A Neufeld Institute Conference | Resilience, Recovery and Relationship: Towards Flourishing Children and Youth

Co-sponsored by Jack Hirose & Associates

Presented by Gordon Neufeld, Ph.D. and Martin Brokenleg, Ed.D. and Maria LeRose, M.Ed. and Patti Drobot, B.Sc., OT, RPC and Deborah MacNamara, Ph.D. and Colleen Drobot, B.Ed., Dip. Of Special Education, M.A., RPC, MPCC and Tamara Strijack, M.A. and Geneviève Brabant, MSW, RSW and Eva de Gosztonyi, M.A. and Darlene Denis-Friske, MA(CP), RP, (Cert)OACCPP, CYW, CYC(Cert)

Wednesday, November 21, 2018 – Friday, November 23, 2018  |  Winnipeg, mb

Date & Location

Our best selling conference of all time!

875+ participants in Calgary, AB  |  2017

“Dr. Neufeld has been a revelation. This perspective is so refreshing to hear since teachers are living in a world of meeting outcomes for their children – children who are becoming more and more detached in the classroom, and less and less resilient. I feel refocused on what is missing in our hallway and classrooms and in the lives of people I love. On top of everything Dr. Neufeld is a most authentic and engaging speaker. Thank you for the work you do and for sharing your wealth of wisdom.” – Kathleen

Conference Overview

Human resilience is remarkable. It is the ultimate good news story – that stress in itself is not the enemy and that we need not be brought down by the circumstances in our lives. After years of mistaken focus on the stress part of the equation, the focus is now on uncovering the keys that can unlock the amazing human potential to grow through adversity, to thrive under duress, and to bounce back from trauma.

Resilience is probably the most important topic of our time. It holds the answers to emotional health and well-being, to mental illness, to healing and recovery, to prevention, to addiction, and much more. Resilience is not only the best overall prevention but also the best focus for intervention. Resilience should be everyone’s concern, not only the medical and helping professionals, but also educators, parents, and society at large. Resilience is about ourselves and those we are responsible for.

This conference is a fundraiser for the Neufeld Institute and the offspring of a collaborative effort between Jack Hirose of Jack Hirose and Associates and Dr. Gordon Neufeld of the Neufeld Institute – a worldwide charitable organization delivering developmental science to those responsible for our children. Most of the speakers have generously donated their time and forfeited their usual speaker fees to support this fundraiser. The Neufeld Institute is deeply grateful for all who have extended themselves in this way.

Although participants may choose to enroll in one day, two days or three days, the conference itself will be continuous in nature, building on the model and theoretical foundations that Dr. Neufeld will present on Day One, Two and Three in the mornings. Seven of the senior Neufeld Institute Faculty will flesh out this model of resilience with special applications in mind. Dr. Martin Brokenleg and will add his wealth of experience and perspectives on this subject. On Day Three, the two doctors will be in Maria LeRose’s most capable hands as she facilitates some dialogue and discussion between them. It is rare for ‘experts’ to have the opportunity to interact with each other, never mind in the context of a live audience of informed participants.

A Message from Gordon Neufeld, Ph.D.

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

On behalf of the Neufeld Institute, it is my great pleasure to welcome you to Winnipeg for this three-day conference, Resilience, Recovery and Relationship: Towards Flourishing Children & Youth.  I am so pleased to be partnering with Jack Hirose and Associates to bring you the second Neufeld Institute conference of this scale outside of the Vancouver area.

I am delighted that Martin Brokenleg has accepted my invitation to share the keynote responsibilities with me. I am also delighted that Maria LeRose has consented to moderate a panel, giving Martin and I the opportunity to interact with each other around this important and timely topic. Maria is my favourite interviewer of all time, and we are fortunate to have someone of her media experience and stature to help draw us out on this topic.  I am also excited to have seven of our seasoned Neufeld Institute Faculty lead the way to flesh out this topic in specific arenas of interest. This should be a unique opportunity for participants to unravel the mysteries of this complex and multi-layered dynamic.

Resilience is an incredible construct – an overarching metaphor that touches on the arenas of stress, neural plasticity, emotional health, recovery, healing, mental illness, adaptation, defendedness, and therapy. It is relevant to everyone in most every role and regardless of age: teachers, therapists, youth workers, parents, support workers, etc.  Fresh understandings are coming to the fore as we glean more working knowledge of the brain as well as the nature of emotion. The implications for working with children are profound, never mind the implications for dealing with stress in our own lives and in the lives of our loved ones.

I hope this conference will help to truly make sense of this challenging subject, and in so doing, open doors for change at a level where lasting differences can be made. We all want more resilience, for ourselves and those in our care. The challenge is in finding the key.

Yours sincerely,

Gordon Neufeld, Ph.D.

Clinical & Developmental Psychologist

Who Should Attend

Education and Clinical Professionals: K–12 Classroom Teachers, School Counsellors/Psychologists, Learning Assistance/ Resource Teachers, School Administrators, School Paraprofessionals including Special Education Assistants, Classroom Assistants and Childcare Workers. All other professionals who support students including but not limited to: Nurses, Social Workers, Psychologists, Clinical Counsellors, Family Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists, Addiction Counsellors, Youth Workers, Mental Health Workers, Probation Officers, Police Officers, and Early Childhood Educators.

Parents, Caregiver, Foster Parents, Grandparents, and Extended Family raising a child.

Day 1 – November 21, 2018

Keynote: Keys to Resilience: Emotionally, Developmentally, & Relationally
Presented by Gordon Neufeld, Ph.D.

9:00am – 12:00pm   November 21, 2018

The human capacity for resilience is remarkable. It is also somewhat mysterious. Although resilience is spontaneous, it is not inevitable. Everyone possesses the potential for resilience but only some come to realize it.  It cannot be commanded and is not a skill to be learned. Resilience is not genetic and there is no pill that can deliver it. Resilience therefore lies outside the parameters of both of the prevailing approaches for explaining human behaviour – the medical disease model as well as the learning paradigm.

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Dr. Gordon Neufeld is a Vancouver-based developmental psychologist with over 50 years of experience with children and youth and those responsible for them. A foremost authority on child development, Dr. Neufeld is an international speaker, a bestselling author (Hold On To…

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More information: www.neufeldinstitute.org

Afternoon Concurrent Session A1: Q&A with Gordon hosted by Maria LeRose, M.Ed.
Presented by Gordon Neufeld, Ph.D. and Maria LeRose, M.Ed.

1:15pm – 2:30pm   November 21, 2018

This session provides an opportunity for participants to interact with Dr. Neufeld around the material presented in his morning keynote.

Maria LeRose, M.Ed., is an award-winning television producer, and a producer of Educational Videos. She holds a Masters in Education with a concentration on social and emotional learning and development. Early in her career Maria worked in a variety of Social…

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More information: http://marialerose.com/

Afternoon Concurrent Session A2: Aggression, Suicide, Adaptation, & Resilience
Presented by Patti Drobot, B.Sc., OT, RPC

1:15pm – 2:30pm   November 21, 2018

None of us knows what may happen in the future. Emotional readiness for adversity is just as important as physical readiness for a natural disaster. If there were any single tell-tale sign that the capacity for resilience is lacking in a child – or adult for that matter – it would be the existence or eruptions of attacking energy. Residual attacking energy is most often experienced as foul moods, irritability, and impatience. Eruptions of attacking energy can take many forms, including even suicidal thoughts and impulses. One could think of aggression as an early-warning system, alerting us to the fact that should a stressful event occur, a bounce-back is not likely to happen. This renders aggression of utmost concern – not just as problem behaviour to be addressed – but as a sign that the adaptive process needs to be restored. Patti will clarify the relationship between aggression, adaptation, and resilience and focus on ways to restore the ability to bounce back from whatever may befall.

Patti Drobot, B.Sc., OT, RPC, is a registered professional counsellor, parent consultant, and presenter with an educational background in rehabilitation medicine. Her past experience is in psychiatric occupational therapy where she has worked in both hospital and community settings for 20…

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More information: www.neufeldinstitute.org/person/patti-drobot/

Afternoon Concurrent Session A3: Alpha Problems, Bullying, and Resilience
Presented by Deborah MacNamara, Ph.D.

1:15pm – 2:30pm   November 21, 2018

A growing number of children are presenting as demanding, prescriptive, bossy, and controlling. A disturbing number of these alpha children are turning into bullies, as well. Alpha children tend to have difficulties letting themselves be parented or taught. These children also lack resilience in the face of adversity. This is making the child-adult dance much more difficult than it used to be or needs to be, despite the plethora of strategies and advice-giving available today. Deborah will discuss the roots of the alpha complex, along with the path to fostering greater resilience in alpha children.

Deborah MacNamara, PhD is a clinical counsellor and educator with more than 25 years’ experience working with children, youth, and adults. She is on faculty at the Neufeld Institute, operates a counselling practice, and speaks regularly about child and adolescent development…

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More information: www.neufeldinstitute.org/person/deborah-macnamara/

Afternoon Concurrent Session A4: Cultivating Resilience in a School Setting
Presented by Colleen Drobot, B.Ed., Dip. Of Special Education, M.A., RPC, MPCC

1:15pm – 2:30pm   November 21, 2018

Many students are able to overcome adversity, face loss and disappointment, accept not getting their way and find creative solutions to problems.  Yet, not all students are so resilient. How can educators and schools cultivate resilience so that students will not only endure these experiences but will be able to gain strength and confidence in their ability to cope with them? Based on years working with Dr. Neufeld, teaching in schools, parenting, and counselling families, Colleen will provide strategies for educators to use in the classroom and the school setting to cultivate resilience at school and throughout their lives.

Colleen Drobot, B.Ed., Dip. Of Special Education, M.A., RPC, MPCC, is a registered professional counsellor and parent consultant with a private practice in West Vancouver. She provides therapy for adults and also offers parent consulting for parents seeking to understand…

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More information: www.neufeldinstitute.org/person/colleen-drobot/

Afternoon Concurrent Session B1: Special Challenges with Adolescents
Presented by Tamara Strijack, M.A.

2:50pm – 4:00pm   November 21, 2018

Adolescents are faced with an explosion of awareness in emotion and thought. This alone can put them in a very vulnerable place, with temptations to escape at every turn. In this workshop, Tamara will explore the rites of passage that an adolescent needs to go through in order to become truly resilient. While a certain level of defense or armour is needed to survive in today’s often wounding world, when the defenses become stuck, maturation is at risk. We will also look at how we, as caring adults, can step in to help foster true resilience.

Tamara Strijack, MA is a Registered Clinical Counsellor who lives and works in the Vancouver Island area. She is co-author (with Hannah Beach) of the book, Reclaiming our Students: Why our children are more anxious, aggressive and shut down than ever,…

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More information: www.neufeldinstitute.org/person/tamara-strijack/

Afternoon Concurrent Session B2: Tempers & Tantrums in Preschoolers
Presented by Deborah MacNamara, Ph.D.

2:50pm – 4:00pm   November 21, 2018

The expression of frustration and aggression in children can take on many forms, including temper tantrums and various forms of attack. Part of making headway requires understanding the roots of frustration and aggression and how to deal with the resulting behaviours. This presentation will focus on strategies for dealing with a frustrated child while preserving one’s relationship to them. It will address the importance of setting limits and helping children learn that they can survive the futilities that are part of life.

Afternoon Concurrent Session B3: Supporting the Anxious Child
Presented by Patti Drobot, B.Sc., OT, RPC

2:50pm – 4:00pm   November 21, 2018

Anxiety has increased substantially in children of all ages over recent years and can show up in a variety of symptoms including phobias, panic, obsessions and compulsions, somatic issues, sleep issues, and avoidance to name a few. Today’s world can create many challenges for children with school and societal pressures, peer interactions, family dynamics, and many other stressors which can impede a child’s ability to mature and develop resilience. This workshop will address this increasing problem of our times and help parents make sense of the roots of anxiety as well providing practical suggestions on how to support our children through anxiety and help them cultivate resilience.

Afternoon Concurrent Session B4: Resilience & the Oppositional Child
Presented by Colleen Drobot, B.Ed., Dip. Of Special Education, M.A., RPC, MPCC

2:50pm – 4:00pm   November 21, 2018

Children and youth are naturally inclined to resist and oppose when feeling pressed upon or controlled. Although the reaction is quite normal, and even healthy in certain circumstances, its manifestations and impact can be highly disruptive and disturbing, making life difficult for educators and parents. Resistance can take many forms: disobedience, rebellion, passivity, noncompliance, disrespect, nonconformity, belligerence, and even antisocial attitudes and actions. This dynamic is exacerbated when children or youth have failed to adapt to not getting one’s way and so do not have the resilience to deal with a world filled with restrictions and coercion. In this workshop Colleen Drobot will provide strategies to help adults reduce the effects of oppositional behaviour, deepen attachment, and cultivate cooperation with children and youth, at home or at school.

Day 2 – November 22, 2018

1st Keynote: Play & Resilience: Why We ALL Need to Play
Presented by Gordon Neufeld, Ph.D.

9:00am – 10:15am   November 22, 2018

Building on his keynote of the first day, Dr. Neufeld will elaborate on the surprising role of true play in cultivating resilience, not only in children but in adults as well. Long dismissed as unproductive, play is now being discovered as essential to emotional health and well-being, much like sleep is to mental functioning. A number of academic disciplines are now merging to explore the remarkable healing power of play, rivaling therapy itself or perhaps even explaining why therapy works when it does. Dr. Neufeld will present emotional playgrounds as an ideal context for finding the keys that can unlock the essential emotional process in resilience. Harnessing the power of play becomes the challenge of every parent, teacher and helping professional.

2nd Keynote: The Circle of Courage
Presented by Martin Brokenleg, Ed.D.

10:45am – 12:00pm   November 22, 2018

For thousands of years, North American Indigenous cultures nourished respectful and courageous children without employing punitive discipline.  Now, recent youth development research is revealing the essential elements in raising confident, caring children.  Drawing on his research with Drs. Larry Brendtro and Steve Van Bockern in their book, Reclaiming Youth at Risk, Dr. Martin Brokenleg presents information on the Circle of Courage which offers concrete strategies for creating environments in which all young people can grow and flourish.

Martin Brokenleg, Ed.D. is co-author of the book Reclaiming Youth at Risk: Our Hope for the Future and co-developer of the Circle of Courage model and provides training worldwide for individuals who work with youth at risk. He holds a…

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More information: http://martinbrokenleg.com/

Afternoon Concurrent Session A1: Reaching Deeper: Touching a Student’s Inner World
Presented by Martin Brokenleg, Ed.D.

1:15 pm – 2:30 pm   November 22, 2018

From Parker Palmer to the Dalai Lama to the brain science of neurobiology, adults are pondering the importance of tending the inner world of children and youth. Native peoples have traditions which enhance and explore the inner world of youth regardless of that youth’s values. Current resiliency strategies create inner strength in children and youth. This session develops a theory of creating inner strength in children and youth and explores specific activities adults can use in classrooms and residences to help children grow on the inside.

Afternoon Concurrent Session A2: Hypersensitivity & Resilience: Special Challenges with the Autistic and the Gifted
Presented by Gordon Neufeld, Ph.D.

1:15 pm – 2:30 pm   November 22, 2018

The condition of neurological hypersensitivity occurs when the sensory input is too much for the brain to process. The manifestations of this condition can range from a certain kind of giftedness all the way to classic autism, depending upon how this underlying condition has impacted attachments and development. It can also lead to attention problems or result in an Asperger’s syndrome. There is probably no condition where resilience is more needed and yet less likely to exist. Dr. Neufeld will briefly introduce this neurological condition, explain why resilience is so elusive, and suggest ways to restore neural plasticity and the capacity for adaptation.

Afternoon Concurrent Session B1: Discussion with Martin on Strength-Based Resilience
Presented by Martin Brokenleg, Ed.D.

2:50pm – 4:00pm   November 22, 2018

Hosted by Maria LeRose, M.Ed.
This session provides an opportunity for participants to interact with Dr. Brokenleg around the ‘Circle of Courage’ model and the material presented in his morning keynote and his afternoon session on ‘Reaching Deeper’.

Afternoon Concurrent Session B2: Discussion with Gordon and Neufeld Faculty on the Journey of Tears
Presented by Gordon Neufeld, Ph.D.

2:50pm – 4:00pm   November 22, 2018

Feelings of futility – in all their various manifestations – play a significant role in the story of human resilience.  Yet impediments abound in a tear-phobic society. Neufeld Institute Faculty will share some stories of resilience that highlight the role of tears, as well as give participants a chance to ask questions about the journey of tears.

Day 3 – November 23, 2018

1st Keynote: The Real Roots of Empathy/Strengthening Heart Knowledge
Presented by Gordon Neufeld, Ph.D. and Martin Brokenleg, Ed.D.

9:00am – 10:15am   November 23, 2018

Is empathy a skill to be taught or is it a fruit of healthy development? Can we reward caring and compassionate behaviour and still preserve its essence? Is trying to make children nice to each other the best way to keep them safe? Is consideration an innate human potential, and if so, how is it to be cultivated?  These questions are timely as so many schools are contemplating on how best to bring a consciousness of emotional and relational needs into the curriculum. Dr. Neufeld and Dr. Brokenleg will share their perspectives on how we can best help our children become fully human and humane.

2nd Keynote: Panel with Gordon Neufeld, Ph.D. & Martin Brokenleg, Ph.D.
Presented by Maria LeRose, M.Ed.

10:45am – 12:00pm   November 23, 2018

This is a rare chance to see the engaging Maria LeRose do what she does best – get to the heart of the matter in her interviews with her subjects. She will also facilitate discussion and dialogue between the participants and the keynote speakers, as well between the two speakers themselves, all in the quest of shedding more light on the secrets of resilience.

Afternoon Concurrent Session A1: Culture and Helping
Presented by Martin Brokenleg, Ed.D.

1:15pm – 2:30pm   November 23, 2018

Human service providers know clients inside and out… or do they?  Cross-cultural skills are crucial for youth workers, and yet there is a mystery to culture.  Learn what research says about helping professions and hear what suggestions might support your work with diverse populations.

Afternoon Concurrent Session A2: Resilience & Discipline
Presented by Geneviève Brabant, MSW, RSW

1:15pm – 2:30pm   November 23, 2018

As parents and adults responsible for children’s well being, we are often tempted to correct their behaviour, teach them a lesson, or ignore their plea for attention. On the other hand, developmental science informs us that resilience is not inherited and cannot be learned; it must be developed. Geneviève will discuss special considerations when using discipline to impose order on a child’s mind, including ways to help children grow up and adapt to the many circumstances they are up against.

Geneviève Brabant, MSW, RSW, is a faculty member at the Neufeld Institute and a clinical social worker (MSW, RSW) with over 15 years’ experience working as a child and family mental health practitioner (therapist) in the Ottawa area. In 2010 she…

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More information: www.neufeldinstitute.org/person/genevieve-brabant/

Afternoon Concurrent Session A3: The Road to Resilience: An Everyday Path Towards Softening Defenses in a Child
Presented by Darlene Denis-Friske, MA(CP), RP, (Cert)OACCPP, CYW, CYC(Cert)

1:15pm – 2:30pm   November 23, 2018

In this workshop, we will explore everyday ways of being with children that seek to gently soften defenses. Whether one is hoping to maintain or even, to restore a child’s soft heart, this workshop will strive to inspire participants in cultivating simple yet profoundly meaningful moments and interactions.

Darlene Denis-Friske, MA(CP), RP, (Cert)OACCPP, CYW, CYC(Cert),  is a child and youth counsellor, psychotherapist, and parent consultant within the Neufeld attachment-based developmental approach. She has worked in a variety of rewarding settings since 1988 including psychiatric hospital (crisis / intervention), school…

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More information: https://neufeldinstitute.org/person/darlene-denis-friske/

Afternoon Concurrent Session A4: Practical Applications in Schools: Safe Eruption Rooms & More
Presented by Eva de Gosztonyi, M.A.

1:15pm – 2:30pm   November 23, 2018

When students arrive in our schools with deep emotional needs, we are often at a loss of how to help them, especially with limited time and resources. Working with schools in Quebec and Alberta we have successfully implemented safe spaces where these children can express their emotions and come to their tears. Safe Eruption Rooms and Nurturing Support Centres can make a big difference in the lives of students.

Eva de Gosztonyi, MA, is a psychologist who has worked for over 45 years in schools across Canada. For 22 years she was the Coordinator of the Centre of Excellence for Behaviour Management, a support to the ten English School…

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More information: https://neufeldinstitute.org/person/eva-de-gosztonyi/

Afternoon Concurrent Session B1: School, Stress, & Resilience: How Teachers & School Culture Can Make a Difference
Presented by Gordon Neufeld, Ph.D.

2:50pm – 4:00pm   November 23, 2018

There is no doubt that school is a significant source of stress for many students. Part of this stems from the pressure to learn when not truly engaged. The most significant causes of stress however have to do with the attachment problems faced by many students, at least in part because of how we do school in today’s society. Reducing these sources of stress would significantly contribute to the emotional health and well-being of our students. In addition, by cultivating a school culture that fosters right relationships and soft hearts, we would be creating the conditions to thrive and to flourish. Dr. Neufeld will share his thoughts on how best to do this from within our educational systems.

Afternoon Concurrent Session B2: Resilience: Special Challenges with Divorce, Adoption, and Fostering
Presented by Geneviève Brabant, MSW, RSW

2:50pm – 4:00pm   November 23, 2018

All children possess the potential to adapt and “bounce back” from emotionally challenging circumstances. However, the transplanted child in the context of foster care, adoption, or divorce has the most to adapt to, and the least capacity to do so. Geneviève will discuss some of the impediments to the development of resilience in transplanted children, as well as the keys to overcome these impediments and help children develop to their full potential.

Afternoon Concurrent Session B3: CANCELLED
Presented by Darlene Denis-Friske, MA(CP), RP, (Cert)OACCPP, CYW, CYC(Cert)

2:50pm – 4:00pm   November 23, 2018

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Afternoon Concurrent Session B4: Resilience & the Brain
Presented by Eva de Gosztonyi, M.A.

2:50pm – 4:00pm   November 23, 2018

Sometimes finding out what is going on inside our brain and our body helps us to better understand and accept our somewhat messy psychological processes. This session will introduce participants to the neuroscience of adaptation. How does the brain move us from mad to sad? What role do bio-chemicals play in whether we become defended or truly resilient? Then we will look at how we can create the space in our interactions with our children so that we can help them to become more deeply resilient.

Registration & Fees