Developing children's self-regulation in the context of relationships: Theory, research, and practical strategies. The ability to regulate thoughts, feelings, and behaviors is the cornerstone for healthy development. Trauma exposure can have a cascading effect on regulatory pathways. Research shows that caregivers can buffer these effects. This session will introduce research on the development of self-regulation…

Relationships Heal: Evidence Based Mental Health Services for Young Children and Caregivers. This workshop will help audience members understand key principles of infant and early childhood mental health. We will also explore the importance of early intervention services that simultaneously support the developmental needs of young children, their primary caregivers, and their relationship(s) with one…

Chronic stress, feelings of helplessness, and isolation affect caregivers' ability to give quality care to their children. When you add the pressure of being the healthy attachment figure for a child who has experienced early-life trauma, the emotional demands can be overwhelming. Caregivers can easily slide into their own survival behavior and struggle to give…

Have you ever wanted to put the pieces of your life together? Not just to look where you have come from but to help yourself move forward? What about helping a child you care about put those pieces together? Lifebooks can help children who have been in foster care and those who have experienced adoption.…

Research has shown that parental involvement in childhood anxiety treatments is often a necessary condition for positive treatment response.  In fact, some research shows that younger children with anxiety (i.e., ages 3-8) who participate in an individual psychotherapy model that does not include parents fare no better than those in the waitlist/control group.  In recent…