ABOUT ME

After an early career as a French teacher, and later as an analyst for the department of defense, I decided to return to my passion for child and youth development.  I led students on service-learning semesters, where I counseled and taught about self-regulation and mindfulness.  I saw so many transformations in the students that I became fascinated by the mind, and how our beliefs and behaviors are learned early in life.  I wanted to know if there was a way to investigate how the brain absorbs the emotions and reactions of others, and whether we are all capable of 'updating our beliefs and behaviors' if they no longer serve us in adaptive ways.   I chose NYU in order to dive into neuroscience, particularly the concept of neuroplasticity, child development, and the study of fear and emotions.

There, I worked with social neuroscientist, Lasana Harris, on studies on stereotype content, disgust, moral decision-making and neuroeconomics. My thesis was on Empathy and Family Emotional Climate; I won third place at the annual Graduate Research Conference in 2010. 

I was also mentored by Dr. Zoran Josipovic, whose work on mindfulness and meditation inspired me to spend several months at various monasteries and learn from teachers from India and Vietnam.  During that time, I also worked with children in various communities as a teaching assistant.

During my graduate studies and for the past two decades, I have been surrounded by children:  as a nanny, reading therapist, research assistant for the NYU Child Study Center under the direction of Demy Kamboukos,  and psychoeducational therapist for the Children's Education and Rehabilitation Center.  These experiences have all had a significant impact on my desire to study developmental science and how the mental, physiological and emotional state of caregivers, teachers, parents and community members affect children's behavior and brain development.

Through my personal experiences and time at these research institutes, I have seen over and over again how much our early experiences affect our life trajectory.  And I've made it my mission to help as many people as I can have a deeper understanding of this so that they can:

• become more aware of their own self-defeating beliefs and behaviors that they have learned, especially in childhood
• become more aware of the fact that most people we encounter are acting and reacting from many subconscious triggers and automated behaviors
• learn how to contribute to their communities, organizations and relationships in ways that lead to the optimization of the mind-brain-body system.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

"[...] fabulous, helpful, thought provoking, growth oriented training [...] I want to experience it again. I benefitted more from this experience than I have from whole classes on brain development, entire textbooks on brain research and multiday educational conferences. I know I am a better teacher for this morning’s experience. Heartfelt thanks." - Michele, Kansas City MO

 

"Life changing... Immediate life application." - Evelyn McGhee, Chicago IL

 

"I learned how to infuse lessons with conversations about emotion, vulnerability and failure. Stefanie knows what she is talking about – and backed it all up with evidence." – Jenna De Bruin, Chicago IL