earlychildhood

Join us for an inspiring afternoon with Benjamin Perks, UNICEF’s Head of Campaigns and Advocacy and a leading global voice in the movement to address Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).

Hosted by Kathy Leone, this exclusive event brings together changemakers, advocates, and community leaders for a powerful conversation centered on trauma-informed care and building resilience—right here in Palm Beach County.

Enjoy meaningful networking, an incredible presentation, and the chance to be part of a collective vision for healing and hope.

Seats are limited. Register below to be part of this transformative Lead the Fight event.

The goal of this workshop is to help play therapists and other clinicians identify and address the unique challenges of assessing and treating children with sexual behavior problems. This workshop will provide a range of information including definitions, types of sexual behavior problems, and most importantly, how to differentiate between normative sexual development and sexual behavior problems. The presenter will emphasize the importance of using a brief child-friendly assessment process utilizing play therapy approaches so that play therapists learn how to address referral concerns directly with children, and at the same time gauge their willingness to participate with others about these issues. Treatment principles that utilize play and other expressive therapies will be described, and clearly linked to specific target goals with this population. 

Play therapists are often at loss when treating attachment wounds. We will take a prescriptive approach to play therapy treatment of attachment wounds, using neurosequential thinking and play therapy techniques and attachment-focused modalities to support gradual change.  Our goal will be for clinicians to increase the intentional use of the self in these encounters with children (and their caregivers).

We will also focus on developing an in-depth case formulation and treatment plan and apply Child-Centered, Gestalt and other play therapy approaches within a prescriptive framework based on the current literature on polyvagal theory, developmental trauma and attachment and discuss the complications therapists may encounter in using trauma approaches to heal “attachment trauma”. Inviting the family/caregivers into these attachment focused play therapy activities will increase their ability to mentalize for the child and allow for improved relationships at home, school and in the community.

For many new parents, stress can be overwhelming and can lead to depression, anxiety, and challenges during pregnancy and while taking care of an infant. Mothers and Babies is an evidence-based intervention that helps parents improve their mood by fostering skills to cope with stress especially with mothers dealing with postpartum depression. The program focuses on delivering tools and support for pregnant and new parents to help manage stress, promoting healthy bonding with baby, and promoting healthy communication and social support.