LIVE STREAM: October 28, 2026 from 8:30am – 4:00pm (Victoria, BC) 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 7, 2026. Please allow 3 – 10 business days for footage to be processed. Extensions cannot be granted under any circumstances.
Welcome to The Student-Based Mental Health and Education Summit: Fostering Resilience Through Indigenous Perspectives for At-Risk, Highly Dysregulated, and Technology-Saturated Children and Youth.
On behalf of Jack Hirose & Associates, welcome and thank you for joining us. We are delighted to bring together educators, counsellors, therapists, administrators, and helping professionals from across Canada for three days of practical, evidence-informed learning.
Throughout the conference, you will explore practical strategies for supporting children and youth facing trauma, emotional dysregulation, mental health challenges, and the impacts of today’s digital world, while gaining valuable insights grounded in Indigenous perspectives and resilience-focused practices.
We hope you enjoy both the conference and your time in Victoria, and leave feeling inspired, connected, and equipped with new ideas to support the children and youth in your communities.
Day One | October 28, 2026
Digital Wellness in an AI Era: Practical Strategies for Educators and Clinicians
Presented by Lisa Porter, DCP, CCC, CCS
8:30am – 4:00pm October 28, 2026
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION
Children, adolescents, and adults are navigating a world increasingly shaped by social media, smartphones, artificial intelligence, and constant digital connectivity. These technologies are influencing how people learn, communicate, form relationships, seek support, and experience mental health challenges. Educators and clinicians are often left wondering how to respond effectively while supporting wellbeing in a rapidly changing environment.
This practical workshop provides evidence-informed strategies for promoting digital wellness in schools, counselling settings, healthcare environments, and community programs. Participants will explore the relationship between technology use and mental health, including concerns related to anxiety, depression, social comparison, sleep disruption, attention difficulties, cyberbullying, FoMO, emotional regulation, and social connection.
Drawing on current research and real-world examples, the workshop will examine how artificial intelligence and digital technologies are changing learning, help-seeking behaviours, and interpersonal relationships. Participants will learn practical approaches for supporting healthy technology habits, strengthening resilience, fostering critical thinking, and helping young people navigate online spaces safely and responsibly.
The workshop will also address emerging issues such as AI companionship, academic integrity in the age of generative AI, and the ethical considerations surrounding the use of AI in educational and clinical settings. Rather than focusing solely on restricting technology use, participants will explore ways to work with these tools constructively while maintaining the human connection that remains central to learning, development, and therapeutic change.
Through case studies, discussion, and practical applications, attendees will leave with concrete strategies that can be implemented immediately to support mental health, digital wellbeing, and healthy engagement with technology across a variety of educational and clinical contexts.
Welcome and Introduction
Overview of the day, learning objectives, and the changing digital landscape.
Understanding Today’s Digital World
How smartphones, social media, artificial intelligence, and constant connectivity are reshaping learning, communication, relationships, and wellbeing.
The Impact of Technology on Mental Health
Current research on anxiety, depression, attention, sleep, emotional regulation, social comparison, FoMO, cyberbullying, and digital dependency.
Recognizing Risks and Building Protective Factors
Understanding resilience, healthy technology use, and factors that support positive mental health in a digital age.
Supporting Healthy Digital Habits
Practical strategies for educators, clinicians, and caregivers to promote balanced and intentional technology use.
Digital Citizenship, Critical Thinking, and AI
Helping children, youth, and adults navigate online information, artificial intelligence, digital relationships, and responsible online behaviour.
Supporting Families, Schools, and Clinical Practice
Evidence-informed approaches for addressing online help-seeking, AI companionship, self-regulation, and technology-related concerns.
Ethical and Responsible Technology Use
Privacy, digital safety, academic integrity, and ethical applications of AI in education and clinical practice.
Maintaining Human Connection in a Digital World
Strategies for balancing technology with meaningful relationships, wellbeing, and healthy development.
Action Planning and Practical Resources
Develop an individualized action plan, explore evidence-based resources and tools, and participate in a facilitated question-and-answer session.
Lisa Porter, DCP, CCC, CCS, started her career as a high school teacher, working in the public education in both Alberta and BC. She later transitioned into high school counselling, where she spent ten years supporting student mental health and wellbeing. Upon completing her doctoral degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy, Lisa moved into higher education and now teaches in both Master of Education and Master of Counselling programs, preparing future educators and mental health professionals for professional practice.
Lisa’s research and professional presentations focus on the impact of social media, artificial intelligence, and digital technologies on mental health, education, and professional practice. Her work emphasizes practical, evidence-informed approaches that help educators and clinicians respond thoughtfully to the opportunities and challenges presented by emerging technologies. Her other research interests include harmonizing practitioner and scholar models in higher education, collaborative leadership within complex systems, and promoting youth voice in education and mental health. Lisa is co-author and co-editor of School Counselling in Canada: A Comprehensive Guide (2025).
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.
