THE PRIMAL POWER OF PLAY & SELF-REGULATION:
ADVANCED PSYCHONEUROBIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES
An Interactive Professional & Personal Development Seminar
with Dr. Inna Rozentsvit Date: Saturday, March 29, 2025 (12:00 PM – 3:15 PM EST) Location: Live Virtual Session via Zoom To Register please complete the Registration form Continuing Education: 3 CEs for NYS Psychologists, NYS Social Workers, and the APA
(covers most Mental Health Professions outside of NYS)
3 CEs for Licensed Psychoanalysts
It is only in playing that the individual child or adult is able to be creative and to use the whole personality, and it is only in being creative that the individual discovers the self. — Donald W. Winnicott The propensity to play is situated in very ancient regions of the brain. Rats that have had their neocortex removed still engage in normal play. – Jaak Panksepp
OVERVIEW:
Discover the fascinating intersection of play, neuroscience, and emotional regulation in this innovative three-hour seminar. Dr. Inna Rozentsvit bridges cutting-edge neurobiology with practical applications, offering valuable insights for mental health practitioners, educators, and parents. Rather than focusing on complex neuroanatomical models, this seminar examines these concepts as functional systems, providing clear explanations for the “whys” of human behavior, trauma predisposition, and various mental and psychosomatic conditions—along with practical interventions.
Theoretical Foundations & Practical Applications
The seminar integrates several key theoretical frameworks:
W. Winnicott’s Squiggle game and its therapeutic applications
Siegel’s Interpersonal neurobiology
Jaak Panksepp’s groundbreaking animal research on play and emotions
Functional Psychoneurobiology approach to fostering regulated, play-ful, and joyous living
CORE CONCEPTS
The Primal Role of Play
Play is not merely a recreational activity—it is a fundamental biological need that shapes brain development and emotional well-being. In this seminar, we explore:
The evolutionary significance of play across species
How “real play” (spontaneous, child-directed activities) differs from structured play in its neurological impact
The connection between play and depression as “opposite sides of a coin”
The role of rough-and-tumble play in developing emotional resilience
Play’s impact on gene expression and neural pathway development
How play deprivation affects behavioral and emotional development
The significance of play signals in building social connections and overriding defensive responses
Self-Regulation Through the Neuroscience Lens
Self-regulation is a crucial skill that develops through play and shapes our ability to navigate life’s challenges. We’ll examine:
The neurobiological foundations of emotional regulation
How early play experiences shape stress response systems
The role of mirror neurons in developing self-regulatory capabilities
The impact of attachment patterns on regulatory abilities
Practical strategies for enhancing self-regulation through play-based interventions
The connection between play, stress management, and emotional resilience
How self-regulation capabilities influence mental health outcomes
Understanding Functional Psychoneurobiology
This innovative approach integrates psychological and neurobiological perspectives to understand human behavior and development. Key aspects include:
Integration of brain-mind processes: neuroplasticity, neurointegration, and neural networking
The Triune Brain Plus concept and its practical applications
How neural networks form and strengthen through experience (“what fires together, wires together”)
The role of epigenetics in behavioral and emotional development
Understanding trauma and healing through a psychoneurobiological lens
Application to various mental health conditions and developmental challenges
Practical implications for therapy, education, and parenting
Who Should Attend
Mental Health Professionals seeking to enhance their therapeutic toolkit
Educators interested in neuroscience-informed teaching approaches
Parents looking to understand the science behind play and development
Anyone curious about the brain-mind connection and its impact on wellbeing
At the end of this educational activity, its participants will be able to:
Discuss the Functional Psychoneurobiology lens and utilize the tools offered by Functional Psychoneurobiology approach
Discuss the critical role of play in neural development and emotional regulation
Identify and promote “real play” opportunities
Gain practical tools for supporting healthy development through play
Develop strategies for enhancing self-regulation in various populations
Apply neurobiological insights to everyday challenges
Interactive Learning Experience
This seminar goes beyond theoretical understanding, offering:
Live demonstrations of key concepts
Case study discussions
Practical tools for immediate implementation
Q&A opportunities with Dr. Rozentsvit
We must recollect that all of our provisional ideas in psychology will presumably one day be based on an organic substructure. — Sigmund Freud, “On Narcissism”
The deficiencies in our description would probably vanish if we were already in a position to replace the psychological terms with physiological or chemical ones.…We may expect [physiology and chemistry] to give the most surprising information and we cannot guess what answers it will return in a few dozen years of questions we have put to it. They may be of a kind that will blow away the whole of our artificial structure of hypothesis. — Sigmund Freud, “Beyond the Pleasure Principle”
[S]evere split between psyche and soma … was due to our patients’ unawareness of their emotional states in threatening situations. The curtains on the mind’s stage were tightly drawn, so to speak; no sound reached the outside ears, and yet a drama was being played out in this secret theater that threatened the very life of the theater owner himself.— Joyce McDougall, “Theaters of the Body: A Psychoanalytic Approach to Psychosomatic Illness”
READINGS:
Hubschmid, M., Aybek, S., Maccaferri, G.E., et al. (2015). Efficacy of brief interdisciplinary psychotherapeutic intervention for motor conversion disorder and nonepileptic attacks. Gen Hosp Psychiatry, 37, 448–455.
Hutchinson, E. (2011). Neuroplasticity: Functional recovery after stroke. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 12(1), 4.
Kandel, E. R. (1998). Biology and the future of psychoanalysis: A new intellectual framework for psychiatry revisited (Special Article). American Journal of Psychiatry, 156(4), 505-524.
Kandel, E. R. (1998). A new intellectual framework for psychiatry. American Journal of Psychiatry, 155, 457-469.
Kandel, E. R. (2012). The age of insight: The quest to understand the unconscious in art, mind, and brain, from Vienna 1900 to the present. Random House.
Kandel, E. R. (2016). Reductionism in art and brain science: Bridging the two cultures. Columbia University Press.
LeDoux, J. (2003). The emotional brain, fear, and the amygdala. Cell Mol Neurobiology, 23(4-5), 727-38. doi: 10.1023/a:1025048802629. PMID: 14514027.
Shonkoff, J. P., & Phillips, D. A. (Eds.). (2000). From neurons to neighborhoods: The science of early childhood development. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
About Dr. Inna Rozentsvit:
Dr. Inna Rozentsvit brings a unique perspective to the intersection of neurology, neuroscience, psychoanalysis, and mental health, specializing in Functional Psychoneurobiology. Her approach integrates cutting-edge research with practical applications, making complex neurobiological concepts accessible and applicable for professionals and parents alike.
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Amedco LLC and Object Relations Institute for Psychotherapy & Psychoanalysis (ORIPP). Amedco LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Amedco Joint Accreditation #4008163.
Professions in scope for this activity are listed below.
Psychologists
This course is co-sponsored by Amedco and Object Relations Institute for Psychotherapy & Psychoanalysis. Amedco is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Amedco maintains responsibility for this program and its content. 23.0 hours.
The following state boards accept courses from APA providers for Psychologists/Counselors: AK, AR, AZ, CA, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, IO, KS, MA (LEP ONLY), ME, MO, NC, ND, NH, NE, NJ, NM, NV, OK*, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI, WY The following state boards accept courses approved by any other state for Psychologists/Counselors: CO, MD
MI: No CE requirements. *OK: Accepts APA credit for live, in-person activities but not for ethics and/or online courses.
The following state boards accept courses from APA providers for MFTs: AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IN, KS, MD, ME, MO, NE, NC, NH, NJ, NM, NV, OK*, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WDC, WI, WY AL MFTs: Credits authorized by NBCC or any other state licensing agency will be accepted. MA MFTs: Participants can self-submit courses not approved by the MAMFT board for review. The following state boards accept courses from APA providers for Addictions Professionals: AK, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IN, KS, LA, MD, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NY (held outside NY ONLY), OK*, OR, SC, UT, WA, WI, WY
The following state boards accept courses from APA providers for Social Workers: AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, ID, IN, KY, ME, MN, MO, NE, NH, NM, OR, PA, VT, WI, WY
New York Board for Social Workers (NY SW)
Amedco SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #0115. 23.0hours.
New York Board for Psychology (NY PSY)
Amedco is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0031. 23.0hours.
National Association for the Advancement of Psychoanalysis (NAAP) is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an Approved Provider of continuing education for Licensed Psychoanalysts. #P‑0019. 3 hours.
National Association for the Advancement of Psychoanalysis (NAAP) is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Social Workers #SW-0168. 3 hours.
To receive CE certificates for the actual hours attended – please request them at the time of registration or any time prior to beginning of the conference. CE certificate fee: $25 (in addition to the registration fees). No fees charged for PD (Professional Development) certificates from ORI.
REGISTRATION AND FEES:
Early Bird registration(before January 15th, 2025)
$45 regular/ $35 grad students & candidates/ $15 undergrad students & parents.
Regular registration (from January 15th, 2025 – to March 28th, 2025 – before 6pm EST/EDT)
$60 regular/ $45 grad students & candidates/ $20 undergrad students & parents.
Registration ‘at the door’ (after 6pm EDT/NYC time on March 28th, 2025)
$70 regular/ $55 grad students & candidates/ $25 undergrad students & parents.
Please Note: IF CEs ARE REQUESTED — please use the “regular” registration (not a “student”) option. There is an additional fee of $25 for CE certificate processing (can be paid on the day of the conference or in advance).
SPECIAL SCHOLARSHIPS are available for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as for retired or disabled practitioners, or need-based.
CANCELLATION POLICY:
Full refund will be issued if cancelled before the beginning of the event on December 10th, 2022.
No refund from the beginning of the event on December 10th, but full paid tuition will be applied to any further ORI events.
