This webinar series will help participants understand challenging behavior through the lens of emotion regulation. While behavioral presentation may look very different, ranging from internalizing (head down) to externalizing (physical aggression/swearing), they often derive from the same underlying issue: The student cannot tolerate emotional distress in a healthy way and is seeking an outlet to feel better. Using this understanding, participants will learn how to teach and promote emotion regulation skills in the classroom and the counselor office and then create challenging, yet manageable, emotional exposures that give the student planned opportunities to apply these skills.
To receive PDPs and CEUs, participants must attend all 5 sessions, either live or via the recording, and successfully pass a quiz following Session 5. Within 24 hours of the live webinar, registrants will be emailed a link to view the recorded webinar. The recording will be made available for 7 days after each session. If you are not eligible for PDPs and/or CEUs, you may apply for a Certificate of Attendance.
This session introduces the relationship between emotional discomfort, avoidance, and student functioning in school settings. Participants will explore common emotional antecedents that contribute to distress and dysregulation, including uncertainty, transitions, lack of control, waiting, peer judgment, mistakes, performance demands, and social expectations. The session will examine how well-intentioned adult responses can unintentionally reinforce avoidance patterns and reduce resilience over time.
This session focuses on practical Tier 1 approaches that help students gradually build tolerance to everyday emotional stressors. Participants will learn how classroom routines, participation structures, transitions, collaborative work, productive struggle, and emotional coaching can function as low-intensity emotional exposures that strengthen coping capacity. Emphasis will be placed on creating supportive environments that encourage flexibility and resilience without overwhelming students.
This session provides an overview of evidence-based exposure approaches commonly used in school mental health settings. Participants will learn the rationale and implementation considerations for imaginal exposure, behavioral experiments, interoceptive exposure, emotional exposure, and graduated behavioral exposure. The session will emphasize how exposures can be designed collaboratively, ethically, and developmentally within school environments.
This session examines the role of avoidance in school refusal behavior and chronic absenteeism. Participants will explore how anxiety, reinforcement patterns, family accommodation, and school responses can contribute to escalating avoidance cycles. The session will provide practical guidance for developing exposure-based reintegration plans that increase attendance while supporting emotional regulation and coping skill development.
Speaker
- Alex Hirshberg, Psy.D., Hirshberg Behavioral Services, LLC
About the Speaker
Alex Hirshberg, Psy.D.
Alex Hirshberg, Psy.D., (he/him) is the founder and executive director of Hirshberg Behavioral Health Services, LLC in Hadley, Massachusetts. Dr. Hirshberg is a clinical psychologist who provides behavioral consultation, professional development, and psychological assessment services to schools across Massachusetts. He also has a small outpatient therapy practice focused on using Cognitive Behavior Therapy for individuals with anxiety and mood disorders. His interest areas include Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) in schools, trauma informed practices, and developing in-district social-emotional programs.
Membership Information
Most MPY webinars are available ONLY to current staff from member districts and organizations. Public school memberships include police and fire personnel. Former and retired employees and members of committees, including but not limited to, PTO/PTA, PAC, School Improvement Councils, Health Councils, Drug/Alcohol Councils, and school volunteers, are not considered MPY members.
PDPs and CEUs
MPY is an approved Professional Development Provider through the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (Provider No. F20180079). Professional Development Points (PDPs) are offered for most MPY professional development webinars. PDPs are issued in 10 hour increments, per DESE requirements.
Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available for clinical staff through the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association, Inc. (MaMHCA). The NASW and the MaMHCA approve each event individually. CEUs may be given in hourly increments.
To receive PDPs and CEUs, participants must pass the quiz.
Event Cancellation Policy
If you are unable to attend a MPY webinar you must cancel, through Bonnie Mullen at bonnie@mpyinc.org, one business day before the webinar.
For MPY hybrid conferences, the date in-person registration closes will be posted on MPY’s website. Virtual conference registration will close one business day before the hybrid conference. You cannot cancel or switch your registration from in-person to virtual after in-person registration closes. Please email Bonnie Mullen with any questions regarding registration.