Observe, Understand & Respond:
the O.U.R. Children's
Safety Project

Reducing Harm From Toxic Stress and Abuse

Date:  December 10, 2024

Children who have experienced chronic stress and/or trauma, particularly from early infancy, often display challenging and, at times, baffling behaviors that are resistant to traditional approaches and increase their risk of further mistreatment. Through integrating 30+ years of research in neuroscience and practical experience working with traumatized youth, Bruce Perry, MD., Ph.D., developed the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT), a model that helps us understand how trauma and relationships impact development and to respond in more meaningful and effective ways. In this session, school psychologist Amy Curtiss, Psy.D. and veteran teacher, Ben Curtiss, M.S., will introduce the NMT and describe how the model can be used to select approaches that are respectful of a child’s neurobiological differences.

Learning Objectives 

• Develop an introductory understanding Dr. Bruce Perry’s Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT). 
• Use the NMT framework to select interventions and adjust approaches when working with children who have experienced chronic stress and/or trauma.

Presenters:

Amy Curtiss, PsyD, ABSNO, and Michael Curtiss, MSE X2