The Shape of Joy | Free CEU Event
The Shape of Joy
A regulation tool to help children and adults understand and support each person’s unique neurological profile — and its effect on our emotions and behavior.
🕘 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Lenexa, KS
💲 Free
🧠 Course Overview
This is an introductory course that identifies the 5 key components to regulation and gives a brief overview of the foundational knowledge participants need in order to apply this model in their practice.
Within the 3 hours provided, the speaker will present the model and educate participants on how to apply it. The information in the course is “a tip of the iceberg” to understand the Shape of Joy model — participants are provided with resources to further pursue their expertise with understanding each key component.
Suitable audience: Occupational Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists, and Physical Therapists.
🎯 Learning Objectives
Participants attending will be able to:
State the 5 key components to regulation.
Define the behavioral responses observed when a child is functioning in the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system according to Dr. Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory.
Apply the Shape of Joy analogy by connecting a child’s capacity and behaviors with what is occurring within their brain and nervous system.
Identify strategies for providing a “just right therapeutic challenge” to a child based on attunement to their current capacity.
List 2 reasons why logical thinking strategies will not work for children experiencing a meltdown, based on the Polyvagal Theory.
💡 The 5 Key Components to Regulation
The Shape of Joy model is built around five foundational components covered in depth during the course:
Component 1
Basic Needs
Component 2
Sensory Input
Component 3
Relationships
Component 4
Routines
Component 5
Individual Differences
🗓️ Course Agenda
👩⚕️ About the Speaker
Kelly Reardon, MOTR/L — Founder, Playabilities Pediatric Therapy Clinic
Kelly Reardon is a Pediatric Occupational Therapist who has specialized in sensory processing challenges for over 15 years. Her passions lie in understanding the “why” behind behavior, and using an empathetic and relationship-based approach to therapy.
She draws from her personal experiences as a mother of four young children and her professional experience building and leading a private pediatric therapy practice. Her thirst for knowledge and desire to simplify profound concepts across different disciplines is the inspiration behind The Shape of Joy model.
Kelly wants to help others find “joie de vivre” in everyday life, and believes that sharing these essential key components to regulation will help improve the mental health of families. She is passionate about helping highly sensitive and deeply feeling kids — and The Shape of Joy model was created for these brilliant minds.
📌 Event Details
Date & Time
Saturday, July 11, 2026
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location
Playabilities Lenexa Clinic
8555 Monrovia
Lenexa, KS 66215
Cost
Free for OTs, SLPs & PTs
Register
Questions
🏅 Continuing Education Credits
AOTA Approved Provider
Playabilities is an AOTA Course Approved Provider of Continuing Education. AOTA continuing education credit awarded: .3 AOTA CEUs or 3 Contact Hours under the categories of Foundational Knowledge and OT Service Delivery.
The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.
Note: Participants are expected to attend for the entire length of the course and complete a course evaluation form and competency quiz in order to receive their certificate and full continuing education credits.
For other associations, please contact your association directly to inquire whether this course meets their CEU requirements. Upon request, Playabilities is happy to provide additional information for submission.
♿ Accessibility & Accommodations
Playabilities complies with ADA provisions. If you require special accommodations or need assistance, please contact Playabilities at least two weeks in advance of the course at [email protected].
📋 Speaker Disclosures
Kelly Reardon, MOTR/L is the founder and owner of Playabilities, a therapy services organization, and the creator of “The Shape of Joy,” which is the subject of this presentation. She offers an online course related to “The Shape of Joy” that is available for purchase. This presentation is intended for educational purposes only. Any reference to “The Shape of Joy” framework or related materials is provided as part of the educational content and not as a requirement for purchase.
📝 Register for This Course
The Shape of Joy Intro Course | July 11th
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www.playabilities.org
Date
- Jul 11 2026
Time
- 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
