Mental Health Community Events in Brooklyn, NY
Community Events
Part of our mission at Ridge Psychological is to educate families, teachers and providers about mental health.
Upcoming Events:
Stay Tuned!
Past Events:
Mastering Minds: Practical Strategies for Emotional Regulation and Executive Function
Dr. De Santis (Ridge Psychological) and Casey Schmalacker (New Frontiers Executive Function Coaching) discussed:
- Emotional regulation as how children manage feelings and impulses, which can be learned at any age.
- It supports friendships, school success, and resilience, and helps prevent anxiety and depression.
- Signs a child may need support: intense emotions, frequent meltdowns, impulsivity, trouble naming feelings, or shutting down.
- Parent strategies: build routines, use emotion charts, encourage movement breaks, create cozy spaces, practice deep breathing, and praise efforts.
- Long-term habits: model calm responses, name emotions daily, build a regulation toolkit, and support sleep and social connections.
- Seek help if emotions are overwhelming or risky; therapies like CBT and DBT can teach coping skills.
Strength Based Parenting for Neurodiverse Children
Dr. Moyle spoke to parents about:
- Strengths-based parenting focuses on recognizing and nurturing a neurodiverse child’s unique talents and interests rather than trying to “fix” their differences.
- Conditions like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia can be understood as natural variations in how brains work.
- Families can celebrate individuality while helping build a child’s confidence and independence.
- Helpful strategies include paying attention to sensory needs and using tools that support comfort and focus.
- Co-regulation is important—caregivers stay calm and supportive during emotional moments to help children manage feelings.
- Creating consistent routines with visual supports and dedicated connection time can provide stability.
- Caregivers should also seek support and share responsibilities to maintain their own well-being.
- Supporting both the child and the caregiver helps neurodiverse children thrive.
Calm, Confident, & Test-Ready: Helping Your Child Manage Test Anxiety
Dr. Christine Moyle spoke to parents about:
- Why test anxiety happens (and how it affects performance)
- Simple techniques to help your child stay calm and focused
- How to build confidence through daily habits
- What to say (and what not to say!) before a big test
Homework without Tears
Dr. De Santis and Dr. Weinstein spoke to parents at a Brooklyn based school about:
- Common reasons and behaviors related to homework issues
- What’s the difference between a problem and a “bump in the road”?
- When to seek out an evaluation and what kind of evaluation does your child require?
- Strategies to assist your child with homework completion
- Where to go for help?
Promoting Emotion Regulation Skills in Your Family
Dr. De Santis spoke to parents of a local public school about:
- the signs and symptoms of emotion dysregulation
- mental health conditions and emotion dysregulation
- causes of emotion dysregulation
- techniques that can promote healthier emotion regulation skills in your child
Adult Learning Disability Assessments 101
Dr. De Santis gave a talk for the Learning Disability Association of New Jersey discussing:
- What is a learning disability and how do you assess for it?
- How can an assessment be used to address your learning needs in higher education or at your workplace?
- What is the difference between a psychoeducational evaluation and a neuropsychological assessment?
- What types of tests are typically used and for what purpose?
- How do you find someone to conduct the assessment for you?
- Next steps after the assessment is complete.
Is a special education school right for your child?
Dr. De Santis and Mr. Marc Gottlieb, Esq. provided a talk discussing:
- The IEP process
- Benefit of neuropsychological testing
- When and why to seek out a private school
- The process of financial recovery and the likelihood of success
- Myths debunked about who gets reimbursed and why
How to advocate for your clients with learning disabilities
Dr. De Santis spoke with pediatricians at a large NY based practice on:
- How to identify learning disabilities in their clients
- How to complete a 504 and obtain an evaluation
- The services offered by the DOE
- Other options for their clients
Beyond The DOE: Securing an Alternative Educational Setting for Your Child
Dr. De Santis and Mr. Steven Alizio co-hosted a free webinar entitled Beyond The DOE: Securing an Alternative Educational Setting for Your Child to help parents identify:
- The process to advocate for an alternative educational setting paid for by the DOE
- The variety of alternative educational settings available
- The benefit of a neuropsychological evaluation to aid in this process
Navigating the DOE: Getting the Services Your Child Needs
Dr. De Santis hosted a free parent conference designed to help parents identify:
- The services and accommodations offered by the DOE
- Ways to get your child the services and accommodations they require
- The benefit of a psychoeducational and neuropsychological evaluation
- The difference between a 504 and an IEP
- Next steps for children who continue to struggle
Impact of the Pandemic on the Mental Health of Children
Dr. De Santis was interviewed by Dr. TJ Gold, a pediatrician at Tribeca Pediatrics, about the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of children and adolescents. Please click here to listen to the podcast.