The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) Therapeutic Listening System: A Journey to Better Nervous System..

Please join us for “The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) Therapeutic Listening System: A Journey to Better Nervous System State Regulation” with Jennifer Abbanat, C-TSS, EXA-CE, SSP Provider.

Jennifer is a parenting coach, Expressive Arts Educator, IEP advocate, Safe and Sound Protocol Provider, and trauma-informed consultant who uses neuro-affirming and trauma-informed approaches to empower families to make the most informed decisions that support their child's unique needs.

Jennifer has additional training in child development, including The Mehrit Centre ECE certificate program, a Certificate in Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB), and trauma-informed expressive arts approaches. Jennifer has a Certificate in Traumatic Stress Studies from the Trauma Research Foundation with Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, has completed hundreds of hours of PD in areas of DIR Floortime, attachment theory, polyvagal theory, neuroscience, inclusive education, and is a graduate of the UC Davis LEND program for Leadership in Neurodevelopmental Education.

Jennifer is a volunteer for the Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint and is an advocate to educate on the dangers of these practices and supporting legislation to protect students. Jennifer started her own advocacy and consulting business, Crow’s Nest Advocacy & Consulting, where she provides a variety of services to support families through Expressive Arts Education, Safe and Sound Protocol therapeutic listening and individual and group parenting sessions to support the adults in the parent/child dyad.

Jennifer has written several articles and blogs for organizations such as AASR and The Mehrit-Centre. She is a founding member of a local organization, Yolo Neurodiverse Network (YNN), with 3 other parents with a mission to develop a culture of belonging and appreciation for neurodiversity by increasing community understanding, acceptance and engagement. “Connecting individuals/ Connecting Caregivers / Connecting Communities” is what YNN hopes to bring.

As an ND person herself, she is also a mom to three neurodivergent children, one of whom experienced early developmental trauma and is also autistic. Jennifer believes in the value of lived experience and that we must learn to meet children where they are, not where we think they should be. This shift starts a new path for any family to be able to experience growth, balance, and joy as individuals and as a whole relational system. The first step in this shift is curiosity. Curiosity leads to the connection that all humans need.

See a child differently, see a different child- Dr. Stuart Shanker, PhD.