Hear Me Speak
On this page, you'll find my latest and upcoming speaking events, including conferences and workshops. If you're interested in booking me for a speaking engagement, a conversation, or an article contribution, please schedule a call below.
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Upcoming & Most Recent Events
PRESENTED ON
March 1st, 2024
DESCRIPTION
In this breakout session, we will delve into an innovative and dynamic approach that places relationships at the core of conceptualizing social-emotional regulation. By linking executive function skills to the intricate process of neurodevelopment, we gain valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms that contribute to effective emotional regulation. We will explore how core deficits for neurodivergent children often manifest as deficiencies in executive functioning domains, which, in turn, result in behavior challenges. By examining behaviors from a bottom-up perspective, we gain valuable insights into how to address them effectively. This knowledge empowers us to employ evidence-based interventions that nurture emotional regulation and establish a solid foundation for executive function skills across diverse environments.
TITLE: Social-Emotional Regulation through Play: Understanding Challenging Behaviors
link for updates
PRESENTED ON
May 8 & May 9, 2023. February 22 & 23, 2024.
DESCRIPTION
This two-day training presents a dynamic, relationship-based approach to conceptualizing executive function skills from a neurodevelopmental perspective. Understanding the brain hierarchy and developmental expectations from infancy into adulthood brings the impact of executive function challenges to the forefront. The areas of cognition, language, and social-emotional growth are deeply rooted in children establishing the necessary foundational capacities for learning. A framework that focuses on the roles of self-regulation and essential precursors to emotional development is integral to practicing treatment approaches that are in-tune with current, brain-based research. For neurodiverse populations, executive functioning difficulties underlie daily struggles. An in-depth analysis of autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and developmental learning disability will be explored through case studies to indicate the progression of executive functioning.
TITLE: Executive Functioning: Foundation to Application for Neurodiverse Clients
link to register
PRESENTED ON
November 4, 2023
DESCRIPTION
This is a full day, updated advanced course examining executive functioning difficulties in neurodivergent populations, including autism, ADHD, and dyslexia. A framework that refocuses on the importance of self-regulation based on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs will be outlined, along with the essential precursors to emotional development. The impact of a skill deficit in the areas of executive functioning will be described through in-depth case studies, indicating how a relationship-based approach addresses language and behaviors. Clinical examples will explain the need for bottom-up developmental therapeutic interventions, as opposed to those that prioritize top-down consequence-based methods. Supportive strategies will be demonstrated as participants will be encouraged to partake in cooperative problem solving, investigating possible solutions for managing challenging situations.
TITLE: Advanced Application and Knowledge of Executive Functioning: Clinical Focus (Updated)
link to register
PRESENTED ON
June 23, 2023
DESCRIPTION
This breakout session introduces an innovative perspective on understanding executive function skills through a neurodevelopmental lens, emphasizing the importance of dynamic relationships. It sheds light on the influence of executive function challenges by examining the brain's hierarchical structure and developmental expectations. By concentrating on self-regulation and essential emotional precursors, current brain-based research informs treatment approaches.
TITLE: Innovative Schools Summit Atlanta: Understanding Executive Functioning From the Bottom-Up
Past Event Descriptions & Links
PRESENTED ON
December 19, 2022; April 21, 2023
DESCRIPTION
This is an advanced course examining executive functioning difficulties in populations with neurodevelopmental challenges, including ASD and ADHD. A framework that refocuses on the importance of self-regulation based on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs will be outlined, along with the essential precursors to emotional development. The impact of a skill deficit in the areas of executive functioning will be described through case studies, indicating how a relationship-based approaches addresses language and behaviors. Clinical examples will explain the need for bottom-up developmental therapeutic interventions, as opposed to those that prioritize top-down consequence-based methods. Supportive strategies will be demonstrated as participants will be encouraged to partake in cooperative problem solving, investigating possible solutions for managing challenging situations.
TITLE: Advanced Application and Knowledge of Executive Functioning: Clinical Focus
PRESENTED ON
May 20, 2022; September 15, 2022; March 21, 2023
DESCRIPTION
Based on theories of health behavior change, influences on our food choices are initiated early in development. Environmental factors either assist or significantly disrupt the formation of a positive relationship with food. The way in which mealtime is approached can impact one’s mental health status across development into adulthood. Our food choices are affected by mealtime stressors and family dynamics. By enhancing the mealtime environment and furthering our understanding of health behavior change, we can utilize preventative measures to heal the connections made with food.
Topics explored include theories of health behavior change, socio-ecological model and environmental impacts on food choices, the health belief model (HBM) in relation to perceived barriers to change, constructs of the social-cognitive theory (SCT) and links to mealtime, theory of planned behavior (TPB) in relation to attitudes and preferences, appetite regulation and roles of neurotransmitters in hunger/satiety, the influence of traumatic experiences and adverse childhood experiences on our relationships with food, key strategies for enhancing the mealtime environment.
title: Food Experiences And Mental Health In A Stress-Induced Age: A New Paradigm
PRESENTED ON
March 14, 2023
DESCRIPTION
This workshop presents a dynamic, relationship-based approach to conceptualizing executive function skills from a neurodevelopmental perspective. Understanding the brain hierarchy and developmental expectations from infancy into adulthood brings the impact of executive function challenges to the forefront, especially in the ADHD population. A framework that focuses on the roles of self-regulation and essential precursors to emotional development is discussed including how stressors can derail executive functioning capacities.
link to slide deck
TITLE: Building Executive Functioning from the Bottom-Up: Practical Insights across the Lifespan
PRESENTED ON
September 22, 2022; January 6, 2023; September 23, 2023
DESCRIPTION
This workshop presents a dynamic, relationship-based approach to conceptualizing executive function skills from a neurodevelopmental perspective. Understanding the brain hierarchy and developmental expectations from infancy into adulthood brings the impact of executive function challenges to the forefront. The areas of cognition, language, and social-emotional growth are deeply rooted in children establishing the necessary foundational capacities for learning. A framework that focuses on the roles of self-regulation and essential precursors to emotional development is integral to practicing treatment approaches that are in-tune with current, brain- based research. Considering challenges in executive function skills in populations with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and learning disabilities helps to mold individualized intervention. To support the growth of executive function skills across environments, we partner with parents, educators, and interdisciplinary professionals.
TITLE: Understanding Executive Functioning: Brain-Based Solutions and Practical Insights
PRESENTED ON
October 20, 2022
Title Part I: Shifting the Dynamic of Mealtime Experiences through Health Behavior Models
Title Part II: Enhancing the Mealtime Environment: Managing Stressors and Developing a Positive Food Relationship
PRESENTED ON
October 27, 2022
DESCRIPTION
Based on theories of health behavior change, influences on our food choices are initiated early in development. Environmental characteristics either assist or significantly disrupt the formation of a positive relationship with food. The way in which mealtime is approached impacts one’s mental health status across development into adulthood. Our food choices are affected by mealtime stressors and family dynamics. By enhancing the mealtime environment and furthering our understanding of health behavior change, we can utilize preventative measures to heal the connections made with food.
PRESENTERS
Polina Shkadron, MA/SLP, MSNE, CFTP, ADHD-RSP & Lauren Tobing-Puente, PhD
DESCRIPTION
Part 1
This course is the first in a two-part series that presents an integrated perspective to understanding ADHD from a neurodevelopmental lens. The current definition of ADHD and its subtypes will be outlined along with a history of its conceptualization. Treatment approaches ranging from established behavioral protocols and psychopharmacology will be explained, leading to current insights and brain-based research, including the importance of play and relationships. How the roles of the speech-language pathologist and psychologist are intertwined will be discussed considering the overlap of the core areas affected in children with the ADHD diagnosis. Home and school environments will be compared demonstrating the ways parents and staff can support children across settings. You do not need to attend the morning session to attend the afternoon session.
Part 2
This course is the second in a two-part series that presents integrated solutions for children and adolescents with ADHD. The foundational developmental capacities necessary to address the core symptoms of ADHD, including self-regulation, processing information, controlling impulses, and conversing efficiently and effectively will be discussed. Consideration of these skills helps to conceptualize the emotional and behavioral challenges that often accompany ADHD and the need for relationship-based approaches to address them. The role of play and language therapy will be expanded upon when supporting the growth of executive function skills across environments. Clinical examples will be highlighted to explain the need for bottom-up developmental therapeutic interventions, as opposed to those that prioritize top-down consequence-based methods. The importance of developing a true interdisciplinary team will be described.
title: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Understanding and Supporting Individuals with ADHD: Current Research, Practical Insights, and Brain Based Solutions from the Bottom-Up
PRESENTERS
Polina Shkadron, MA/SLP, MSNE, CFTP, ADHD-RSP & Lauren Tobing-Puente, PhD
DESCRIPTION
This two-part course will address the role of play in children's overall development with an interdisciplinary focus on language and social-emotional skills. The presenters, a licensed psychologist and a licensed speech-language pathologist, will explain how play is utilized as a primary modality for the treatment of children with developmental delays and disabilities, including the ways in which play is intertwined in parent-child psychotherapy sessions. The morning session will describe the history and neurological basis of play, its role in creating safe, supportive relationships, and the value of this foundation in the progression toward higher-level learning. The afternoon session will demonstrate how play is utilized as a primary modality of treatment with children, including parent-child work via both virtual and in-person therapeutic modalities. Understanding the role of play within the context of a developmental and relational approach to treatment provides a strengths-based, child-centered approach to addressing children's "behavioral challenges." The benefits and challenges of virtual therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond will be discussed. Participants will have the opportunity to develop ideas for incorporating additional play-based strategies into their own work.
title: The Role of Play in Child Development
PRESENTERS:
Polina Shkadron, MA/SLP, MSNE, CFTP, ADHD-RSP & Lauren Tobing-Puente, PhD
DESCRIPTION
This presentation will focus on the interconnection between trauma and child development and their impact on executive functioning and social-emotional skills. Many traditional conceptualizations of challenges surrounding children's development focus on behaviors and skills, or lack thereof, and do not consider the potential role of trauma. The presenters, a licensed speech-language pathologist and a licensed psychologist, will integrate their disciplines while using a shared developmental and relationship-based framework to describe how trauma and child development impact one another. The presentation will depict components of executive functioning and social-emotional skills, including the role of self-regulation and essential precursors leading to children's abilities to utilize these skills.
title: The Interconnection of Trauma and Its Effects on Child Development: A Focus on Executive Functioning and Social-Emotional Skills
PRESENTER
Polina Shkadron, MA/SLP, MSNE, CTP, ADHD-RSP
DESCRIPTION
This webinar is focused on new moms with infants from birth through 12 months of age. We discuss milestones for feeding development from birth through 24 months in order to provide parents with tools and strategies to plan ahead. Additionally, the how-to’s of solids and general guidelines for nutrient intake are outlined. The mealtime environment itself is explained, along with possible mealtime stressors and why stress at the table can lead to aversive behaviors (even inflammation). We wrap-up with reflections on parents’ own mealtime experiences, the impacts of those experiences, and strategies to implement at home.
title: WHAT'S IN A MEAL?
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