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The Western Canadian Mental Health & Education Summit | Day Three [Calgary, AB]

$229.00

6 Hours  |   Pre-approved for CEU’s

Presenter
Presented by Caroline Buzanko, Ph.D., R. Psych, and Varleisha D. Lyons, Ph.D, OTD, OTR/L
Date and Format
November 6, 2026
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LIVE STREAM: November 6, 2026 from  8:30am – 4:00pm (Calgary AB) Please adjust your start time according to your specific time zone. 

ON-DEMAND: Recorded footage & course content (certificate, videos, quiz) will be available until December 20, 2027. Please allow 3 – 10 business days for footage to be processed. Extensions cannot be granted under any circumstances.

Day Three – November 6, 2026

5. Navigating the Digital Ecosystem: Fostering Child & Youth Resilience in the Age of Screens, Social Media, and AI
Presented by Caroline Buzanko, Ph.D., R. Psych

8:30am – 4:00pm   November 6, 2026

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION

The digital landscape has fundamentally changed child and adolescent development, shifting the clinical and educational focus from merely tracking screen time to understanding complex, immersive digital ecosystems. Engagement-based designs, such as infinite scroll, autoplay, and algorithms, compete for youth attention, often crowding out essential developmental activities like sleep, physical play, and face-to-face connection. Furthermore, the rapid integration of conversational AI chatbots as social companions introduces unique vulnerabilities, including emotional dependency, exposure to misinformation, and the displacement of real-world critical thinking.

This advanced workshop provides a deep dive into the neurobiological, psychological, and systemic mechanisms driving digital harms. Participants will move beyond simple fear-based restriction to embrace Digital Well-Being Literacy, equipping youth to engage with technology in thoughtful, self-regulated ways. Attendees will learn evidence-based clinical frameworks for screen dependency, how to set fair phone rules, and guide youth through healthy screen habits.

6. Supporting Children and Youth Through an Indigenous Trauma-Informed Framework
Presented by Varleisha D. Lyons, Ph.D, OTD, OTR/L

8:30am – 4:00pm   November 6, 2026

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION

Join internationally respected occupational therapist and researcher Dr. Varleisha (Gibbs) Lyons for a transformative one-day workshop exploring how trauma-informed, culturally responsive, spiritually grounded, and strengths-based approaches can better support children, youth, families, and communities.

Drawing upon Indigenous knowledge, contemporary trauma research, neuroscience, and occupational therapy practice, Dr. Lyons will help participants move beyond deficit-based and pathologizing approaches toward a deeper understanding of how trauma influences behaviour, emotional regulation, relationships, learning, and well-being. Participants will examine the impact of experiences such as racism, poverty, sexism, discrimination, violence, and colonialism while recognizing the resilience and strengths children and youth bring to their healing journeys.

Participants will explore practical approaches that help children, youth, families, and communities better understand and respond to daily stressors and triggers while strengthening coping skills, emotional regulation, connection, healing, and resilience. Attendees will also learn how Indigenous perspectives on wellness, spirituality, relationships, and community can enhance trauma-informed practice across educational, clinical, and community settings.

Designed for educators, counsellors, social workers, psychologists, occupational therapists, youth workers, healthcare professionals, and community practitioners, this workshop offers practical tools for creating supportive environments that foster belonging, well-being, and positive outcomes for all children and youth.

  • Explain how too much screen time affects the brain, social/emotional well-being, and physical health.
  • Evaluate the psychological risks and developmental paradoxes of persuasive technological design, social media algorithms, and the emerging use of AI chatbots as emotional companions.
  • Implement evidence-based clinical frameworks to help kids break bad screen habits, handle their emotions, and learn better social skills.
  • Help families move from strict punishments to teamwork to guide technology use.
  • Create clear, school-wide phone policies and use effective classroom strategies to improve focus and learning.
  • Formulate holistic, practical strategies that build offline resilience, prioritize tech-free zones, and promote emotional regulation and face-to-face social connection.
  • Describe the historical foundations of intergenerational traumaand its impact on identity, mental health, and community well-being.
  • Explain the role of spirituality, storytelling, and traditional practicesin Indigenous approaches to healing and resilience.
  • Recognize the importance of cultural identity and belongingin supporting emotional and psychological recovery.
  • Apply culturally responsive strategiesthat strengthen therapeutic and helping relationships with individuals and families.
  • Identify ways to integrate culturally grounded perspectivesinto clinical, educational, and community-based practice.
  • Understand the role of youth mentorship and cultural continuityin fostering long-term resilience within communities.

Caroline Buzanko, Ph.D., R. Psych, is a psychologist. Mother. Professor. International Speaker. Yoda of Anxiety. ADHD Superhero. And Changer of Lives. With nearly three decades of experience, she is a recognized expert in resilience and the social, emotional, and behavioural well-being of children and teens. In 2024, Dr. Caroline was honoured as Alberta’s Psychologist of the Year for her exceptional contributions to the field.

Known for her dynamic, engaging style, Dr. Caroline has a knack for simplifying complex challenges and equipping professionals with practical tools that make a real difference. Her workshops go beyond theory, providing strategies that educators, caregivers, and mental health professionals can use immediately to support children and teens facing any challenge.

Through her work at Koru Family Psychology and research at Athabasca University, Dr. Caroline’s mission is clear: to help every child unlock their potential, build confidence, and embrace resilience. When you train with Dr. Caroline, expect to be inspired, empowered, and ready to create a world where everyone thrives.

Varleisha D. Lyons Ph.D, OTD, OTR/L is a renowned occupational therapist, author, and speaker who is deeply passionate about promoting culturally intelligent and spiritually centered mental health care. As a woman of African American and Native American heritage, with ancestral ties to the Haliwa-Saponi tribe through her grandmother, Dr. Lyons is dedicated to integrating Indigenous spiritual practices into modern therapeutic frameworks.

Her work is rooted in a commitment to honoring diverse traditions and creating holistic approaches that address the mind, body, and spirit. She draws inspiration from practices such as storytelling, nature-based rituals, and ancestral healing, advocating for their inclusion in contemporary mental health systems.

Dr. Lyons is a tireless advocate for mental health parity and equity, particularly for underserved communities of Indigenous and African descent. Her mission is to bridge traditional healing practices with modern therapeutic methods, fostering understanding and respect for cultural identity and spiritual connection.

As a highly sought-after speaker and author, Dr. Lyons empowers audiences worldwide to embrace diversity, advocate for systemic change, and celebrate the intersection of heritage and healing in occupational therapy and beyond.

Education and Clinical Professionals: All education and mental health or healthcare professionals who work with children or youth including, but not limited to K–12 Classroom Teachers, School Counsellors, Learning Assistance/Resource Teachers, School Administrators, School Paraprofessionals including Special Education Assistants, Classroom Assistants and Childcare Workers • All other professionals who support behavioural challenges and complex learning needs including but not limited to: Nurses, Social Workers, Psychologists, Clinical Counsellors, Family Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists, Addiction Counsellors, Youth Workers, Mental Health Workers, Probation Officers and Community Police Officers.

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