Dr. Kristen McLeod is a registered clinical developmental psychologist who received her MA and PhD from the University of Guelph. While in Guelph, Dr. McLeod worked in Community Mental Health in Ontario. As part of her work there, she served as clinical consultant to the preschool services team, which was involved in providing mental health services in home, clinic, and child-care settings. Dr. McLeod moved to Nova Scotia in 2007, where she spent her first five years working at the IWK Hospital, initially in residential treatment and then in outpatient treatment with children in the care of the child welfare system. After leaving the hospital, Dr. McLeod set up a private practice that specialized in trauma-based consultation and support to caregivers and to helping children recover from traumatic life experiences.

Dr. McLeod has a keen clinical interest in working with children and adolescents who have experienced trauma, abuse, and neglect, and enjoys working with families who care for these children. Much of her focus is on understanding the neurodevelopmental impact of trauma and neglect, and the challenges this impact creates for traditional methods of intervention and caregiving. A strong advocate of the need for trauma-informed care, Dr. McLeod provides regular workshops and trainings on developing trauma-informed approaches to diverse groups including early interventionists, early childhood educators, schools, medical and mental health professionals, and parents and prospective parents. Dr. McLeod recently moved back to Ontario and has just opened the Attune Trauma and Regulation Centre in Guelph, Ontario.

CONTACT

Please direct event questions to Jodi Corbett

jodi.corbett@tbdssab.ca

807 766 2111 ext 4113

Please direct all registration questions to Kari Chiappetta

kcconsulting@shaw.ca

807 621 6225

Trauma Informed Early Years

The Gift of Understanding

Tuesday September 25, 2018

Wednesday September 26, 2018- FULL

Valhalla Inn, Thunder Bay

8:00 am- Registration

8:30 am - 3:30 pm- Training

Continental Breakfast and Hot Lunch will be provided to all attendees

Space is limited and will be assigned on a first come first served basis. Register early to guarantee your seat!

You can register up to 50 people from your centre on one registration. Staff are to be registered under "Additional Staff Information"

Trauma and adversity affect numerous children and caregivers across diverse settings. Understanding how this trauma can impact on the developing child is key to moving forward in a positive, supportive, and successful way with trauma-impacted children and adults. Taking a trauma-informed approach when dealing with young children’s behaviour can mean significant improvements in the way a child manages stress, frustration, and social conflict. This workshop will explore what it means to be trauma-informed and the key role of understanding sensory and affect management difficulties in our children. We will also explore how using a trauma-informed approach can increase our sense of efficacy when working with trauma-impacted children, as well as strengthen our connections with children and their caregivers to improve outcomes.

In this full day workshop, participants will develop a better understanding of the trauma-based concerns that can present in young children and the parents of these children, as well as new strategies for intervention and managing young children’s behaviours in both the home and child-care settings. Dr. McLeod will provide numerous examples of strategies for developing greater affect management in young children as well as provide caregivers from all settings hands-on tools they can use to help everyone involved with the child to create a safe, calming and successful environment. Finally, we will explore how being in the presence of those impacted by trauma affects us as caregivers and what we can do to take care of ourselves in the daily work we do.