About Me

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Tempe, Arizona, United States
Dr Robbie Adler-Tapia is a licensed psychologist who specializes in working with clients who have experienced trauma. Even though she works with clients of all ages Dr Robbie specializes in working with young children. Dr Robbie provides therapy for clients with attachment and adoptions issues, child abuse histories, and for law enforcement. She is an EMDR Institute Facilitator and EMDR/HAP Trainer. With the EMDR HAPKIDS Program, Dr. Adler-Tapia volunteers to assist with coordinating research, consultation, and training for therapists working with children internationally. She has also provided specialty trainings on treating attachment and the dissociative sequelae, working with young children in the child welfare system and on EMDR with children. Along with her co-author, Carolyn Settle, Dr. Adler-Tapia is co-author of the book, EMDR and the Art of Psychotherapy With Children and accompanying treatment manual, and a chapter on EMDR with Children in the soon to be released book edited by Allen Rubin and David Springer, The Clinician's Guide to Evidence-Based Practice Series, Volume 2, Treatment of Traumatized Adults and Children.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

UPCOMING WORKSHOP


Workshop October 5-6, 2013


Treatment of Attachment Trauma and Dissociation through the Life Span: 

EMDR and Case Conceptualization

with 

Robbie Adler-Tapia, Ph.D.



When earliest relationships are traumatic, attachment injuries can significantly change the trajectory of one’s life. Bonding and attachment are neurobiologically driven survival mechanisms; but when irreconcilable conflict exists within the innate mechanisms of survival and attachment, individuals can experience extreme distress leading to mental health disorders and physical disease. Although these conditions begin in infancy, if untreated they can endure a lifetime. It is so essential that attachment disruptions be addressed in both children and adults experiencing complex trauma reactions, including Axis II conditions and dissociation. EMDR provides a comprehensive, integrative, and effective approach to the treatment of attachment and the dissociative sequelae.

LOCATION: Clarion Hotel and Conference Center
1 Atwood Drive, Northampton, MA 01060
REGISTRATION: abbott-lobenstine.com

Phone: 413-586-1211
Sponsored by
Farnsworth Lobenstine, LICSW
NO EMDR training required. 14 CEs for social workers, LMHCs and LMFTS approved. 14 EMDRIA CEs for persons who have completed EMDR Basic Training have been approved. 14 CEs for psychologists pending.
Schedule
Saturday
7:30am-8:15am Registration and
Continental Breakfast
8:30am-12pm and 1pm-5pm Workshop
Sunday
8:00am Continental Breakfast
8:30am-12pm and 1pm-5pm Workshop
12:00-1:00pm Lunch (both days)

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Parenting Children Exposed to Tragedies

With the Boston Marathon explosion, Newtown School Murders, Aurora Colorado theater murders, Tucson murders, and many more, individuals are being exposed to trauma and devastation in our lives both from personal experience and media exposure.  How do we take care of ourselves, our loved ones, and help our children cope with such tragedy?

1. Pull your loved ones close and talk about grief and loss. Many parents/adults assume that if children don't bring it up, they aren't thinking about it.  Most children don't bring up the trauma because they don't have the words and don't know how.  As adults, we must find ways to broach the subject in developmentally appropriate ways.  For example, "There was something very sad that happened today in Boston at a marathon.  Do you know anything about it?"  In my experience, adults are often surprised by what children know and think about, yet it is the adult's responsibility to make sure there is on-going dialogue, support and education.  Reading books about grief and loss can be very helpful.  Discussions do not have to be long and detailed, but on-going and supportive.

2. Adults need to find out what children are hearing at school and talking with other kids about.  Many times we may protect our children at home, but they learn about tragedies at school and from the media.   Don't assume that your children don't know what's happening. Many adults know that children are often much better at maneuvering media than we are so we need to ask.  "Did anybody talk to you about what happened at the schools where children were hurt and killed?"  Children may not know the details, but have just enough information to be scared.  As a psychologist, many children were brought to my office with anxiety, sleep disturbance, school refusal behaviors, and other new concerns after each tragedy.  Parents assumed that children didn't know because the kids weren't directly impacted, but children are always listening.  It is important to wonder about what's going on with kids when parents see new issues.

3. Learn about grief and loss, mourning, and anxiety in children.  It doesn't present the same as in adults.  Children may change eating and sleeping behaviors, may become more clingy. May be scared about being along, the dark, or monsters.  When children are struggling, their issues present in ways adults might not expect.  Parents can say, "I wonder how you feel about what happened in Boston with the bomb?"

4. Check out this Apple app for Psychological First Aid.  "PFA"
http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/manuals/psych-first-aid.asp
This app is helpful in that it talks about trauma in all ages and provides helpful education and links.  Children can be traumatized by something witnessed in the media even if not experienced directly.

5. Also remind children that "If you see something, say something.  This is an important message for us all, but especially for children and adolescents who might fear that he/she is "tattling" or "ratting out a friend."  Parents need to help children and adolescents understand the difference between tattling and asking adults for help.  Young people need to seek out adult support for more serious issues.
"http://www.dhs.gov/if-you-see-something-say-something-campaign

6. From Mr. Rogers:

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'

Please check previous blogs I have posted and remembering to keep talking with your loved ones, hug them, and talk. 

Saturday, April 6, 2013

GIFTED AND TALENTED ADVENTURES IN LIVING

Gifted and talented individuals often struggle with anxiety and depression, social and emotional issues, sensory integration difficulties, learning disabilities, educational and behavioral issues, parenting, and other issues of living.  Being a gifted individual does not end after high school, but continues to manifest in adult employment, partnerships, and parenting.  Individuals, educators, parents, medical and mental health professionals, and the community at large needs to understand the differences in intensity, processing speed, perception, and interpretation of gifted and talented individuals on personal and professional levels. It is important that the unique needs of gifted individuals be identified and addressed appropriately instead of pathologizing symptoms of giftedness.  Just because individuals are different does not mean he/she has mental health or clinical issues.  Every mental health professional needs to consider symptoms from this theoretical perspective BEFORE interpreting these as pathology.  Please make sure you are educated about the adventures of living for gifted and talented individuals.

There are many resources including:

The Social and Emotional Needs of the Gifted: http://www.sengifted.org

Arizona Association for Gifted and Talented: http://www.arizonagifted.org

Please see previous blogs on this topic.

Dr. Robbie's UPCOMING WORKSHOPS


AUSTRALIA 
June 2013
EMDR and the Art of Psychotherapy with Children 
Sydney June 14- 15, 2013 June ARC Round House, University of NSW, Kensington. Click Here to Register.

Melbourne June 16- 17, 2013 June Tracey Center, 126 The Avenue, Parkville. Click Here to Register.  
http://www.therapist-training.com.au/emdr_with_children.html 


STAY TUNED

CONNECTICUT
July 12-13, 2013

HAUNTED: EMDR for First Responders and Professionals in the Trenches


MONTANA: NASW-MT October 2013



MASSACHUSETTS: October 2013

 Treatment of Attachment Trauma & the Dissociative Sequelae through the Life Span: 
EMDR & Case Conceptualization 


HONG KONG and IRELAND 2014