BIG FEELINGS, BEHAVIOUR and REGULATION

Understanding and responding to big feelings and big behaviours in young people, and how to nurture self-regulation

The capacity to emotionally regulate is one of the most important building blocks for success and social and emotional wellbeing. This will take time to develop and in the meantime, things can get messy. For many young people, big feelings will drive big behaviour, which can be confusing and challenging for them and the adults who care for them. The more we understand the what, why, and how of feelings and the behaviours they fuel, the more we can respond to young people (and ourselves) more effectively and compassionately. Ultimately, our responses will nurture the vital foundations of self-regulation in children and their capacity to feel and express the full range of human emotions in healthy ways. This workshop is for anyone who works with children or their important adults:

• the neuroscience of dysregulation - where big feelings come from, and why they are an important part of development;
• the four broad reasons for emotional dysregulation and how to respond;
• practical ways to help children understand feelings and why this matters;
• a new way to understand big feelings and the big behaviours they fuel;
• practical strategies to deal with challenging behaviour;
• changing the way we think about discipline - why traditional disciplines don't work and what to do instead;
• how to build high quality relationships with young people that will support social and emotional wellbeing;
• connection after conflict - how to repair after an emotional or relational 'collision' with children;
• brain to brain - how to use our own capacity to self-regulate as the circuit breaker for big feelings and big behaviour;
• why co-regulation will feel tough sometimes, and how to co-regulate, not co-dysregulate;
• when behaviour is extra big - the common origins of defiant, disruptive, demanding, aggressive behaviour, how to respond in the moment, and the practical strategies that will effect lasting change;
• how to establish meaningful boundaries with love and leadership, and how to respond when those boundaries are challenged;
• building their emotional toolbox - the strategies that will build their capacity for self-regulation.

Presented by: Karen Young founded the popular website, Hey Sigmund, attracting millions of readers each year worldwide and is author of the best selling, "Hey Warrior" book for young people with anxiety. She is a regular contributor to Parenting Magazine in New Zealand, and can often be heard on Australian radio and TV programs such as The Project and the ABC. Her articles have been translated into a numerous languages and her work has been published internationally on The Huffington Post, The Good Men Project, The Mighty, and Yahoo Health. She is a sought-after international speaker selling out events from New York to Newcastle. She has authored four books including, "Dear You Love from Your Brain", which helps children discover more about their brain.  

Audience: for mental health and education professionals at all levels & any professional that applies attachment theory and behavioural/developmental/neuro-science to their practice.

Mental Health Professionals: All mental health professionals including, but not limited to Social Workers, Psychologists, Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Youth Workers, Mental Health Workers, Family Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Residential Care Workers and Foster Support Worker, Play Therapists, and all other mental health professionals looking to enhance their therapeutic skill with early childhood.

Education Professionals: Professionals who work with children or youth including, but not limited to K–12 Teachers, Principles, School Counsellors, School Paraprofessionals and all other professionals who support behavioural challenges and complex learning needs.