Description
LIVE STREAM: June 11 – 12, 2026 from 8:30am – 4:00pm (Whitehorse, YT) Please adjust your start time according to your specific time zone.
ON-DEMAND: Recorded footage & course content (certificate, videos, quiz) will be available until July 20, 2026. Please allow 3 – 10 business days for footage to be processed. Extensions cannot be granted under any circumstances.
June 11, 2026 | Day One
Integrating Neuropsychology, CBT, DBT, Narrative and Meaning-Focused Therapy to Heal Traumatic Wounds, Addictions and Other Mental Health Disorders
Presented by Carissa Muth, Psy.D., CCC, R.Psych
This workshop, led by Dr. Carissa Muth, offers an integrative roadmap for treating complex comorbidities where single-modality approaches often fail. Participants will begin by exploring the neurobiological underpinnings of trauma and addiction, learning how these conditions impact the brain’s executive functioning and reward systems. Building on this foundation, the course demonstrates how to sequence interventions, utilizing DBT skills for initial physiological stabilization and CBT for identifying and restructuring maladaptive cognitions. Dr. Muth will then guide clinicians in applying Narrative Therapy techniques to externalize the shame-based identities often found in survivors of trauma and substance use disorders. The training culminates in Meaning-Focused strategies that help clients reconstruct a sense of purpose and a coherent identity beyond their diagnosis. Through complex case studies and integrated treatment planning, attendees will learn to weave these distinct threads into a cohesive, personalized healing journey for high-acuity clients.
Healing through Tradition: Reclaiming Culture, Identity, and Spirituality
Presented by Varleisha D. Lyons, Ph.D, OTD, OTR/L
Join internationally respected occupational therapist and researcher Dr. Varleisha (Gibbs) Lyons for a powerful one-day clinical workshop in Whitehorse, Yukon, exploring the intersection of trauma, culture, identity, and spirituality in healing. Grounded in Indigenous perspectives and informed by neuroscience and clinical practice, this training will help professionals deepen their understanding of intergenerational trauma and the role of cultural reconnection in restoring well-being.
Participants will examine the historical and ongoing impacts of colonization, cultural disruption, and systemic inequities on identity formation, mental health, and community wellness. Dr. Lyons will guide attendees through the role of spirituality, ceremony, storytelling, and traditional knowledge as powerful pathways for resilience and recovery. Emphasis will be placed on how clinicians and helping professionals can respectfully integrate cultural awareness and Indigenous-informed practices into therapeutic and community-based work.
Held in person in Whitehorse, this workshop offers a unique opportunity to learn and reflect within the cultural and natural context of the North. Being together in the Yukon allows participants to engage in meaningful dialogue, shared reflection, and experiential learning that simply cannot be replicated online. Participants will connect with fellow professionals serving northern and rural communities while exploring how the land, culture, and community relationships support healing and resilience.
This training is designed for clinicians, educators, and community practitioners who want to strengthen culturally responsive approaches and develop deeper insight into trauma-informed and culturally grounded healing practices.
June 12, 2026 | Day Two
Treating Anxiety, Depression, Worry and Stress in Children and Adolescents
Presented by Carissa Muth, Psy.D., CCC, R.Psych
In this comprehensive training, Dr. Carissa Muth addresses the escalating crisis of internalizing disorders in youth, providing clinicians with a robust framework for treating anxiety, depression, and chronic stress. Moving beyond standard “talk therapy,” the course adapts evidence-based protocols—specifically Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)—to match the developmental needs of children and teenagers. Participants will learn to distinguish between normal developmental fears and clinical diagnoses, avoiding the common trap of pathologizing growing pains while ensuring acute distress is not overlooked. Dr. Muth places special emphasis on the “family system,” teaching therapists how to coach parents out of “accommodation behaviors” that inadvertently feed a child’s anxiety. The workshop also covers practical strategies for addressing the unique presentation of childhood depression, which often masks as irritability or somatic complaints rather than sadness. Finally, attendees will leave with a toolkit of creative, play-based, and somatic interventions to engage resistant youth and build lifelong resilience.
Working with Highly Dysregulated Children and Adolescents: Practical Strategies and Interventions
Presented by Varleisha D. Lyons, Ph.D, OTD, OTR/L
Embark on an illuminating learning experience with sought-after occupational therapist Dr. Varleisha (Gibbs) Lyons, PhD, OTD, OTR/L, ASDCS, FAOTA, as she guides participants through a transformative six-hour workshop focused on understanding and supporting highly dysregulated children and adolescents. Dr. Lyons will explore how to select effective interventions for young people displaying challenging behaviours such as hyperactivity, aggression, self-stimulatory behaviours, impulsivity, emotional outbursts, and inattentiveness.
Through an engaging, evidence-based presentation, participants will develop a deeper understanding of the connection between neuroscience, sensory processing, and self-regulation. Dr. Lyons will explain how the developing brain and nervous system influence behaviour, emotional control, and daily functioning, helping professionals better interpret what children’s behaviours are communicating and how to respond effectively.
Participants will also be introduced to practical self-regulation and mindfulness-based strategies designed to support children and adolescents across a wide range of environments. These approaches are applicable for professionals working in clinical, community, educational, and family-support settings who are looking to strengthen emotional regulation and coping skills in the youth they support.
Throughout this immersive workshop, attendees will explore the neurobiology of regulation and the role of sensory-based strategies, tools, and techniques that can help children manage overwhelming emotions and behaviours. The session will address common diagnoses associated with regulation challenges—including sensory processing differences, trauma, autism spectrum disorder, and ADHD—and examine a variety of supportive approaches such as mindfulness practices, social-skill development, music and movement activities, and breathing-based regulation strategies.
This in-person workshop is hosted in Whitehorse, Yukon, providing a valuable opportunity for professionals in the North to access high-quality training without needing to travel long distances. Bringing together educators, clinicians, and community professionals from across the Yukon and Northern communities, this event will foster meaningful connection, collaboration, and discussion around supporting children and adolescents experiencing emotional and sensory regulation challenges.
Join Dr. Varleisha (Gibbs) Lyons for this engaging and practical workshop and gain valuable insights and tools to better understand dysregulation, strengthen resilience, and support healthier emotional and behavioural development in children and adolescents.
