Heart-Centered Connections - by Niki Elliott (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A transformative guide for anyone working with the child who is left out, left behind, or labeled "difficult."

Heart-Centered Connections teaches the best practices to support kids who are misunderstood and marginalized--those who are neurodivergent, have a learning disability, or are trauma survivors. They have extraordinary potential waiting to be unleashed.

Heart-Centered Connections is based on decades of groundbreaking research with over 1,000 child-serving professionals--principals, teachers, foster care program directors, social workers, and parents. Dr. Elliott offers seven pillars that will help you create environments where kids can achieve their full potential. Children mirror adults' emotions, which is why the first pillar is Self-Awareness. What is your state when you engage with the child? Other pillars include Interpersonal Awareness, Neuroinclusive Spaces, Activated Genius, Engaged Learning, Mindful Communication, and Heart-Centered Repair. You will learn how to:

- Increase your ability to handle stress so you remain composed when a child acts out
- Establish stronger bonds, even with kids who initially seem defiant
- Teach in a way that creates joy and confidence
- Design neuroinclusive environments in which youth of all abilities can flourish
- View the child from a new perspective, offering them choice and dignity
- Help the child settle their nervous system state so they can focus and learn

In this practical book, Dr. Elliott brings clear guidance and a hopeful message: when safety, compassion, and trust come first, real learning can begin. Heart-Centered Connections shows you how to create that foundation.

About the Author

Dr. Niki Elliott has taught students of all ages for more than 30 years. She is a staunch advocate for students whose lived experiences include learning disabilities, mental health diagnoses, foster care placement, and racialized marginalization. As a sought-after educator, keynote speaker, retreat facilitator, and curriculum developer, Dr. Elliott's unique approach to integrating applied educational neuroscience with mind-body nervous system wellness has supported thousands of child-serving professionals and parents around the world. Dr. Elliott delivers her teachings through the Heart-Centered Connections curriculum, which offers professional certificates through the University of San Diego, where she serves as Director for the Center for Embodied Equity and Neurodiversity. She holds a doctorate in education from UCLA in addition to certifications in yoga, mindfulness meditation, and clinical breathwork. She is a native of Southern California, where she resides with her family.