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Brain Development and Behaviour

Amanda Healey Homepage, Uncategorized No Comments »

Looking for practical strategies to help children who have experienced trauma and have difficulty with emotional self-regulation? This 9 part series presents evidence-based information about brain development and behaviour to support children experiencing emotional arousal and crisis.

Two Languages: Holding in Crisis; Growing in Calm – Part 1: Introduction

Sean Larsen introduces the background information for this series of talks.  This introduction includes a brief overview of the outline which covers points about the popularity of brain research, arousal and informed response care and attachment theory.

(Duration 5 min.)

Two Languages: Holding in Crisis; Growing in Calm – Part 2 & 3: The Brain and Brain Development

Sean Larsen describes the connection between shifting behaviours and how the brain works.

Key Concepts:

  • The difference between growth and organization.
  • The 3 regions of the brain (cortex, limbic and brainstem)  and their influence on behaviour.
(Duration 24 min.)

Two Languages: Holding in Crisis; Growing in Calm – Part 4: Let’s Get Emotional

Sean Larsen discusses the active limbic system in children and the potential effect on behaviours.

Key concepts:

  • Emotional development in children.
  • Laying important foundations for future emotional capacity.
  • The rapid development of children’s brains.
Duration (27 min.)

Two Languages: Holding in Crisis; Growing in Calm – Part 5: Emotions and Arousal

Sean Larsen discusses the difference between emotions and arousal.

Key Concepts:

  • Emotions influence the direction of energy in the body.
  • Arousal influences the vigour and persistence of the body’s response.
  • If we just talk about emotions then we are missing a key piece.
(Duration 27 min.)

Two Languages: Holding in Crisis; Growing in Calm – Part 6: What Shapes Development

Sean Larsen discusses the influential factors on child development.

Key Factors:

  • Personality
  • Timing
  • Innate biological factors
(Duration 23 min.)

Two Languages: Holding in Crisis; Growing in Calm – Part 7: Adverse Childhood Experiences

Sean Larsen discusses the Adverse Childhood Experience Study which examines early adverse childhood experiences and the connection with health outcomes as an adult.

(Duration 22 min.)

Two Languages: Holding in Crisis; Growing in Calm – Part 8: Arousal Informed Response Care – Air Care

Sean Larsen discusses the strategies of AIR (Arousal, Informed, Response) CARE.

Key Concepts:

  • Being reflective about the arousal level of the child.
  • Providing developmental opportunities that are congruent with emotional and arousal states.
(Duration 48 min.)

Two Languages: Holding in Crisis; Growing in Calm – Part 9: Language 2: Growing

Sean Larsen discusses the PACE Model based on Daniel Hughes’ book, Building the Bonds of Attachment  and the attributes of this model which include:

  • Playfulness
  • Acceptance
  • Curiosity
  • Empathy
(Duration 6 min.)

*Sean Larsen is a Child and Youth Mental Health therapist with the Ministry of Children and family Development and PhD candidate who shares his knowledge, insights and experiences in an engaging and informative way.

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