Oppositional Defiance or Faulty Neuroception: Disruptive Behaviors through the Lens of the Polyvagal Theory

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Mona Delahooke, PhD Related seminars and products

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Mona Delahooke, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist with more than 30 years of experience caring for children and their families. She is a senior faculty member of the Profectum Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting families of neurodiverse children, adolescents and adults. Dr. Delahooke holds the highest level of endorsement in the field of infant and toddler mental health in California, as a Reflective Practice Mentor (RPM). She is a frequent speaker, trainer, and consultant to parents, organizations, schools, and public agencies. Dr. Delahooke has dedicated her career to promoting compassionate, relationship-based neurodevelopmental interventions for children with developmental, behavioral, emotional, and learning differences. She is the author of the award-winning book, Beyond Behaviors: Using Brain Science and Compassion to Understand and Solve Children's Behavioral Challenges (PESI, 2019), and the upcoming book, Brain-Body Parenting, now available for preorder. Her popular blog, at www.monadelahooke.com, covers a range of topics useful for caregivers and childhood providers.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Mona Delahooke maintains a private practice and has employment relationships with Los Angeles Department of Mental Health, Profectum Foundation, and Villa Esperanza Services. Dr. Delahooke receives royalties as a published author. She receives a speaking honorarium, recording, and book royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Mona Delahooke is a member of the American Psychological Association, Zero to Three Foundation, and the Partnership for Awareness.

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Objectives

1. Categorize specific behaviours as they relate to each of the three basic pathways of the autonomic nervous system (ANS).
2. Utilize neuroception-informed interventions, including physiological co-regulation and interpersonal engagement, to treat oppositional behaviour. 
3. Appraise the efficacy of integrating the Polyvagal Theory into “behaviour management” programs. 

Outline

Behaviour Challenges:  Intentional Choice or Stress Response?

• What the Polyvagal Theory brings to the “behaviour management” table
• The autonomic nervous system (ANS)
• Neuroception:  How children’s brains perceive safety and stress (and what that means for behaviour)
• Is ODD a behaviour disorder, or a nervous system looking for relational safety?

Clinical Strategies for Building Relational Safety and Security

• Getting started:  Matching a given behaviour to corresponding ANS pathway
• Discerning between an intentional behaviour and a stress response
• Co-regulation, warmth and interpersonal engagement
• How to reach the “unreachable” kids and teens
• What about behaviour contracts and incentive plans?

Target Audience

• Counselors
• Social Workers
• Psychologists
• Psychotherapists
• Therapists
• Marriage and Family Therapists
• Case Managers
• Speech Language Pathologists
• Occupational Therapists
• Nurses
• School Guidance Counselors
• School Social Workers
• School Psychologists
• School Administrators
• Teachers
• Special Education Teachers
• School-based Clinicians
• Educational Paraprofessionals
• Other Helping Professionals that work with children