Robbyn describes the neurodevelopmental effects of early abuse and neglect, the process of dissociation and hyper-arousal and its effect on the development of the four main areas of function in children (sensory processing, self regulation, relational skills, cognitive capability). She will discuss the continuum of harsh punishment and overt child abuse and the dose rate relationship to negative mental and physical outcomes. She describes effective treatment of self regulation problems often appearing as oppositional defiant disorder, ADHD, anxiety, tantrums, bullying behaviors. This workshop covers the overarching principles of positive discipline from a neuro-developmentally informed perspective.

Robbyn Peters Bennett, LPC, CMHS is a psychotherapist and activist for children, specializing in the treatment of mental health issues due to child maltreatment. She has directed inpatient and residential treatment programs, worked with families in child protective services, foster care and post adoption. Robbyn is Phase II certified with ChildTrauma Academy in the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT). 

A national speaker, Robbyn’s TED talk frames spanking as domestic violence. She founded StopSpanking.org, an online parenting resource for parents and clinicians to better understand the harm of hitting children. She is a board member of the U.S. Alliance to End the Hitting of Children leading the movement to end spanking in the USA. https://stopspanking.org/robbynpetersbennett/

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