Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge, a prominent children's mental health expert, will present at the Northeast Region Biofeedback Society 2025 Annual Conference in New York City this October, challenging conventional mental health approaches by focusing on nervous system regulation as the foundation for healing youth. Her presentation, "The Hidden Epidemic: Emotional Dysregulation in Today's Youth," argues that the core issue behind rising mental health diagnoses is dysregulation of the nervous system rather than just symptoms like anxiety or attention deficits. "When we calm the brain first, kids can focus, learn, and heal. That's the shift I'll be bringing to NRBS 2025," said Dr. Roseann. This conference occurs amid alarming statistics showing a 61% increase in diagnosed adolescent anxiety and a 45% rise in depression diagnoses between 2016 and 2023, with nearly one in five teens now living with a diagnosed mental or behavioral condition.
The conference, themed "Rethinking Paradigms: Innovative Approaches for Optimal Wellness," brings together top experts including trauma specialist Bessel van der Kolk, nutrition researcher Thomas Campbell, digital stress authority Erik Peper, screen addiction researcher Stoyan Vezenkov, neuroinflammation specialist Marina Makous, and neurofeedback leader Lynda Thompson. These speakers will share insights blending neuroscience, biofeedback, and integrative health. Conference details and registration are available at https://nrbs.org/2025-nrbs-annual-conference. The multidisciplinary nature of NRBS 2025 creates a convergence point for scientists, practitioners, educators, and parents, unlike many professional gatherings that cater exclusively to clinicians.
For practitioners, the conference offers cutting-edge clinical tools in biofeedback, neurofeedback, and trauma care to expand treatment options. Educators will learn actionable classroom strategies to reduce stress and improve learning in an era where emotional dysregulation disrupts classrooms nationwide, affecting 30–50% of children in clinical settings. Parents have access to a dedicated Youth Wellness Intensive with hands-on strategies for raising regulated, resilient children. Dr. Roseann's Regulation First Parenting™ framework, which forms the basis of her upcoming 2026 book, emphasizes that no healing or learning can occur without proper nervous system regulation first. This brain-based approach represents a paradigm shift in addressing youth mental health challenges.
The conference's focus on practical, evidence-based solutions comes at a critical moment when traditional mental health interventions prove insufficient for many children. By targeting root causes of emotional dysregulation rather than just symptoms, the approaches shared at NRBS 2025 could transform how society supports children's mental health and development. This shift is particularly important as many children struggle to access appropriate care, and emotional dysregulation often goes unrecognized in schools and families despite its prevalence.
