Responding Rather than Reacting:
A Body-Mind-Emotion Approach to Increase Self-Regulation and Co-Regulation
Challenging, triggering, and dysregulating situations are inevitable in the helping profession, especially for those who support children and families exposed to varying levels of trauma and toxic stress. Understanding how our bodies, minds, and emotions automatically respond to challenging situations provides us with not only the insight that allows us to increase our daily wellness, but mindful awareness to strengthen and build safe and secure interpersonal relationships with those we work with. This training will take a deep dive into identifying and understanding the holistic body-mind-emotional impact of triggers, countertransference, and stress response on those who work with young children and families, and equip learners with techniques to increase self-regulation in order to give the best care to those we work with.
Who is Jesse Bernal?
Jesse Bernal
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist | Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant
Jesse Bernal is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant based in California. He holds a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and specialized certifications in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation, Applied Behavior Analysis, and Reflective Practice. He is also endorsed in California as both an Infant-Family Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist and a Reflective Practice Facilitator II.
With over 15 years of experience working with children from birth to five, Jesse’s work centers on nurturing early relational health, promoting social-emotional development, and supporting inclusive practices for children with diverse learning needs. He is deeply committed to the prevention and healing of early childhood trauma and to strengthening caregiver, staff, and community wellness through a trauma-informed, equity-driven lens.
As a national speaker, trainer, and consultant, Jesse partners with Head Start and Early Head Start programs, early childhood education providers, and mental health organizations across the country. He also serves as an adjunct professor at Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, CA, teaching in both the School of Cultural and Family Psychology and the School of Education. Jesse has collaborated on research with leading voices in the field, including Dr. Daniel Siegel and Dr. Barbara Stroud, and maintains a small therapy caseload to stay connected to direct clinical work.
His work is grounded in a strong commitment to inclusion, anti-racism, and social justice, with a focus on ending early childhood and preschool expulsions and expanding the understanding of early development through a trauma-informed perspective.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Master's degree in Counseling Psychology
Certificate of Specialization in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (IECMHC)
CA Endorsed Infant Family Childhood Mental Health Specialist
CA Endorsed Reflective Practice Facilitator-II
Certificate of Specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CCP) Rostered
EMDR Trained Therapist
Adjunct Professor at Pacific Oaks College