Community Events
Part of our mission at Ridge Psychological is to educate families, teachers and providers about mental health.
Upcoming Events:
Mastering Minds: Practical Strategies for Emotional Regulation and Executive Function
Join us for a collaborative, hands-on session led by Casey Schmalacker from New Frontiers in Learning and Debbie De Santis at Ridge Psychological, focusing on how the brain manages emotions, impulses, and attention—and how you can strengthen these skills in daily life.
What You’ll Learn
- How Self-Regulation Works
- Inhibitory Control: The Brain’s Pause Button
- Understanding and Managing Emotions
- Dealing with Distractions and Emotional Challenges
* Simple Skills You Can Use Right Away
Date: April 29th, 2026
Location: Zoom
Time: 6pm
To register: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ce-yFFdhRiCXBfHIl7RLQQ
Past Events:
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.