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

Outline

The Neurobiology of Attachment to Empower Interventions

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

Impact of Anxiety and Stress on Self-Regulation

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

Support Strategies to Sustain Self-Regulation

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

Calm the Nervous System

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

Empower and Motivate Kids to be Emotional Independent

• Creative interventions that positively change behavior
• Mindfulness
• Social stories
• Video modeling
• Visualization
• Affirmations
• Build confidence
• Develop autonomy and intrinsic motivation

Address Tantrums & Other Difficult Behaviors that Impede Outcomes

• Strategies and techniques to minimize
• Elimination problems
• Sleep problems
• Eating problems
• Transition problems
• Sensory problems

Apply Behavior Modification Techniques and Interventions

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

Self-Regulation Problem Solving Lab

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