Making Sense of the Neurodiverse Child
Who: SBCAMFT members and Non-SBCAMFT members (Join now!)
Where: Online, Zoom
When: Wednesday, April 12, 2023, 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
What: Making Sense of the Neurodiverse Child
The concept of neurodiversity captures the reality that variation is not a flaw but rather a feature of being human. However, from classrooms to workplaces, neurotypical individuals design systems and structures for neurotypical individuals. Unfortunately, for those with neurodiverse profiles, conformity often comes at a high price. There are many facets of an individual's unique wiring. Top-down and bottom-up; internal vs. external aspects of any moment make up an individual's experience. Accepting and respecting their particular profile is essential to nurturing the growth of self-acceptance, problem-solving, and self-care. This presentation offers a framework for laying out what is going on and a roadmap that supports respectful, responsive, and developmentally appropriate guidance.
Cost: $10 for Student/Associate members, $20 for SBCAMFT members and $25 for all State CAMFT members and $30 for Non-SBCAMFT members (Join now!)
About the Presenter:
Dr. Debra Kessler
Dr. Kessler holds dual licenses in psychology and nursing in the state of California. She engaged in post-doctoral training at the Child Development Institute, which specializes in treating early childhood developmental challenges, while she concurrently completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Reiss-Davis Child Study Center. In addition to her skills in traditional psychotherapy and play therapy, she has sought out additional training in sensory integration, Neurofeedback (Othmer method), EMDR, Floortime (DIR and Stanley Greenspan M.D.), Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy: Attachment-Focused Treatment for Childhood Trauma and Abuse (Daniel Hughes Ph.D.) and Collaborative Problem Solving (Ross Greene Ph.D.). She has contributed to Infant/Child Mental Health, Early Intervention, and Relationship-Based Therapies: A Neurorelational Framework for Interdisciplinary Practice (a book written by Connie Lillas, Ph.D., Janiece Turnbull, Ph.D.).
In collaboration with the family, Dr. Kessler works to address a range of developmental and emotional issues, including adoption/attachment difficulties, bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, autism/Asperger’s, ADHD, learning challenges, regulatory difficulties, and other issues that interfere with a child or individual reaching their potential. When treating children, therapy is provided with the awareness that a child exists within the context of their family. Therefore, parent work and work on the relationship between the child and his or her family are critical features of treatment. Additionally, when significant behavioral disruptions present in the home, the needs of siblings are considered. In addition to providing consultation to other therapists, Dr. Kessler has a private practice in Santa Barbara, CA. She continues to passionately explore and pursue treatment approaches to benefit the children, families, and adult individuals she cares for and contributes to the field by lecturing and blogging on topics including resilience in grief, siblings, parenting, and learning challenges.
Sponsored by Alsana and Mission Harbor Behavioral Health
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