Interoception | Occupational Therapy Adelaide
Interoception is the ability to sense and interpret internal body signals like hunger, thirst, or pain, essential for self-care and emotional regulation. Difficulties in this area can affect well-being and daily functioning. At Thrive Health Therapies, we help individuals develop interoceptive awareness to build independence, resilience, and fuller participation in daily life.
What is Interoception?
Interoception is often referred to as the "eighth sense," distinct from the five external senses and the internal senses of balance and movement (vestibular and proprioceptive systems). It involves the brain’s ability to process signals from inside the body. For instance, recognising a dry mouth as thirst or a racing heart as anxiety are examples of interoceptive processing.
This sense helps individuals understand their internal physical states and links these states to actions. For example, feeling cold prompts the decision to put on a jumper, or recognising a full bladder leads to using the toilet. Interoception also contributes to emotional awareness, as many emotions are tied to physical sensations. For instance, anxiety might manifest as a tight chest or rapid heartbeat, while happiness might feel like a warm sensation.
Why is Interoception Important?
Interoception is vital for a range of daily activities and overall well-being. It influences:
Self-care and independence: Understanding internal cues like hunger, fatigue, or the need to use the toilet is essential for managing personal care routines effectively.
Emotional regulation: Interoception enables individuals to recognise the physical sensations associated with emotions. This awareness forms the basis for regulating feelings like anger, anxiety, or sadness.
Decision-making and behaviour: By interpreting body signals, people can make appropriate decisions, such as eating when hungry or resting when tired, which supports overall health and well-being.
Social connection: Interoception plays a role in empathy and understanding others’ feelings. For instance, recognising your own nervousness can help you identify and empathise with similar emotions in others.
When interoception is well-developed, individuals can respond effectively to their body’s needs, maintain emotional balance, and engage in meaningful activities. However, difficulties with interoception can lead to significant challenges in these areas.
What Might Difficulties with Interoception Look Like?
Challenges with interoception can present in various ways, depending on the individual and their circumstances. Common signs include:
Difficulty recognising body signals: An individual may not notice when they are hungry, thirsty, or need to use the toilet until it becomes urgent. This can lead to discomfort, accidents, or health concerns.
Poor emotional awareness: Struggles with identifying physical sensations tied to emotions can make it difficult to understand or express feelings, leading to frustration or outbursts.
Over-responsiveness to internal signals: Some individuals may become overly focused on minor physical sensations, such as a slight stomach ache or itch, which can cause distress or anxiety.
Under-responsiveness to internal signals: Conversely, others may not recognise significant internal cues, such as pain or fatigue, which can result in delayed responses or neglect of basic needs.
Challenges with self-regulation: Difficulties with interoception can make it hard to manage behaviours, such as knowing when to rest, eat, or seek support during overwhelming situations.
For children, these challenges might appear as:
Frequent toileting accidents or reluctance to use the toilet.
Difficulty recognising when they are full or hungry, leading to overeating or undereating.
Emotional outbursts triggered by an inability to understand or articulate their feelings.
Challenges in adapting to changes in routines or environments.
Adults may experience:
Struggles with recognising or addressing stress and fatigue.
Difficulty managing health conditions that require monitoring internal cues, such as diabetes or chronic pain.
Overwhelm in social settings due to poor emotional regulation.
How Do Occupational Therapists Help with Interoception Challenges?
Occupational therapists play a critical role in supporting individuals with interoception challenges. Through tailored interventions, they help clients build awareness of their internal cues and develop strategies to respond effectively. At Thrive Health Therapies, our approach includes:
Assessment and goal setting:
Conducting comprehensive assessments to understand the individual’s interoceptive challenges and their impact on daily life.
Collaborating with clients and families to set achievable, meaningful goals, such as improving toileting independence or managing emotions.
Building interoceptive awareness:
Introducing activities that encourage body awareness.
Using guided discussions and visual aids to help individuals link physical sensations with internal cues (e.g., "What does your body feel like when you’re thirsty?").
Developing self-regulation strategies:
Teaching techniques to manage overwhelming sensations, such as deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation.
Creating personalised sensory strategies to address over- or under-responsiveness, such as weighted blankets for calming or movement breaks for alertness.
Supporting emotional awareness:
Using tools like emotion charts or journals to help individuals recognise and label emotions.
Practising scenarios to connect physical sensations with feelings, such as recognising a racing heart as a sign of anxiety.
Enhancing daily routines:
Embedding interoceptive exercises into everyday activities to reinforce learning, such as noticing hunger cues during meal prep.
Providing visual schedules or prompts to support consistency in self-care routines.
Parent and caregiver education:
Equipping families with strategies to support interoceptive development at home.
Offering guidance on creating a supportive environment that fosters independence and emotional resilience.
Collaboration with other professionals:
Working closely with teachers, psychologists, and healthcare providers to ensure a cohesive approach to addressing interoception challenges.
By addressing interoception difficulties, occupational therapists help individuals gain greater independence, improve emotional regulation, and participate more fully in life. These interventions are particularly impactful for children, enabling them to thrive at school, home, and in social settings.
How We Deliver Occupational Therapy at Thrive Health Therapies
Thrive Health Therapies offers community-based, clinic-based, and telehealth occupational therapy.
Community-Based Services: We provide community-based occupational therapy in your home, school or kindergarten, or a location convenient to you throughout metropolitan Adelaide. Learn more about our service areas.
Clinic-Based Services: We provide clinic-based sessions at our Findon clinic.
Telehealth Services: We also offer comprehensive telehealth services, providing clients with convenient, video-based therapy consultations for those who may have difficulty travelling to our clinic or prefer the convenience of remote support.
Funding Options for Occupational Therapy
We accept a variety of funding options, making augmentative and alternative communication therapy accessible for everyone:
Private Health Insurance
Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plans (GP Team Care Arrangements)
Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA)
Why Choose Our Occupational Therapy Services?
No wait time: We can start working with paediatric or adult clients straight away!
Experienced: Our occupational therapists have extensive experience working with individuals of all ages.
Extensive Coverage in the community: We serve a large geographical area, providing occupational therapy services across all of metropolitan Adelaide from Gawler to Aldinga. We see clients at home, in their school or kindergarten, or at a location convenient to them.
Clinic space: Our Findon clinic has been specially designed to be appropriate for a wide range of presentations and disabilities.
Individualised care: Every client receives a personalised therapy plan based on their unique needs and goals.
Neuroaffirming Practice: We provide compassionate and affirming services to support and empower neurodiverse individuals.
Multi-Disciplinary Approach: We offer a wide range of allied health services under one roof, allowing for a holistic approach to your health.
NDIS Registered: We are proudly registered with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Home Care Package (HCP) and Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP): We accept a variety of funding options, helping our clients access the support they need.
LGBTQIA+ friendly: We celebrate, value and include people of all backgrounds, genders, and sexualities, Our Findon clinic is a welcoming, safe and inclusive space for all LGBTQIA+ people and families.
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Interoception is the sense that helps us understand and feel what is happening inside our bodies. It allows us to recognise internal signals such as hunger, thirst, pain, the need to use the bathroom, or changes in heart rate.
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Interoception is essential for self-regulation, emotional awareness, and overall well-being. It helps individuals:
Identify bodily needs (e.g., eating when hungry).
Recognise emotions (e.g., connecting a fast heartbeat with anxiety).
Respond appropriately to internal signals (e.g., resting when tired).
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Signs may include:
Difficulty recognising when they are hungry, thirsty, or full.
Trouble identifying or describing emotions.
Frequent bathroom accidents or delayed awareness of the need to go.
Overreacting or underreacting to pain or illness.
Challenges with self-regulation, such as managing emotions or calming down.
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Occupational therapy supports interoception by:
Teaching body awareness and mindfulness strategies.
Helping individuals identify and interpret internal signals.
Developing routines to respond to bodily needs.
Using sensory activities to build awareness of internal sensations.
Improving emotional regulation through tailored techniques.
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Interoception challenges are often seen in individuals with:
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
ADHD.
Sensory processing disorder.
Anxiety or mood disorders.
Trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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Interoception challenges can affect many aspects of life, including:
Eating habits (e.g., not recognising hunger or fullness).
Emotional regulation (e.g., struggling to identify feelings like anger or anxiety).
Hygiene and toileting routines.
Understanding physical needs, such as rest or hydration.
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No! We can start working with new clients right away.
Once we have received a referral form with all of your details, we are able to book an Initial Assessment as soon as possible, depending on your availability.
You can find our paediatric referral forms here and our adult referral forms here.
If you have any questions prior to referring please reach out to us on 0474 248 081, via our online enquiry form or at or at enquiries@thrivehealththerapies.com.
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If you are funded through Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) or Chronic Disease Management (CDM) we need the appropriate referral documentation from your GP.
For all other funding sources you can refer yourself or your child directly via our online referral form, or reach out to us on 0474 248 081, via our online enquiry form or at enquiries@thrivehealththerapies.com.
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Referring is easy! You can find our paediatric referral forms here and our adult referral forms here.
If you have any questions prior to referring please reach out to us on 0474 248 081, via our online enquiry form or at enquiries@thrivehealththerapies.com.
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Yes! As a registered NDIS provider, Thrive Health Therapies meets rigorous NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators. We are passionately committed to upholding the NDIS Practice Standards, providing high-quality and safe supports and services for NDIS participants.
As a NDIS registered provider, we are also able to offer services to participants whose funds are managed by the NDIA.
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As a registered NDIS provider, interpreter services are available free of charge for NDIS participants. Please inform us if you require this service, and we will arrange this for you.
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We accept referrals from a wide range of funding sources, including the NDIS, home care packages, Department of Veterans Affairs, Chronic Disease Management (previously known as EPC) and private clients. Learn more about our accepted funding sources.
As a NDIS registered provider we are also able to accept participants who have chosen to have their funds managed by NDIA.
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Prices vary between services. Our therapists work with you to ensure you get the best program of services within your budget allocation.
Please contact us for a personalised quote.
FAQs About Interoception
If you can’t find an answer to your question, please contact our friendly team on 0474 248 081 or email enquiries@thrivehealththerapies.com
Your Trusted NDIS Registered Provider in Adelaide
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provides funding for individuals with permanent and significant disabilities. As a registered NDIS provider in Adelaide, Thrive Health Therapies meets rigorous NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators. We are passionately committed to upholding the NDIS Practice Standards, providing high-quality and safe supports and services for NDIS participants.
As a NDIS registered provider, we offer services to participants whose funds are managed by the NDIA.
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