The developing brains of our children need to "feel" safe. Children who carry chronic behavioral challenges are often met with reactive and punitive practices that can potentially reactivate the developing stress response systems. This book deeply addresses the need for co-regulatory and relational touch point practices, shifting student-focused behavior management protocols to adult regulated brain and body states which are brain aligned, preventive, and relational discipline protocols. This new lens for discipline benefits all students by reaching for sustainable behavioral changes through brain state awareness rather than compliance and obedience.

The eyes of troubled youth are communicating in all moments. Hurt people hurt people. Our children can become violent, detached, or shut down when early development is toxic, severely disrupted and is met with significant adverse childhood experiences. Children are our nation's greatest natural resource and their emotional, mental and physiological well-being are at stake. What can we do? We begin with the awareness and research that adversity just doesn't happen to a child -- it attacks and hijacks a child's brain, body and nervous system function reprograming how they react and respond to all life. For educators, counselors, social workers, mental health professionals and law enforcement--this book presents the neurobiology of adversity and trauma in youth and the resiliency of hope and mindfulness ... and how to help.

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 The world is dealing with the unknown of the COVID pandemic, and it is affecting all of us. Children and youth are dealing with the fear and uncertainty of their safe place being taken away, while adults are dealing with the fear of losing their jobs. #2 We want to connect and feel better, so we act/react in ways that are aligned with what we want. #3 When we understand that all experiences build brain architecture, we will uphold our ordinary experiences as sacred and tangible teaching moments that prioritize safety and connection. #4 The world is dealing with the COVID pandemic, and it is affecting all of us. Children and youth are dealing with the fear and uncertainty of their safe place being taken away, while adults are dealing with the fear of losing their jobs.

"The developing brains of our children need to "feel" safe. Children who carry chronic behavioral challenges are often met with reactive and punitive practices that can potentially reactivate the developing stress response systems. This book deeply addresses the need for co-regulatory and relational touch point practices, shifting student-focused behavior management protocols to adult regulated brain and body states which are brain aligned, preventive, and relational discipline protocols. This new lens for discipline benefits all students by reaching for sustainable behavioral changes through brain state awareness rather than compliance and obedience."--Page [4] of cover/

Complements the authors' Treating non-offending parents in child sexual abuse cases. Connections helps professionals to make informed, research-based assessments of risk, offering strategies for supporting and educating families within which sexual abuse has occurred.