The Neufeld Institute is holding the Vancouver Neufeld Conference 2017:  Raising Resilient Children on April 29th, 2017.

Dr. Gordon Neufeld will give a two-part keynote address on Saturday morning (9:00 – 10:15 am) and Saturday afternoon (4:00 – 4:30 pm) on Keys to Resilience. 

“Resilience is about the ability to bounce back to normal functioning after times of stress, or even better, to be capable of optimal functioning in the face of adversity. It is about healing after being wounded; recovery after losing one’s balance; optimal functioning when under fire. Every human possesses the potential for resilience but this capacity remains elusive to many. Resilience is not inherited and cannot be learned; it must be developed and childhood is the ideal time for this. Many people confuse resilience with ‘toughness,’ when individuals seem unaffected by adversity or are capable of basic functioning in wounding scenarios. In fact, the very armour that makes this possible also interferes with the development of the real thing. In his keynotes, Dr. Neufeld will discuss the essence of true resilience and reveal the keys to developing this capacity in our children and in ourselves. He will also share fresh understandings about the surprising role of play in resilience.”

Resilience will be a theme for a number of sessions throughout the day, taking the theory covered in Dr. Neufeld’s address and translating it into everyday practice.

There will also be an optional session on Friday evening, April 28, 2017 from 7:00 – 9:00 pm (at a supplemental charge of $20) with Dr. Deborah MacNamara on Nourish:  Why Food and Relationship Belong Together.  

“Food and relationship were meant to be intertwined, but they have become separated. In this new presentation, Dr. Deborah MacNamara will use developmental science to weave together the pieces of the feeding-and-eating puzzle. She’ll draw on the fields of attachment science, neuroscience, developmental psychology, and cultural tradition. Come relish and savour a thought-provoking walk around our most basic human needs and what they reveal about what is truly essential for survival.”