Heartminded Parenting

Description: Neuroscience has allowed us to better understand the impact and long-lasting effects that early childhood experiences have on mental health, our subjective sense of satisfaction, and the capacity for emotional regulation. We are wired for love and compassion but find it difficult to connect with others. What is the parental role in children's development of their capacity for empathy and compassion? We will briefly discuss the existence of five circuits (systems) involved in parenting, the factors that create blockages to the parenting process, and how to foster a relationship with a child that could grant enough neuroprotection and neurostimulation so that the child can develop self-compassion and empathic concern for others. We will also discuss the essentials of the neuroscience of love and how three different stress systems interact in regulating emotions, developing trust, and being able to feel compassion. Then we will propose developmental stages of empathy and compassion parallel to cognitive, language, and psychosocial development and how parents can nurture compassion on themselves and the child.

CE Broker Tracking #: 20-973300

This event is sponsored by FMHCA, an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider. FMHCA NBCC Provider# 2058. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.  FMHCA is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. This course is approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling, LMHC, LMFT, LCSW – FMHCA CE Broker #: 50-748

Learning Objectives:

1. To reflect on warmth and compassion as a parenting approach 
2.  To explore the neuroscience of empathy and compassion
3. To examine self-regulation strategies that boost empathy in parents and children
4. To discuss parenting strategies that support compassionate behaviors

Dr. Silvia Casabianca is a medical doctor from Colombia who has researched the topic of compassionate parenting and promoted education in love and not in fear for more than three decades. She obtained a doctorate in education from Nova Southeastern University in 2022 and is part of the Root of Compassion and Kindness Center (ROCK) team at Florida Gulf Coast University. She has been a psychotherapist for 30 years. She has been licensed as an MHC in Florida since 2004. She is the author of several books, the most recent Heatminded: Conscious evolution from fear to solidarity. Her dissertation is entitled: Exploring College Students’ Transformative Learning Experience Through Co-Creation of a Pilot Compassionate Parenting Module in a Humanities Class.