Course Description and Rationale:
Mental health clinicians, school psychologists, and school counselors are increasingly asked to support students who present with complex emotional, behavioral, and learning needs—often while navigating rapid changes in technology, shifting educational expectations, and rising levels of stress and dysregulation in school environments. This training introduces The New 3 R’s for 21st-Century Practice—Resilience, Regulation, and Relationships—as a clinically grounded framework for understanding and supporting student functioning across academic, social, emotional, and executive domains.
Grounded in contemporary neuroscience, stress physiology, and mindfulness-informed practices, this session examines how chronic stress and environmental demands impact the developing brain, behavior, attention, emotional regulation, and interpersonal connection. Participants will explore the neurobiological foundations of resilience, the role of nervous system regulation in supporting learning and behavioral outcomes, and the central importance of relationships in establishing psychological safety, engagement, and growth—particularly for neurodivergent and vulnerable student populations.
The program emphasizes practical, evidence-informed strategies that clinicians and school-based mental health professionals can integrate into assessment, consultation, and intervention planning. Participants will leave with time-efficient tools that can be applied in therapy sessions, school counseling offices, consultation meetings, and collaborative work with educators and families. Through a combination of scientific instruction, guided reflection, and applied strategies, this training supports professionals in strengthening regulation, resilience, and relational capacity at both the individual and systems level.
NOTE: Due to time constraints during the live presentation, this training only covers the first two "R's" - relationships and regulation. The course objective have been modified to reflect this change.
Course Objectives
At the conclusion of this program, participants will be able to:
- Explain how stress and emotional processes influence students’ learning, behavior, and interpersonal connection in educational settings.
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Implement brief mindfulness and regulation practices to support focus and calm.
Neurodiversity Alliance is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Neurodiversity Alliance maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Neurodiversity Alliance is an approved continuing education provider by the National Board of Certified Counselors (ACEP #7510).
Course Outline
About the Presenter:
Dr. Christopher Willard, (Psy. D.) is a father, clinical psychologist, author and consultant based in Massachusetts. He has spoken in forty-two countries, and has presented at two TEDx events.
He is the author of twenty-one books, including Alphabreaths (2019), Growing Up Mindful (2016), Feelings are Like Farts, College Mental Health 101 (2025).
His thoughts on mental health have been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, mindful.org, cnn.com, and elsewhere. He teaches at Harvard Medical School.
Continuing Education Information:
Upon completion of the course, an evaluation and check for understanding will be provided. After passing the check for understanding, you will be provided a certificates of completion. This process is automated; you may also access your certificate through your Teachable account.
This training provides 1.5 hours of NBCC-accredited continuing education. (ACEP #7510)
Registration Requirements:
This program is open to any mental health professional, medical professional, or educator who supports the mental wellbeing of neurodivergent people. Continuing education hours are limited to those with graduate degrees in a mental health field.
In order to register, you will need to create a free Teachable account to access the course. Once you have registered for the course, you have lifetime access to it and any future updates.
This program and its instructors receive no commercial support, and there are no conflicts of interest to disclose.