No More Autism Meltdowns: Strategies to Deescalate Meltdowns and Reduce Anxiety

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Jed Baker, PhD Related seminars and products

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Jed Baker, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and the director of the Social Skills Training Project, an organization serving individuals with autism and social communication problems. He graduated from Binghamton University as a Phi Beta Kappa Honors member and then received the Presidential Fellowship from Albany University, where he completed his doctorate.

Dr. Baker writes, lectures, and teaches internationally on social skills training and managing challenging behaviors. He is an award winning author of 10 books, including Social Skills Training for Children and Adolescents with Autism and Social Communication Differences, 20th Anniversary Edition; Preparing for Life: The Complete Handbook for the Transition to Adulthood for Those with Autism and Aspergers Syndrome; The Social Skills Picture Book; The Social Skills Picture Book for High School and Beyond; No More Meltdowns: Positive Strategies for Managing and Preventing Out-of-Control Behavior; No More Victims: Protecting Those with Autism from Cyber Bullying, Internet Predators & Scams; Overcoming Anxiety in Children and Teens; and School Shadow Guidelines. His work has also been featured on ABC World News, Nightline, the CBS Early Show, and the Discovery Health Channel.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Jed Baker is a director of a social skill training project in private practice and has an employment relationship with Rutgers University. He receives royalties as a published author. Dr. Baker receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Jed Baker has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Objectives

1. Apply how best to think about challenging behaviours to ensure better outcomes.
2. Justify when traditional discipline can be effective and when it makes things worse.
3. Determine ways to de-escalate and soothe out of control emotions and meltdowns.
4. Employ effective strategies to deal with overwhelming anxiety that causes individuals to avoid situations.
5. Execute prevention plans to reduce avoidance and frustration.
6. Develop strategies to teach children effective ways to get attention.

Outline

• Managing Your Own Emotions Before Your Client’s Behaviours 
  • Research on hope and attributional style of teachers and parents 
  • The limits of traditional discipline 
  • How to think about challenging behaviours to ensure better outcomes 
• Crisis Management 
  • De-escalating meltdowns though distraction/soothing 
• Identifying the 7 Common Triggers to Frustration and Anxiety 
  • Internal issues 
  • Sensory challenges 
  • Lack of structure 
  • Demanding tasks 
  • Unexpected changes/delays/disappointments 
  • Threats to self-esteem 
  • Lack of desired attention 
• Prevention Plans for Each of the 7 Common Triggers 
  • Ways to reduce avoidance and frustration 
  • Strategies for waiting or accepting when the answer is no 
  • Strategies to teach effective ways to get attention 

Target Audience

• Addiction Professionals 
• Case Managers 
• Dieticians 
• Licensed Clinical/Mental Health Counselors 
• Marriage & Family Therapists 
• Nurses 
• Nursing Home/Assisted Living Administrators 
• Occupational Therapists 
• Occupational Therapy Assistants 
• Physical Therapists 
• Physical Therapist Assistants 
• Psychologists 
• School Administrators 
• Social Workers 
• Speech-Language Pathologists 
• Teachers/School-Based Personnel