Qigong Sensory Treatment (QST) -also known as qigong sensory therapy or qigong massage- is a research-informed, trauma-sensitive, touch-based sensory intervention designed to repair sensory processing impairments in autistic and highly sensitive children.
QST does not aim to train behaviour or coping strategies.
It works directly on the sensory nervous system, so regulation and functional skills can emerge more naturally.
In one sentence: QST restores sensory processing so regulation and behaviour can improve without behavioural training or control.
If you are new to QST, these are the best entry points:
What is QST? (definition and scope - what QST is and what it is not)
How QST works (mechanism: sensory input → nervous system stability)
Who QST is for (clear indications and exclusions)
Most autism approaches focus on behaviour, skills or emotional regulation.
QST starts earlier in the chain: sensory input and sensory processing.
When sensory processing is unreliable or painful, the nervous system can remain in chronic overload or shutdown.
This can affect attention, learning, communication and social interaction.
QST is designed to restore sensory safety and sensory clarity first.
QST is often used when children experience:
Persistent sensory overload
Frequent meltdowns without clear triggers
Refusal of touch due to sensory pain
Chronic physiological stress responses
Developmental stagnation linked to sensory instability
QST is typically considered when structured assessment shows deviations of more than two points on tactile, sensory processing and/or self-regulation scales.
These domains refer to tactile responsivity, sensory signal processing and the nervous system’s capacity to maintain physiological stability under everyday demands.
Yes.
QST has been evaluated in multiple intervention studies, including randomised controlled trials (RCTs), showing improvements in sensory processing and functional outcomes in autistic children.
→ Research overview, references and graphs.
👇🏼 Overall treatment outcomes reported in a 24-month cohort of children aged 6–11.
QST was developed by Dr. Louisa Silva, whose clinical and research work focused on touch and sensory processing in autism.
QST is taught through the Make Children Better® School and by certified trainers across Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Sabine Baeyens is a QST master trainer and research-informed practitioner with over two decades of clinical experience in sensory-based autism care.
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LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF QST
If you want a deeper understanding of how QST was developed, its clinical reasoning and the role of touch in autism care, you can read the free ebook: 📘 Touch-Medicine: The story of a touch-based treatment for autism
If you have heard any of these, start here:
“QST is just a massage.”
“Children need to cooperate for it to work.”
“Sensory issues are preferences.”
“This is a behavioural or emotional regulation method.”
If you want clarity on how QST differs from other methods, including occupational therapy approaches:
Quick answers to the most common questions:
If you want to explore QST before going deeper:
Free guide: Touch-Medicine: The story of a touch-based treatment for autism
Free practical PDF: 7 touch-based ways to calm daily autism crises
Choose the path that fits your role:
→ Training for professionals (certification and practitioner training)
→ Training for parents (guided learning to apply QST safely at home)
→ Shop (mini courses, downloads and webinars)
QST is a clinical sensory intervention. Parent training is designed to support safe home application, ideally aligned with professional guidance.