Semester Reflection of the EC-SEBRIS Certificate Program

Throughout the semester I have seen a tremendous growth in myself as a person and as a caregiver. Being part of the EC-SEBRIS program has given me the opportunity to integrate feedback from the classes and comments and suggestions that have been given to me from our reflective groups. One of the things that I have learned and have continued to develop skills in is how I have linked what I have learned in class and by putting it into practice at my site at the Chabad Hebrew Academy. I have shared a lot of information that I have learned with co-workers, friends, and family members by informing them of the positive changes when becoming aware of children’s social and emotional behaviors.

The classes that I took this fall semester allowed me to gain so much knowledge in the social emotional development of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers focusing on attachment, self-regulation, and developing theories that are applied in childcare. I also learned to use various behavioral assessments that suggest intervention and support showing me techniques on how to best provide the help and resources for children, parents and caregivers. One of the major things that I learned was, that when interacting with children I will continue to pay attention to their cues and remember that they are the ones who guide us. We as caregivers are there to make children feel protected, safe and secure, especially when they are independently exploring their environment. I believe that talking to children enriches their vocabulary as they hear and grasp new words, helping them build up vocabulary, as they get older and begin to talk.

I consider this program to be very helpful as I learned to self-reflect on who I am as a person and caregiver. I am very pleased to say I have enjoyed each class and how incredible of a journey it has been. I am eager for the spring semester to begin, to see what the program has for us EC-SEBRIS students; and for us to become aware and grow into advocators for early childhood.

-Stephanie Zapien

The EC-SEBRIS certificate program is an interdisciplinary program for early childhood professionals who want to improve skills for working with young children who demonstrate socio-emotional and behavioral concerns, and their parents. Certificate courses can be applied towards a Master of Science in Child Development.

The EC-SEBRIS program will accept applications for Fall 2015 admission from Oct. 1, 2014 to March 2, 2015. For more information on the EC-SEBRIS graduate certificate program, visit our website. Apply now to take the first step toward your a career that will change lives!

What the EC-SEBRIS Program Means to Ashley Virgilio

My experience so far has been wonderful. The ECSEBRIS program has a philosophy that I have adopted as mine. Positive socio-emotional development for young children is a key foundation so they are able to thrive in all other areas of development. The program has taught me professional tools so I can help children to have strong socio-emotional skills. My professors are wonderful and full of knowledge. I enjoy the reflection time I am getting as well through group meetings from my supervisor, conducting videos of myself working with the children, and my coach.  I previously attended SDSU for my undergraduate work in the Child and Family Development program and love how the skills I have learned during that time have carried over to the ECSEBRIS program. I really appreciate that consistency!

- Ashley Virgilio

Student Post by EC-SEBRIS student Suzanne Severance

The EC-SEBRIS program has been a great experience this far. It is really enlightening to be taking classes about child development while working with children ages 1-5 at the same time. To simultaneously be taking relevant classes that I can apply to my every day work environment really allows for enhanced hands on learning. The placement portion of the program enriches the learning
since I can have actual examples and ideas in my head of behaviors and actions that we discuss in class. It is a bit overwhelming at times to have the practicum site requirement on top of classes, but it is worth it for the overlap of learning we receive between them.

The assignments we receive in class serve to give us a better feel for future assessments and observations we will have to do later on in our careers. It is nice to get a feel for administering these types of assessments while we have professors to guide us through it. The reflective practice course is a wonderful opportunity for us to get specific feedback about any questions we have with our placement site. It also gives us an opportunity to hear what other students’ experiences are like, so we have a wider scope of understanding.

- Suzanne Severance


The EC-SEBRIS certificate program is an interdisciplinary program for early childhood professionals who want to improve skills for working with young children who demonstrate socio-emotional and behavioral concerns, and their parents. Certificate courses can be applied towards a Master of Science in Child Development.

The EC-SEBRIS program will accept applications for Fall 2015 admission from Oct. 1, 2014 to March 2, 2015. For more information on the EC-SEBRIS graduate certificate program, visit our website. Apply now to take the first step toward your a career that will change lives!

A MidYear Review on the EC-SEBRIS Certiicate Program

As I reflect on my experience in the ​EC-SEBRIS ​Certificate Program thus far, many thoughts and feelings surface. I have found that this program is a great fit for me philosophically and professionally. Being able to have a place to synthesize my professional experience, my life experience, and my educational experience is proving to be an incredible time of growth for me.

The assessment class ​(CSP 623) ​while necessary, is not my favorite. I feel ​for a couple of the students who do not have a background in ​C​hild and Family Development. For them this class is even harder. The material in this class is dense and hard to digest, at least for me and a few other student colleagues I have talked to. However, I can say that I understand psychometrics much better than I did before. Personally, I would like to spend more time on the DSM 0-3 in this class.

While we need to know assessments, unless we are licensed, in many cases we may not be performing the assessments we are studying when we have finished this certificate program. In my class with Professor Walsh (CFD 670)​, it is so interesting to learn about interpersonal neurobiology, and l​earning about the science of attachment, and the role it has in shaping who we are as adults. I am often moved to tears during his lectures because as I gain a deeper understanding of myself,​ I am able to answer so many questions I had in regard to myself. The opportunities to reflect with myself during group and individual practice is such a gift!

- Maura Mehrian

Graduate school infographics on early childhood education

San Diego State University offers a Masters of Science in Child Development and a Graduate Certificate degree in early childhood socio-emotional and behavior regulation intervention. Check out the following infographics to learn more about these programs. 

The application period for Fall 2015 is open until March 2nd. 

For more information on our graduate and certificate programs, visit coe.sdsu.edu/cfd. Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for program and application updates. 

Amy Gregory on becoming a change agent in early childhood education

Amy Gregory is a current student in the EC-SEBRIS Graduate Certificate program at San Diego State University. She shared what she is learning about becoming a change agent in the lives of children and the field early childhood education. 

My experiences in the EC-SEBRIS program so far have been eye-opening, rewarding, and exciting. I never envisioned a graduate level program that could be so hands on, practical, and comprehensive. The EC-SEBRIS has encompassed all of these qualities for me so far!

I like that the information I am learning in my classes can be taken and directly applied to my work in the classroom. For example, thanks to my Ecobehavioral Assessment and Intervention class, I am able to pick out which assessment would be useful for each of my students. Then I can serve them better or get a better idea of their home life and family background.

Each class relates to one another in way that ties different areas of child development together that I had never considered before. Being able to analyze the teaching practices of others as well as your own in the reflective supervision class definitely makes you a change agent in recognizing best practices.

Presenting group research at the We Can't Wait conference

Taking a class dedicated exclusively to reflective supervision is great. It is an opportunity to review and share videotape interactions of my teaching practices with my 18-month old class.

My reflective supervision group is very helpful in giving me constructive criticism on how I could improve my teaching practices as well as helpful tips on how to deal with some of the challenging behaviors taking place in my classroom.

Seeing myself teaching on videotape really helps me identify what I do well and what I can improve on. It gives me the opportunity to review things that happen in my classroom that I may have missed in the moment. Being able to view videotapes of my fellow students' interactions with children in their worksites is helpful to me too. I make mental notes of positive ways to interact with children and creative activities to do. Seeing several different early childhood work sites gives me ideas of how to design classrooms that are effective.

Having a reflective supervision group is like having free help to support what you are trying to accomplish. Being a first year teacher myself, I have greatly appreciated this free help as my support system during a new life experience!

For one of my classes I worked on a group project about the effects of adverse childhood experiences relating to premature deaths. We completed research and created a professionally printed poster on our topic.

It was the first professional poster I have ever made and having my own work reflected in such a manner made me feel high up in the world. We had the opportunity to present our posters at the Early Childhood Mental Health We Can’t Wait Conference.

The opportunity to present at such a well renowned conference in the field made me feel like a real professional. Getting the opportunity to share my research with other professionals in the field, get their feedback, and in some cases teach them something new felt great. Seeing so many people in one place who all cared about the growing field of child development made me even more excited about my future career.

The EC-SEBRIS Graduate Certificate program is housed in the Department of Child and Family Development at San Diego State University. Certificate courses can be applied towards a Master of Science in Child Development.

The EC-SEBRIS program will accept applications for Fall 2015 admission until March 2, 2015. For more information on the EC-SEBRIS graduate certificate program, visit our website.

Kristen Eberly on the impact of early childhood trauma

SDSU graduate student Kristen Eberly shares why she decided the curriculum in the EC-SEBRIS certificate program was important to her career. 

I am completing my Master of Social Work in the one-year Advanced Standing Program at San Diego State University. During orientation I was presented with the opportunity to pursue the EC-SEBRIS certificate. I was hesitant to enroll in this program, in addition to the MSW program, due to the additional classes and requirements. 

However, in numerous social work classes and interactions with clients I began to see a common theme. Early childhood trauma and/or a difficult parent-child relationship continues to make a tremendous impact in adults’ lives. 

While society is making strides in raising mental health awareness and reducing stigmatization, more focus is required on early childhood mental health and intervention efforts.  As a result, I decided I wanted to work in an early intervention setting and applied for the EC-SEBRIS program. 

The EC-SEBRIS program is instrumental in linking clinical social work with early childhood intervention efforts. The program’s focus on attachment theory, neurobiology, emotional regulation, ecobehavioral assessment and intervention, applied behavior analysis, and positive behavioral support provides the knowledge and skills that will be essential and valued in the social work field. The classes and books are engaging, interesting, and relevant. In addition, the information learned during class can be applied immediately to my internship setting.

I strongly encourage anyone who is interested in social work and would like to work with children to look into this program. Linking both the MSW program and the EC-SEBRIS program provides an excellent opportunity to specialize in early childhood mental health.

EC-SEBRIS 2014 Orientation

The EC-SEBRIS certificate program is an interdisciplinary program for early childhood professionals who want to improve skills for working with young children who demonstrate socio-emotional and behavioral concerns, and their parents. EC-SEBRIS 2014 Orientation The EC-SEBRIS Certificate is a program of the San Diego State Department of Child and Family Development. 

The Dept. of Child and Family Development also offers a Master of Science in Child Development. The Master of Science degree is one of only four child development programs available in the CSU system. The EC-SEBRIS program is accepting applications for Fall 2015 admission until March 2, 2015.

For more information on the EC-SEBRIS graduate certificate program, visit our website. 

A supportive staff and time to reflect

We asked EC-SEBRIS Certificate students to share their experiences in the San Diego State program. Current student Karina Desai discusses the program's workload and resources. 

My experience in the EC-SEBRIS program so far has been great. It was very overwhelming at first, just receiving all the information regarding our classes and assignments and also knowing all of our big projects and tests that we would have to complete.  

But I quickly learned that we had a great staff and other great resources. Our reflective group supervisors and our site coach that were more than happy to help if we ever needed. I absolutely love the site that I have been placed at (Head Start- La Mesa), and I enjoy being there every day with the kids.  

My favorite class is the reflective group because it gives me a chance to talk to Dr. Kent and a few of my cohorts about any issues that I have. She gives me great advice on any problems that I am having trouble with.  

I am really looking forward to the rest of this semester and applying what I have learned in my classes to my every day experiences with children.

The EC-SEBRIS certificate program is an interdisciplinary program for early childhood professionals who want to improve skills for working with young children who demonstrate socio-emotional and behavioral concerns, and their parents. Certificate courses can be applied towards a Master of Science in Child Development.

The EC-SEBRIS program will accept applications for Fall 2015 admission from Oct. 1, 2014 to March 2, 2015. For more information on the EC-SEBRIS graduate certificate program, visit our website.

Behavioral consultant applies certificate coursework directly to the field

Current student Zoey Orgel shares the highlights of what she has gained from the EC-SEBRIS Certificate Program:

The EC-SEBRIS Certificate Program has been extremely beneficial to me thus far! I currently work as a behavioral consultant, providing 1:1 therapy for children with autism. I have learned a lot about ways to apply reflective practice skills to work with young children as well as exploring possible approaches to work effectively with the children and families.  

I have also learned a great portion of ecobehavioral assessment and intervention, focusing on understanding measurement and structured testing procedures related to socio-behavioral interventions for children in multiple settings.

Lastly, I have been learning about theories and approaches to emotional regulation in childcare settings, studying attachment, interpersonal neurobiology, and other developmental theories with a special emphasis on the applied use in early care and education settings.  

All of these classes are interrelated and I have used the knowledge I have gained in each class when working in the field. While I have gained a lot of useful information within the first month of school, I am looking forward to what the rest of the program has to offer! I am extremely excited for next semester's ABA class as I consistently implement this type of therapy throughout my sessions in the field!

The EC-SEBRIS Certificate is a program of the San Diego State Department of Child and Family Development. The Dept. of Child and Family Development also offers a Master of Science in Child Development. The Master of Science degree is one of only four child development programs available in the CSU system. 

EC-SEBRIS 2014 Orientation

The EC-SEBRIS certificate program is an interdisciplinary program for early childhood professionals who want to improve skills for working with young children who demonstrate socio-emotional and behavioral concerns, and their parents. 

The EC-SEBRIS program will accept applications for Fall 2015 admission from Oct. 1, 2014 to March 2, 2015.

For more information on the EC-SEBRIS graduate certificate program, visit our website. 

Three things that set the EC-SEBRIS certificate program apart

Three facets that make the EC-SEBRIS certificate program at SDSU unique:

1. Immediate practical application
2. Guided reflection
3. Flexibility

Molly Brennan told us why these were important to her during the program:

"I'm really enjoying the EC-SEBRIS program. I'm learning so much in the classes and applying the information in my practicum site. I truly am getting so much out of the reflective class. 

It's important to have this class to talk to everyone and see how we are all doing, while giving us time to reflect and slow down. It's nice knowing that others are going through this with us as well, having that extra support whenever we need it! 

The program being flexible is great because I having my own job as my practicum site. I'm taking information from the classes and using it in the field. It continues to help me understand different perspectives while gaining knowledge on how to work in different environments. 

For more information on the EC-SEBRIS graduate certificate program, visit our website. Applications for the graduate and certificate programs are open on Oct. 1st, 2014. 

Student chooses EC-SEBRIS certificate over doctoral program

We asked students to write about their experience in the EC-SEBRIS Graduate Certificate Program. EC-SEBRIS student Traci Sackett shared her thoughts as a part of our student blog series: 

The EC-SEBRIS Program at San Diego State University, through the Department of Child and Family Development, works both as a foundation for further study in child development as well as a supplemental body of knowledge for professionals working in the field of childhood mental health. 

It is an intensive one year program covering critical material. The Attachment Theory and Behavioral Neuroscience components are especially applicable, whether a classroom teacher, counselor or instructor of parenting education classes. 

I chose to supplement my Master’s degree in Counseling with the EC-SEBRIS certification in lieu of pursuing a doctoral program. I am fascinated by the burgeoning field of neuroscience as it applies to human behavior, as well as the practical application of Attachment Theory in working with children. 

I found that the time and expense of a doctoral degree was more than I wanted to commit to, and that the EC-SEBRIS program offered me the option in furthering my education and deepening my experience in a practical and attainable manner.

Applications for the certificate program are available Oct. 1st. 

The EC-SEBRIS certificate program is an interdisciplinary program focusing on professional preparation and skills enhancement of early childhood professionals who work with young children who demonstrate socio-emotional and behavioral concerns, and their parents. 

This one-year program is targeted towards working professionals and classes are offered in evenings on two nights each week, and admission is accepted only in the Fall semester. 

For more information on the EC-SEBRIS graduate certificate program, visit our website.

Student Blog: Amelia Broome shares her experience in the EC-SEBRIS graduate certificate program

We asked students to blog about their experience with the EC-SEBRIS Graduate Certificate Program. Master of Social Work student Amelia Broome shared her thoughts:

The EC-SEBRIS Program is a wonderful opportunity for those interested in expanding their knowledge in the field of child development. This program is highly educational and practical as it transfers easily to real-world settings, and is supported by strong research and well-established theoretical models. 

The program is fit for working professionals and has partnered with the School of Social Work at San Diego State University, making the EC-SEBRIS program feasible to complete at the graduate level. 

I am in the process of completing my Master of Social Work Degree at San Diego State University, and was fortunate to hear of the opportunity to complete this certificate during the MSW program. 

This opportunity came in a very timely manner, as I have gone through most of my higher education without receiving any specialization or classes in child development. I have known this is to my personal detriment, as the population I would like work with is children! You can imagine my relief knowing I could receive this education and the benefits it will bring.

By completing this program I will have a significantly better understanding of early child development and interventions including, applied behavioral analysis, assessment methods, behavior strategies, treatment planning, attachment, emotion-regulation, and more. 

If you are certain you would like to specialize in working with children, this program is a true investment of your time and will greatly enhance your career development. I am excited for those who choose this program and wish you the best of luck in your journey working with children.

Applications for the certificate program are available Oct. 1st. 

The EC-SEBRIS certificate program is an interdisciplinary program focusing on professional preparation and skills enhancement of early childhood professionals who work with young children who demonstrate socio-emotional and behavioral concerns, and their parents. 

This one-year program is targeted towards working professionals and classes are offered in evenings on two nights each week, and admission is accepted only in the Fall semester. 


For more information on the EC-SEBRIS graduate certificate program, visit our website.

Apply for the EC-SEBRIS Certificate Program

Find out how the EC-SEBRIS Graduate Certificate Program at San Diego State can help you develop as an early childhood professional and propel you forward in your career.

Applications for Fall 2015 are available Oct. 1st.

The Early Childhood Socio-Emotional and Behavior Regulation Intervention Specialist Certificate Program is targeted towards working professionals and classes are offered in evenings on two nights each week. Applications are accepted only in the Fall semester.

18 units from the EC-SEBRIS Certificate can be applied to the MS in Child Development and LPCC.

For more information on our program: 

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Some final thoughts from our graduating EC-SEBRIS students

Here's what our graduating EC-SEBRIS students are taking away from the EC-SEBRIS Graduate Certificate Program:

The EC-SEBRIS program has provided me with a new foundational understanding in early childhood education that has played a crucial and pivotal role when working with both children and families.

–Brook Armstrong

I feel the EC-SEBRIS program has given me in depth knowledge regarding attachment and assessment that will inform my direct practice work with children and families.

    –Alena Cansler

After completing the EC-SEBRIS Certificate Program, I've gained personal growth as well as an expanded lens on early childhood education. I learned many approaches in early intervention and also the importance of reflective practice. It has been beneficial at my workplace as well as at home because I have a preschool-aged daughter.

–Jessica Cardozo

I graduated from San Diego State University with a bachelor’s degree in Child Development.  Earning a degree has helped me advance in the child development field, and this has generated the interest in me to further my education and consider a career as a child development community college professor.  Having the experience of being in the EC-SEBRIS Certificate Program has been exceptionally beneficial not only for my professional growth, but also for my personal development. 

–Juan Miguel Diaz

The EC-SEBRIS program taught me the importance of children's social emotional development. I hope to one day start my own preschool based on the principles I have learned in this program.

–Jessica Frazier

What I gained from the EC-SEBRIS program was a theoretical framework for understanding child development through psychology, and how the first three years of life are critical in shaping who we become in adulthood.

–Serge Galy

I have gained so much knowledge from the program. I learned the effects of having meaningful relationships with families and children and I learned so much about the development and behaviors of children.  All the knowledge I have learned will definitely apply in my life and career!

–Eula Isabelo

The EC-SEBRIS program has been an excellent experience— one of knowledge and insight into the development of children that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

–Sylvia Jimenez

This program has given me the confidence to recognize and respond to behavioral challenges while using ethical and professional standards.

–Vivyana Jordan

I have greatly appreciated the time and effort each professor took with me during my time in this program. The individuals I have had the privilege of getting to know taught me a lot about different interventions, making and implementing plans to help me while working with children in the classroom. I have learned a great deal from the hands on experience that I received while working at my site. My future plan is to work in a preschool setting and eventually open up my own preschool in Texas.

–Brittany Martinez

From the EC-SEBRIS program, I learned to build better relationships with families and to understand and value every child. I also learned to help children with challenging behaviors and to create a regulation plans.

 –Maria Martinez

The EC-SEBRIS program has taught me the importance of socio-emotional development in early childhood, and ways in which to support children with behavioral challenges. This program has given me the necessary skills and abilities to work closely with families in order to support their child’s development.

 –Luciana Pacheco-McEvoy

In just a short year in this program, not only have I gained confidence to become a better educator, but also tremendous knowledge for early childhood intervention and how important it is for community development.

 –Linda Yang

During my experiences in the EC-SEBRIS  program, I have gained so much knowledge from topics like secure attachment, where we gained an understating of the primary regulatory sites in the brain associated with emotional regulation and the role of the early parent-child relationship in the brain development.

–Luis Sanchez

The most important skill I take from the EC-SEBRIS program is the ability to regulate myself, and to stay regulated when presented with extremely difficult behaviors in children (and, let’s be honest, sometimes their parents). I decided not to apply for the master’s program this year, so that I may take some time to explore the field and see where I feel I can make the biggest impact.

 –Megan Sullivan

The EC-SEBRIS Program has taught me so much. I am blessed to have met colleagues, mentors, and teachers that have fueled my passion for the field. Thank You. My school year was much more challenging because my eyes and heart were opened to things I would not have normally seen. However, I am confident that I touched more young lives than I would have normally touched without.   

–Cherryl Vivar

Congratulations to all of our EC-SEBRIS graduates! And good luck in your future careers!