego County, California, where she provides occupational therapy services supporting individuals navigating complex mental health needs within community settings. McIntyre currently serves as OTAC’s representative on the California Coalition for Behavioral Health (CCBH).

Session 2: Addressing Sexual Health: Assessment and Practical Intervention (3 PDUs)

Presenter: Stephanie Kokesh, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR, CNS, CSRS

This course will dive into specific assessment, intervention, and education strategies for addressing sexual health in occupational therapy practice. This course considers a biopsychosocial approach for adult clients with intact cognition; the overarching concepts can certainly be applied to a variety of clients and populations. To illustrate current concepts, the clinical focus will include a physical disabilities thread (e.g. SCI) as well as transgender health considerations. Attendees will have exposure to a variety of intervention considerations, along with the opportunity for concept application. A primary goal of this course is to expose participants to useful resources and tools for both clinical practice and professional development.

After this course, participants will be able to:

• Relate appropriately timed communication strategies to sexual health-related patient education.
• Describe the foundational dimensions that comprise sexual health.
• Identify bottom-up assessment and screening approaches to sexual health.
• Identify sexual health intervention strategies and device recommendations related to the foundational dimensions.
• Compare and contrast the needs of both cis- and trans-persons.

Registration in AOTA Inspire is not required.
Register here for any/all of the 3 activities.

Stephanie Kokesh, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR, CNS, CSRS, has over 15 years of occupational therapy experience and has been practicing in Los Angeles, California, since 2010, primarily in acute care and higher education. She received dual certificates in Sexual Health Counseling and Sexual Health Education from the University of Michigan in April 2025. She is passionate about providing sexual health education to individuals and groups across the lifespan. An advocate for comprehensive sexual education, she strives to expand understanding and confidence around conversations regarding sexual health. Kokesh has served as a member of the Occupational Therapy Association of California Board of Directors.