Jennifer Abbanat, C-TSS, SSP Provider

  Expressive Arts Educator /  IEP & Parent Coach

 Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) Provider

Trauma Informed Consultant (C-TSS)

Based in Davis, California, I am an Expressive Arts Educator,  Safe and Sound Protocol Provider and an IEP  & Parent Coach that uses neuro-affirming and trauma-informed approaches to empower families to make the most informed decisions that support their child's unique needs.  My own lived experiences with 3 Neurodivergent children, ages 21, 19, and 16 has led me to help others.

 

I believe “bad” kids do not exist and every child can be successful and the best version of themselves.  When we start to understand the barriers in their way, we begin to meet the child where they are, not where we think they should be. 

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Education, Certifications, Affiliations:

• Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) -Therapeutic Listening System Provider 

• Member of COPAA, Council of Parent Attorney Advocates since 2020

• LEND Graduate- UC Davis MIND institute 2023

• Volunteer- The Alliance Against Seclusion & Restraint

• Certificate in Traumatic Stress Studies, Trauma Research Foundation, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, MD,Ph.D (C-TSS)

• Certificate in Early Childhood Development Shanker Self-Reg; The MEHRIT Centre (90 hours)

• Trauma Informed Coach Certificate, The Centre for Healing

• Certificate in Interpersonal Neurobiology, Mindsight Institute, Dr. Dan Siegel, MD

• Certificate in Trust Based Relationships, Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development at TCU (TBRI)

• Currently dual enrolled in  Expressive Arts and Trauma-Informed Educator/Coach certificate program & Restorative Embodiment & Expressive Arts Practioner Certificate: The Trauma-Informed Practices and Expressive Arts Therapy Institute, Dr. Cathy Malchiodi,Ph.D

• Mentored by Dr. Mona Delahooke, Ph.D.

• Mentored by Guy Stephens, Executive Director, The Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint

• Over 200 hours of professional development and Continuing Education credits in areas of:

  • ​​​Certificate of CEU/ PD: Expressive Arts: Therapy, EMDR, & Sensory Integration: Resourcing, Orienting, & Grounding - March 2023 (15 hours)​

  • Restorative Attachment- Expressive Arts approaches for regulation through relationships series- May 2023 (15hours)

  • Trauma Informed- Culturally Responsive Expressive Arts Therapy: Multicultural Considerations in Research, practice and ethics) Series- April 2023 (6 hours)

  • Resilience, Posttraumatic Growth & Trauma Informed Expressive Arts Therapy                 (part  one; 6 hrs)

  • Bilateral Stimulation and Sensorimotor Expressive Arts (15 hr)

  • Equine Assisted Expressive Arts Therapy -3 hr

  • Advanced Nature Based Expressive Arts Therapy: Healing Trauma & Grief through Nature (15 hours)

  • Trauma Informed Expressive Arts Therapy-Foundations Course (15hours)

  • Integrated  Attachment Family Therapy Training Course w/ Dafna Lender (12hour)

  • ​​​​​Professional Development training on 7 Steps to Lead Inclusive School Transformation (ASCD)

  • Plus : 

  • Child Development

  • Early Childhood Development

  • Brain Development

  • PolyVagal Theory

  • Play Based Therapies

  • Sensory Processing Differences

  • Educational Neuroscience

  • Trauma Informed Practices

  • Preteens and Teens in Play Therapy

  • Neurobiological Perspective: Children’s Moods and Behaviors

  • Interoception Based Supports

  • Co-Regulation and Sensory Safety

  • Somatic Movement Therapies

  • Autism

  • 8 courses in DIR Floortime

  • Inclusive School Transformation

  • Medical Cannabis for Movement & Neurological Disorders

  • Medical Cannabis for Autism

  • Medical Cannabis in The Digestive & GI Tract

  • Inclusive Education​​ IEP Advocacy

  • Disability Rights

• B.S., Exercise Physiology, Chapman University​

• Worked as Physical Therapy Aide -

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