Episode Details

 Marti Smith, OTR is an Occupational Therapist, fellow with the Child Trauma Academy, and founding Board Member with A-TROT, the Alliance for Trauma Responsive Occupational Therapists.    Marti is a dear friend and close colleague.  We met what feels like eons ago at a Trust Based Relational Intervention training and became quick friends.  I’ve learned so much from Marti in my own career about chasing the ‘why’ behind a behavior--  and not just the relational and attachment need, but the biological and physiological need behind a behavior.

The Brain is Behind Everything We Do

The foundation of my work rests on the idea that the brain is behind every single thing that we do- so let’s get curious about what is going on the brain that is underneath a specific behavior (which is the foundation of the course Parenting after Trauma: Minding the Heart and Brain).  Marti’s work as an occupational therapist beautifully dovetails the work I do as a mental health therapist while also offering a new perspective by looking at the physical body and autonomic nervous system factors that are related to behaviors.

Marti’s expertise in the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics helps keep her focus on the foundation of the brain as a way to support kids with challenging behaviors.  She knows keenly that the foundation of any skill must be strengthened before moving on to more

Underneath every behavior is something happening in the body, specifically in the nervous system. When we support the body first, behavior often begins to shift. Even for kids who don't have a sensory processing disorder! 

Join my March 24th webinar at 8pm eastern- Sensory Strategies for Dysregulated Kids with Baffling Behaviors

RobynGobbel.com/SensoryWebinar

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Let's hang out this summer at two different trainings for professionals!

Therapy with Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors- June 1 & 2 in Syracuse, NY RobynGobbel.com/NY

Presence in Practice- July 15, 16, & 17 in Rockford, MI (outside Grand Rapids) RobynGobbel.com/Michigan2026

Get access to over 25+ free resources in our brand, new Free Resource Hub! RobynGobbel.com/FreeResourceHub

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Grab a copy of USA Today Best Selling book Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors robyngobbel.com/book

Join us in The Club for more support! robyngobbel.com/TheClub

Sign up on the waiting list for the 2027 Cohorts of the Baffling Behavior Training Institute's Immersion Program for Professionals robyngobbel.com/Immersion

Follow Me On:
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Over on my website you can find:
Webinar and eBook on Focus on the Nervous System to Change Behavior (FREE)
eBook on The Brilliance of Attachment (FREE)
LOTS & LOTS of FREE Resources
Ongoing support, connection, and co-regulation for struggling parents: The Club
Year-Long Immersive & Holistic Training Program for Parenting Professionals: The Baffling Behavior Training Institute’s (BBTI) Professional Immersion Program (formerly Being With)