Kathee Cammisa – Attachment & Emotional Regulation Techniques for Kids: Calm the Nervous System & De-Escalate Difficult Behaviors

Outline

The Neurobiology of Attachment to Empower InterventionsThe Neurobiology of Attachment to Empower Interventions

• Neurological basis of attachment and emotional regulationNeurological basis of attachment and emotional regulation
• How relationships can reshape our brainsHow relationships can reshape our brains
• Mirror neurons, empathy and connecting with othersMirror neurons, empathy and connecting with others
• Oxytocin and the individual selfOxytocin and the individual self
• How attachment style impacts your client’s relationshipsHow attachment style impacts your client’s relationships
• Attachment and attunement in the therapeutic relationshipAttachment and attunement in the therapeutic relationship

Impact of Anxiety and Stress on Self-Regulation Impact of Anxiety and Stress on Self-Regulation

• Stress response patterns as survival strategiesStress response patterns as survival strategies
• Nervous system implications – Fight, Flight, Fright, Freeze to Rest and DigestNervous system implications – Fight, Flight, Fright, Freeze to Rest and Digest
• Impact of stress on mental and physical functioningImpact of stress on mental and physical functioning
• Anxiety and brain researchAnxiety and brain research
• Quick stress bustersQuick stress busters

Support Strategies to Sustain Self-RegulationSupport Strategies to Sustain Self-Regulation

• By age/developmental level including infants and low level functioning kidsBy age/developmental level including infants and low level functioning kids
• Routines for regulationRoutines for regulation
• Responsive, predictable care for teaching emotional intelligenceResponsive, predictable care for teaching emotional intelligence
• Imitation strategies for engagement and communicationImitation strategies for engagement and communication
• Self-soothing strategies for independenceSelf-soothing strategies for independence
• Language for positive resultsLanguage for positive results
• Environments to support cognitive and language developmentEnvironments to support cognitive and language development
• Responsive guidance techniques to support self-controlResponsive guidance techniques to support self-control
• Play to stimulate development of regulatory skillsPlay to stimulate development of regulatory skills
• Scaffolding to expand and develop social skillsScaffolding to expand and develop social skills

Calm the Nervous System Calm the Nervous System

• Techniques for little ones and older children Techniques for little ones and older children
• Quick relaxation breaks, alternate muscle contraction and social ritualsQuick relaxation breaks, alternate muscle contraction and social rituals
• Progressive muscle relaxation, guided relaxation, sweeping breathProgressive muscle relaxation, guided relaxation, sweeping breath
• Stress reduction lab: Breath workStress reduction lab: Breath work

Empower and Motivate Kids to be Emotional IndependentEmpower and Motivate Kids to be Emotional Independent

• Creative interventions that positively change behavior Creative interventions that positively change behavior
• MindfulnessMindfulness
• Social storiesSocial stories
• Video modelingVideo modeling
• VisualizationVisualization
• AffirmationsAffirmations
• Build confidenceBuild confidence
• Develop autonomy and intrinsic motivationDevelop autonomy and intrinsic motivation

Address Tantrums & Other Difficult Behaviors that Impede Outcomes Address Tantrums & Other Difficult Behaviors that Impede Outcomes

• Strategies and techniques to minimizeStrategies and techniques to minimize
• Elimination problemsElimination problems
• Sleep problemsSleep problems
• Eating problemsEating problems
• Transition problemsTransition problems
• Sensory problemsSensory problems

Apply Behavior Modification Techniques and InterventionsApply Behavior Modification Techniques and Interventions

• Positive discipline techniques: Case examplePositive discipline techniques: Case example
• Alternatives to punishment: Case exampleAlternatives to punishment: Case example
• Gradual exposure to broaden tolerance: Case exampleGradual exposure to broaden tolerance: Case example
• Self-management to empower kids: Case exampleSelf-management to empower kids: Case example

Self-Regulation Problem Solving LabSelf-Regulation Problem Solving Lab

• Case study analyzation: Linking what we’ve learned to symptomologyCase study analyzation: Linking what we’ve learned to symptomology
• Aligning symptoms and characteristics with appropriate interventionsAligning symptoms and characteristics with appropriate interventions
• Therapeutic use of self with difficult kidsTherapeutic use of self with difficult kids