Description
By purchasing this product you are registering to attend the conference/this workshop VIRTUALLY if you would like to attend in person please register at http://www.jackhirose.com/workshop/executive-functioning/
This workshop will be live streaming to online participants on April 25, 2025 from 8:30am – 4:00pm (Vancouver, BC)
Please adjust your start time according to your specific time zone.
Recorded footage and all course content (certificate, videos, quiz) will be available until May 27, 2024. Extensions cannot be granted under any circumstances.
Please allow 3 – 10 business days after the course airs for recorded footage to become available.
Registration will close on April 24, 2025.
Do you work with children and adolescents who struggle with attention, organization, transitions, and planning? Are you looking for effective strategies to help students who often act out, get overwhelmed, or struggle to understand the consequences of their actions? These challenges often stem from deficits in Executive Functioning (EF)—a critical set of cognitive skills needed for self-regulation and goal-directed behaviour.
The good news is that Executive Functioning can be taught and strengthened!
In this hands-on workshop, Kathy Morris, M.Ed., B.S., an international speaker, speech therapist, and educator with over 42 years of experience, will guide you through evidence-based strategies to improve EF skills in children and adolescents. Kathy will introduce metacognitive and self-regulation techniques that use visual aids and interactive activities to improve key skills such as:
- Inhibitory Control: Helping students pause before acting to control impulses.
- Adaptability: Building resilience and the ability to cope with changes.
- Mental Flexibility: Encouraging problem-solving and task switching.
- Executive Attention: Improving focus, prioritization, and task completion.
- Emotional Control: Managing frustration and anxiety during emotionally charged situations.
- Social Skills: Enhancing communication and peer interactions.
Welcome & Introduction
- Welcome and introductions
- Overview of workshop objectives and goals
- Introduction to Executive Functioning (EF) and its relevance to child and adolescent development
- Key outcomes: Strengthening self-regulation, focus, emotional control, and social skills
- Participant introductions: Challenges you’re facing and expectations for the day
Part 1: Understanding Executive Functioning (EF) Deficits
- What is Executive Functioning?
- Core components: Inhibitory control, mental flexibility, adaptability, executive attention, emotional control, and social skills
- Brain science behind EF: How EF develops and the impact of EF deficits
- Common causes and conditions associated with EF deficits (e.g., ADHD, Autism, anxiety, trauma)
- The impact of EF deficits on behavior, school performance, and social relationships
- Assessing EF Deficits:
- Identifying signs of EF challenges in children and adolescents
- Case examples of children with different EF deficits
- How EF affects classroom behavior, family dynamics, and peer interactions
Interactive Breakout Activity: Mapping EF Deficits
- Small group activity: Analyze a case study and identify specific EF deficits
- Group discussion: Share insights and strategies for supporting children with EF challenges
Part 2: Strategies for Strengthening Key Executive Functioning Skills
- Inhibitory Control:
- Techniques for impulse control and self-monitoring
- Visual supports: Stop-and-think charts, “pause” reminders, behavior tracking
- Role-play scenarios for practicing controlled decision-making
- Adaptability & Mental Flexibility:
- Tools to promote flexibility in thinking and adaptability to change
- Cognitive restructuring: Helping children reframe thoughts and stay open to new ideas
- Practical strategies for supporting transitions and coping with disruptions
- Executive Attention:
- Attention-enhancing activities: Mindfulness techniques, focus exercises, and visual cues
- Using visual schedules and task breakdowns to improve attention and task completion
- Supporting children in managing distractions and prioritizing tasks
Interactive Activity: Hands-On Strategy Practice
- Participants work in pairs or small groups to design strategies for a real-life student case
- Share strategies and receive feedback from peers and the facilitator
Part 3: Emotional Control & Social Skills Development
- Emotional Control:
- Understanding emotional regulation and its impact on behavior
- Techniques for managing emotional outbursts, frustration, and anxiety (e.g., deep breathing, body scans, self-talk)
- Creating calm-down kits and implementing “cool-down” zones in classrooms and homes
- Social Skills Development:
- Teaching children to navigate social situations with ease
- Using social stories, role-playing, and guided practice to improve communication skills
- Conflict resolution and empathy-building exercises for improving peer relationships
- Social scripting: Structured opportunities for practicing social interactions
Interactive Activity: Social Skills Role-Playing
- Participants role-play social situations and emotional control techniques, using case examples from their own work
- Small groups work together to design social skills training activities and emotional regulation exercises
- Share and discuss role-play feedback
Part 4: Integrating Executive Functioning Strategies into Daily Practice
- Creating an EF-Friendly Environment:
- Designing classrooms, homes, and therapy spaces that promote EF growth
- Organizing routines, using visual schedules, and creating predictable environments
- Incorporating EF strategies into daily activities: Morning routines, homework sessions, family dynamics
- Individualized Plans and Supports:
- Tailoring strategies to meet the needs of individual children
- Using a strengths-based approach to support EF development
- Collaboration: Working with parents, teachers, and other professionals to create a holistic support system
- Tracking Progress:
- Tools for measuring improvement in EF skills (e.g., charts, checklists, behavior logs)
- Adjusting strategies based on progress and setbacks
Interactive Activity: Designing EF Plans
- Participants work individually or in small groups to create an individualized action plan for a child or adolescent they work with
- Plan includes strategies for improving inhibitory control, emotional regulation, social skills, and attention
- Group discussion and feedback
Conclusion & Q&A
- Recap of key strategies and takeaways
- Final questions and answers
- Resources for continued learning and support
By the end of this course, participants will leave with practical, ready-to-use strategies to help children and adolescents strengthen executive functioning skills, manage emotional challenges, and thrive in both academic and social settings.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Understand EF Deficits: Identify key EF areas impacted in children, including attention, emotional regulation, and social skills.
- Apply Effective Strategies: Implement evidence-based techniques to improve inhibitory control, adaptability, and mental flexibility.
- Use Visual & Hands-On Tools: Employ visual supports and activities to enhance planning, organization, and task transitions.
- Strengthen Emotional Regulation: Teach children to manage emotions and reduce outbursts in challenging situations.
- Enhance Social Skills: Implement strategies to help children improve social interactions and peer relationships.
- Improve Executive Attention: Develop strategies to boost focus, concentration, and task management.
- Create Practical EF Plans: Design individualized intervention plans tailored to children’s needs across various environments.
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.
Christine Dargon, Ph.D., is a practicing psychologist with over 20 years of experience. She has been working with children and families for years in such areas as abuse, divorce and custody disputes, children of alcoholic/drug addicted parents and adopted children. She currently has a private practice in Northern AZ where she offers a wide range of psychological services including play therapy, counseling for individuals of all ages, couples and family therapies. Dr. Dargon has also been teaching on the undergraduate and graduate levels for over 15 years specializing in Child Development and Counseling. She is currently on faculty at Grand Canyon University serving students in the Masters’ of Counseling Psychology Program and undergraduate programs as well as Ashford University teaching undergraduate courses. Dr. Dargon received her Doctorate of Counseling Psychology from Seton Hall University with a specialization in Family Therapy, her Masters’ of Science in Education in Counseling and Personnel Services from Fordham University with a focus in School Counseling and her Bachelors’ in Psychology and Sociology from The University of Connecticut. She is also a member of the Association for Play Therapy. Dr. Dargon is the Founder and Director of a Children’s’ Theater Company and served for years as the Director of the Drama program at a large metropolitan high school on the east coast. She has much training and experience with Drama and Dance and now integrates that into her therapeutic work.
| Registration | Early bird Fee | Regular Fee |
|---|
| Individual Enrollment | $244.00 | N/A |
| Group 3 - 7 | $194.00 | N/A |
| Group 8 - 15 | $169.00 | N/A |
| Group 15+ | $144.00 | N/A |
| Full-Time Student | $144.00 | N/A |
All fees are in Canadian dollars ($CAD) and per person.
Group rates and student discounts are available. Please contact webinars@jackhirose.com for more information.
Fees are per person, seat sharing is not allowed. Please respect this policy, failure to comply will result in termination of access without a refund. For group rates please contact webinars@jackhirose.com
