NewsUpper SchoolStudent LifeFaculty/StaffPre-K to 8ServiceAcademics
Lecture to feature nationally renowned specialist, open to community
Jul 5, 2006 10:06 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Dr. Robert Brooks, a leading speaker on resilience, self-esteem, motivation and family relationships, will give a lecture Aug. 15 from 7 to 9 p.m. in Darlington’s Morris Chapel. The event is free and open to the Rome community and surrounding areas.
During the past 25 years, Dr. Brooks has presented nationally and internationally to thousands of parents, educators, mental health professionals, and business people with a message based on encouragement, hope, and resilience. He is renowned for the warmth and humor he uses to bring his insights and anecdotes to life.
“Dr. Brooks is a passionate speaker who really energizes and informs the audience,” said Libbie Zimmer, director of Darlington’s Learning Center, which will open its doors in August. “We are so excited to share this opportunity with Darlington parents and faculty members, the Rome community, as well as parents and educators in surrounding areas.”
In his lecture, Dr. Brooks will describe factors that help children and adolescents to deal more effectively with stress and pressure and become resilient. He will discuss the importance of empathy in understanding and responding to children, why some children (from birth) have a more difficult time developing a positive self-image and resilience than other children, the importance of identifying and reinforcing each child or adolescent’s “islands of competence,” and specific strategies for nurturing self-discipline, self-esteem, responsibility, caring, hope and resilience in our children.
“Learning why adults’ communication skills have a direct impact on a child’s academic performance and how we all can nurture the development of a child's self-esteem and self-discipline is crucial in today’s society,” said Zimmer. “Our fast-paced culture places high expectations on our children, so it is imperative that we teach them strategies to help with day-to-day stress and pressure. The strategies Dr. Brooks discusses help reinforce the child’s strengths while teaching us ways to foster responsibility and accountability.”
Dr. Brooks has also written extensively, authoring “The Self-Esteem Teacher” and co-authoring “Raising Resilient Children,” “Nurturing Resilience in Our Children,” “Answers to the Most Important Parenting Questions,” “Seven Steps to Help Your Child Worry Less,” “Angry Children, Worried Parents,” “Seven Steps to Help Families Manage Anger,” and “The Power of Resilience: Achieving Balance, Confidence, and Personal Strength in Your Life.” In addition, he worked with Drs. Mel Levine and Jack Shonkoff on a book titled “A Pediatric Approach to Learning Disorders.”
After receiving his doctorate in clinical psychology from Clark University, Dr. Brooks did additional training at the University of Colorado Medical School. He is on the faculty of Harvard Medical School and has served as director of the department of psychology at McLean Hospital, a private psychiatric hospital. He has a part-time private practice in which he sees children, adolescents, adults and families and has appeared regularly on television shows in the Boston area, as well as on cable television.
He also completed a videotape and educational guide for PBS titled “Look What You’ve Done! Stories of Hope and Resilience,” which focuses on self-esteem and resilience in children with special needs, and participated in the production of two videotapes by Sunburst Communications, one about parenting children with learning and attentional problems and the other about developing responsibility in children.
Dr. Brooks received a Gubernatorial Award for Distinguished Public Service for his work with the Governor’s Alliance Against Drugs. He also received Hall of Fame awards from both Ch.A.D.D. (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorders) and the Connecticut Association for Children with Learning Disabilities, a Special Recognition and Media Award from the Massachusetts Psychological Association, the Friends of Families Award from the Family Place, and the Outstanding Educator Award for Mental Health Education from the New England Educational Institute. In addition, he has served as a consultant to Sesame Street and Parents Magazine.
During the past 25 years, Dr. Brooks has presented nationally and internationally to thousands of parents, educators, mental health professionals, and business people with a message based on encouragement, hope, and resilience. He is renowned for the warmth and humor he uses to bring his insights and anecdotes to life.
“Dr. Brooks is a passionate speaker who really energizes and informs the audience,” said Libbie Zimmer, director of Darlington’s Learning Center, which will open its doors in August. “We are so excited to share this opportunity with Darlington parents and faculty members, the Rome community, as well as parents and educators in surrounding areas.”
In his lecture, Dr. Brooks will describe factors that help children and adolescents to deal more effectively with stress and pressure and become resilient. He will discuss the importance of empathy in understanding and responding to children, why some children (from birth) have a more difficult time developing a positive self-image and resilience than other children, the importance of identifying and reinforcing each child or adolescent’s “islands of competence,” and specific strategies for nurturing self-discipline, self-esteem, responsibility, caring, hope and resilience in our children.
“Learning why adults’ communication skills have a direct impact on a child’s academic performance and how we all can nurture the development of a child's self-esteem and self-discipline is crucial in today’s society,” said Zimmer. “Our fast-paced culture places high expectations on our children, so it is imperative that we teach them strategies to help with day-to-day stress and pressure. The strategies Dr. Brooks discusses help reinforce the child’s strengths while teaching us ways to foster responsibility and accountability.”
Dr. Brooks has also written extensively, authoring “The Self-Esteem Teacher” and co-authoring “Raising Resilient Children,” “Nurturing Resilience in Our Children,” “Answers to the Most Important Parenting Questions,” “Seven Steps to Help Your Child Worry Less,” “Angry Children, Worried Parents,” “Seven Steps to Help Families Manage Anger,” and “The Power of Resilience: Achieving Balance, Confidence, and Personal Strength in Your Life.” In addition, he worked with Drs. Mel Levine and Jack Shonkoff on a book titled “A Pediatric Approach to Learning Disorders.”
After receiving his doctorate in clinical psychology from Clark University, Dr. Brooks did additional training at the University of Colorado Medical School. He is on the faculty of Harvard Medical School and has served as director of the department of psychology at McLean Hospital, a private psychiatric hospital. He has a part-time private practice in which he sees children, adolescents, adults and families and has appeared regularly on television shows in the Boston area, as well as on cable television.
He also completed a videotape and educational guide for PBS titled “Look What You’ve Done! Stories of Hope and Resilience,” which focuses on self-esteem and resilience in children with special needs, and participated in the production of two videotapes by Sunburst Communications, one about parenting children with learning and attentional problems and the other about developing responsibility in children.
Dr. Brooks received a Gubernatorial Award for Distinguished Public Service for his work with the Governor’s Alliance Against Drugs. He also received Hall of Fame awards from both Ch.A.D.D. (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorders) and the Connecticut Association for Children with Learning Disabilities, a Special Recognition and Media Award from the Massachusetts Psychological Association, the Friends of Families Award from the Family Place, and the Outstanding Educator Award for Mental Health Education from the New England Educational Institute. In addition, he has served as a consultant to Sesame Street and Parents Magazine.
