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Why I Created This Certification
The story behind the Regulation-First™ framework
✦ Regulation-First™ Certification · Helping Hands Therapy Resources™
Stop Treating Feeding Problems.
Start Understanding the Child Who Is Struggling to Eat.
Every child who struggles to eat has a story. This certification teaches a Regulation-First™ clinical reasoning framework that helps therapists identify the nervous system, sensory, oral motor, medical, gastrointestinal, nutritional, developmental, and environmental contributors influencing feeding — so they can treat the child, not just the feeding challenge.
✓ AOTA Approved Provider #0000001046 · ✓ IAOTH Accredited · ✓ Regulation-First™ Methodology
13Modules + Wrap-Up
1.2AOTA CEUs Included
12Contact Hours
∞Lifetime Access
Pre-Sale Enrollment Now Open
Be among the first clinicians to earn the Regulation-First™ Feeding Certification. Enroll during our pre-sale this week to receive exclusive introductory pricing before the price increases next week.
Regular Price: $497 · Pre-Sale Price: $297 · Pre-Sale Ends: 7/31
Kathleen Yopp, MOT, OTR/L
Helping Hands Therapy Resources™
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Why This Certification Is Different
Most feeding education teaches techniques. This certification teaches you how to think.
The framework is the product.
Pediatric feeding is influenced by interconnected systems — nervous system regulation, sensory processing, interoception, oral motor development, posture and motor function, medical conditions, gastrointestinal health, nutrition, developmental factors, and family mealtime dynamics.
Regulation-First™ means establishing safety and understanding the child's state before selecting and applying feeding interventions — not replacing oral motor, medical, nutritional, or interdisciplinary care, but organizing your clinical reasoning around what to address first.
Technique-First Education
→Begins with the intervention
→Focuses on isolated feeding symptoms
→May organize the child into one category
→Asks, "What strategy should I try?"
These strategies have value — but only once you know what's actually driving the difficulty.
Regulation-First™ Clinical Reasoning
✓Begins with the child's state and story
✓Evaluates interconnected contributors
✓Prioritizes what needs to be addressed first
✓Asks, "Why is this child struggling, and what is the nervous system responding to?"
A complete clinical reasoning process — not a collection of tips.
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Sound Familiar?
If you treat children with feeding challenges, you've likely seen at least one of these
The child has the skills but still can't participate
Oral motor function looks adequate. Positioning is correct. But the child still refuses, gags, or shuts down at the table. Something else is driving it.
Sensory strategies work one day and fail the next
What calmed the child in yesterday's session doesn't touch today's distress. Without a framework for the underlying state, progress feels random.
You keep adding techniques without knowing which one to address first
Mealtime distress begins before food even reaches the table. Oral motor exercises alone don't touch it. You need a framework that goes as deep as your caseload does.
The missing clinical lens
Feeding cannot be understood through one system alone. This certification gives you a framework for understanding the child's nervous system state alongside the sensory, oral motor, medical, nutritional, gastrointestinal, developmental, and environmental contributors influencing participation — so resistance becomes information instead of a mystery.
I began my career as a pediatric occupational therapist in the NICU, supporting medically fragile infants and children with complex feeding challenges. Like most feeding therapists, I focused on oral motor skills, positioning, sensory strategies, and the evidence-based interventions I had been taught.
When I became a parent and transitioned into home-based care, I began to see feeding through a different lens.
"What stood out wasn't just the child's feeding skills — it was their nervous system."I saw babies and children who were living in a constant state of fight, flight, or shutdown. I saw parents carrying the overwhelming stress and anxiety that comes from desperately wanting their child to eat. In many homes, mealtime had become a battle long before anyone sat down at the table.
Some children became distressed simply by hearing food being prepared or smelling dinner cooking. Others refused to enter the kitchen. It became clear that feeding wasn't just about the mechanics of eating. Their bodies no longer felt safe.
As I deepened my understanding of Polyvagal Theory, nervous system regulation, and regulation-first care, my clinical reasoning began to change. Instead of asking, "What feeding technique should I try next?" I began asking, "What is this child's nervous system responding to?"
That question changed everything.
When I began helping children regulate before asking them to eat, I saw meaningful changes. Children who had been stuck began making progress. Parents became calmer and more confident. Mealtimes became less stressful, and therapy became more individualized as we began addressing potential underlying contributors rather than focusing only on the presenting symptoms.
As I trained the therapists on my team, I watched them experience the same transformation in their clinical practice.
That is why I created the Regulation-First™ Feeding Certification: to help therapists develop a more complete way of thinking about pediatric feeding, and understand how the nervous system, sensory processing, oral motor skills, medical conditions, nutrition, gastrointestinal health, development, and family dynamics work together to influence a child's ability to eat.
Because supporting safety and regulation can create the foundation a child needs to participate in feeding.
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The Regulation-First™ Feeding Framework
A repeatable clinical reasoning process — not a collection of tips
Phase 1
Regulate
Establish nervous system safety and readiness for participation
→
Phase 2
Recognize
Identify the sensory, oral motor, medical, nutritional, GI, developmental, environmental, and family contributors
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Phase 3
Respond
Choose individualized interventions based on what is actually driving the difficulty
→
Phase 4
Generalize
Carry progress into everyday home, school, and community mealtimes
What Makes the Regulation-First™ Framework Different
Most programs go straight to intervention. The Regulation-First™ framework starts with Phase 1 — because a child's physiological and emotional state can significantly influence attention, engagement, motor performance, learning, and participation during feeding. Within the Regulation-First™ Framework, supporting safety and regulation is the starting point for clinical reasoning. Then we Recognize the contributors specific to that child — sensory, oral motor, medical, nutritional, gastrointestinal, developmental, environmental, and family. Then we Respond with an individualized plan built on assessment findings, not assumption. Then we Generalize across environments toward lasting change. This provides clinicians with a structured process for selecting interventions based on the child's individual presentation rather than applying techniques in isolation.
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Who This Certification Is For
Open to pediatric professionals working with feeding across settings
Occupational Therapists
OT, OTR/L, COTA/L — clinic, school, home health, telehealth
Speech-Language Pathologists
SLP, CCC-SLP, SLPA — especially those managing complex oral motor and swallowing presentations
Physical Therapists
PT, DPT, PTA — postural and motor contributors to feeding readiness
Early Intervention Providers
EI specialists supporting infants and toddlers with feeding difficulty
Qualified Pediatric Feeding Professionals
Any licensed pediatric provider whose scope of practice includes feeding
Interdisciplinary Teams
Providers coordinating feeding care across medical, nutrition, and therapy disciplines
This certification builds clinical reasoning within your existing scope of practice. It does not expand or authorize services outside your license or professional scope.
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Curriculum
13 comprehensive modules plus a course wrap-up — from foundational science to complex clinical reasoning
PART 1 — FOUNDATIONS
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Foundations of Pediatric Feeding Therapy
The scope of pediatric feeding practice and an introduction to the clinical reasoning process this certification builds throughout.
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Regulation-First™ Foundations
Polyvagal theory, nervous system states, and why establishing safety comes before any feeding intervention.
PART 2 — CLINICAL SCIENCE
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Anatomy & Physiology of Feeding
The structures and systems involved in safe, efficient feeding and swallowing.
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Understanding Feeding Disorders
Classification and clinical presentation of pediatric feeding disorders across ages and diagnoses.
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Systems That Influence Feeding
How nervous system regulation, sensory processing, interoception, posture, and environment interact to affect feeding participation.
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Oral Motor Development
Typical and atypical oral motor development and its role within the broader clinical picture.
PART 3 — ASSESSMENT & INTERVENTION
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Comprehensive Feeding Assessment
A whole-child assessment process that evaluates every contributing system rather than isolated feeding symptoms.
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Preparing the Body to Eat
Regulation and readiness strategies used before and during mealtime to establish nervous system safety.
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Evidence-Based Interventions: A Regulation-First™ Approach
Selecting and sequencing interventions based on what is actually driving each child's difficulty.
PART 4 — MEDICAL & FAMILY CONTEXT
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Nutrition, Gut Health & Medical Contributors
Gastrointestinal, nutritional, and medical factors that influence feeding and when to loop in medical and dietary partners.
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Parent Coaching & Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Supporting the family system around mealtime stress and coordinating care across the interdisciplinary team.
PART 5 — CLINICAL APPLICATION
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Documentation & Clinical Application
Documenting the Regulation-First™ reasoning process for medical necessity, progress, and interdisciplinary communication.
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Complex Case Studies & Clinical Reasoning
Applying the full framework to complex, real-world case presentations.
COURSE WRAP-UP
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Course Wrap-Up
Integration of the complete Regulation-First™ Feeding framework and next steps toward certification.
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Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- 1.Explain the role of nervous system regulation and autonomic state in feeding participation.
- 2.Describe how Polyvagal Theory and the vagus nerve may inform clinical reasoning related to regulation, digestion, social engagement, and feeding participation.
- 3.Identify sensory, interoceptive, oral motor, postural, developmental, environmental, medical, gastrointestinal, and nutritional contributors that may influence pediatric feeding.
- 4.Differentiate common presentations of pediatric feeding difficulties and recognize when additional medical or interdisciplinary evaluation may be indicated.
- 5.Conduct a comprehensive, whole-child feeding assessment that considers the multiple systems influencing feeding participation.
- 6.Analyze assessment findings to identify potential underlying contributors and establish individualized clinical priorities.
- 7.Develop evidence-informed, whole-child intervention plans based on assessment findings, clinical reasoning, family priorities, and the clinician's professional scope of practice.
- 8.Select and apply Regulation-First™ strategies to support readiness, participation, and skill development during feeding.
- 9.Integrate oral motor, sensory, environmental, behavioral, and regulation-based interventions according to the child's individual needs.
- 10.Identify medical and gastrointestinal factors — including airway concerns, reflux, constipation, allergies, and other medical red flags — that may affect feeding and require referral or interdisciplinary collaboration.
- 11.Apply clinical reasoning when supporting medically complex children, including children transitioning toward oral feeding when medically cleared and within the clinician's professional scope of practice.
- 12.Incorporate parent coaching, family-centered care, and interdisciplinary collaboration into pediatric feeding intervention.
- 13.Document assessment findings, clinical reasoning, intervention planning, progress, and medical necessity appropriately.
- 14.Apply the Regulation-First™ clinical reasoning process to complex pediatric feeding case studies.
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What's Included
Everything you need to complete the certification and apply it immediately
Regulation-First™ Feeding Certification
Enroll Today
Lifetime access · one-time enrollment
Course Content
- 13 Comprehensive Modules + Course Wrap-Up
- Downloadable clinical workbook
- Clinical resources and reference guides
- Case-based learning throughout
- Complex case studies & clinical reasoning module
Certification & Access
- 12 AOTA contact hours · 1.2 AOTA CEUs
- Regulation-First™ Feeding Certification — IAOTH Approved
- Digital certification credential upon successful completion
- Final assessment
- Lifetime access to all course content
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Continuing Education & Compliance
AOTA and IAOTH approval details
AOTA Approval
Helping Hands Therapy Resources, PLLC
AOTA-Approved Course Title:
A Whole-Body Approach to Pediatric Feeding Therapy
A Whole-Body Approach to Pediatric Feeding Therapy
- ✓AOTA Approved Provider #0000001046
- ✓Course Approval ID #7864
- ✓1.2 AOTA CEUs · 12 contact hours
- ✓Intermediate educational level
- ✓Distance Learning — Independent
AOTA provides continuing education credit only. AOTA does not endorse specific course content, products, or clinical procedures, and does not endorse or approve the Regulation-First™ Framework, certification credential, clinical methodology, or any specific intervention.
IAOTH Approved Certification
Helping Hands Therapy Resources is an approved IAOTH training provider
- ✓Helping Hands Therapy Resources is an IAOTH Approved/Accredited Training Provider
- ✓This certification has been approved through IAOTH
- ✓Helping Hands Therapy Resources is authorized to issue the Regulation-First™ Feeding Certification to participants who complete all requirements
- ✓Digital certification credential issued upon successful completion
Outcome: Upon successful completion of the course requirements, participants earn the Regulation-First™ Feeding Certification, an IAOTH-approved professional certification issued by Helping Hands Therapy Resources.
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Professional Disclosures
Presenter
Kathleen Yopp, MOT, OTR/L
Financial Disclosure
Kathleen Yopp, OTR/L receives royalties for this professional development activity.
Non-Financial Disclosure
Kathleen Yopp, OTR/L has no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose.
Content Disclosure
This course includes instruction on the Regulation-First™ Feeding Framework, a proprietary clinical reasoning framework developed by Kathleen Yopp, MOT, OTR/L. The framework is presented alongside evidence-informed concepts and established approaches relevant to pediatric feeding, including nervous system regulation, sensory processing, oral motor development, medical and gastrointestinal contributors, nutrition, and family-centered care. The Regulation-First™ Feeding Framework itself has not been independently validated as a standalone intervention or treatment protocol. References supporting the evidence-informed concepts presented throughout the course are provided within the course materials.
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Meet Kathleen Yopp
Creator of the Regulation-First™ Framework
Kathleen Yopp, MOT, OTR/L
Pediatric Occupational Therapist · Creator of the Regulation-First™ Framework · Founder, Helping Hands Therapy Resources
- 28+ years of pediatric occupational therapy experience
- Former NICU feeding therapist
- Certified BioIndividual Nutrition Practitioner
- Creator of the Regulation-First™ Framework
- AOTA Approved Provider
- Founder of Helping Hands Therapy Resources
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do the AOTA CEUs work?
Helping Hands Therapy Resources, PLLC is an AOTA Approved Provider #0000001046. This course has a Course Approval ID of #7864 and provides 1.2 AOTA CEUs (12 contact hours), Distance Learning — Independent, at an intermediate educational level. A CEU certificate is issued upon completion. AOTA does not endorse specific course content, products, or clinical procedures.
What certification will I receive?
Upon successful completion of all required modules and the final assessment, you will earn the Regulation-First™ Feeding Certification, an IAOTH-approved professional certification issued by Helping Hands Therapy Resources.
How long do I have access to the course?
You receive lifetime access to all course content, including the workbook and clinical resources, so you can revisit the material as your caseload evolves.
Are there any prerequisites?
No specific prerequisite course is required. This certification is designed for pediatric professionals whose professional role and scope of practice include feeding.
Who is this certification for?
Occupational therapists and OTAs, speech-language pathologists, physical therapists and PTAs, early intervention providers, and other qualified pediatric feeding professionals.
What do I need to complete to earn certification?
Completion of all 13 modules plus the course wrap-up, the downloadable workbook exercises, and a passing score on the final assessment.
Does this certification expand my scope of practice?
No. This certification builds clinical reasoning and a structured framework within your existing scope of practice. It does not authorize services outside your professional scope.
What is your refund policy?
Please refer to the enrollment terms presented at checkout for full details on refunds and cancellations.
Ready to Understand
the Whole Child?
This is more than a collection of feeding strategies. It's a structured clinical reasoning process for understanding the whole child and determining what to address first.
✓ AOTA Approved Provider #0000001046 · ✓ IAOTH Accredited · ✓ Lifetime Content Access
