Description
LIVE STREAM: April 28 – 30, 2025 from 8:30am – 4:00pm (Vancouver, 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 June 2, 2025. Please allow 3 – 10 business days for footage to be processed. Extensions cannot be granted under any circumstances.
Registration will close April 27, 2025.
Monday, April 28, 2025 | Day One
Oppositional, Defiant and Explosive Behaviours: Transforming Challenges for Long Term Success
PRESENTED BY Caroline Buzanko, Ph.D., R. Psych
While occasional defiance and emotional outbursts are a normal part of child development, they become concerning when they are frequent, intense, and interfere with a child’s ability to function at home, school, or in relationships. Behavioural disorders are the most common mental health issue in children, often co-occurring with other conditions, and can lead to long-term difficulties if left unaddressed.
Early intervention is key to promoting social, emotional, and behavioural well-being. This workshop is designed for anyone working with children and youth facing behavioural challenges, including clinicians, educators, and families. Participants will gain an understanding of these behaviours, their root causes, and the limitations of current approaches. The workshop will also provide practical, evidence-based strategies that can be immediately applied to support children and youth in various settings. Boost your confidence with creating positive, supportive environments that encourage desirable behaviours, enhance communication, and foster conflict resolution skills.
Anxiety Solutions: Practical Strategies for Resilience, Confidence and Coping Skills in Children and Youth
Anxiety has reached epidemic levels and is now the most common mental health challenge among children and teens. Unfortunately, many children go untreated until anxiety escalates into more severe issues, such as depression, social difficulties, and behavioural problems. Early intervention is crucial, but many parents, teachers, and professionals miss the signs of anxiety or unintentionally reinforce the anxiety cycle.
This workshop is designed for anyone working with children and teens struggling with anxiety. Through a transdiagnostic lens, participants will gain a deep understanding of how anxiety manifests and how to intervene effectively. Special attention will be given to the unique stressors faced by children and adolescents today, including pressures from technology and social media. Participants will also learn why common strategies may inadvertently worsen anxiety and, more importantly, how to help kids build resilience, confidence, and coping skills to overcome their fears.
This workshop will provide clinicians, educators, and families with the tools needed to address and manage anxiety in children and teens effectively. Participants will leave with practical strategies, a deeper understanding of anxiety, and confidence in their ability to support young people in building resilience and overcoming fear.
Tuesday, April 29, 2025 | Day Two
Understanding Autism and Social Communication Disorder
PRESENTED BY Cara Daily, Ph.D.
In Part 1 of this one-day workshop, participants will gain an in-depth understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Social Communication Disorder (SCD). Autism expert and author Cara Daily, PhD, BCBA will guide attendees through the diagnostic criteria, assessment tools, and the brain function related to both disorders, providing participants with a strong foundation for working with children and adolescents on the autism spectrum.
This session will focus on recognizing the unique behaviors and challenges individuals with ASD and SCD face. Participants will learn how to differentiate between autism and social communication disorder, as well as how to assess and diagnose these conditions using tools like the DSM-5® and ICD-11. Attendees will also explore the various comorbidities that may accompany these disorders, such as ADHD, learning disorders, and intellectual disabilities.
Through hands-on activities, participants will experience firsthand what it’s like to live with ASD, examining the challenges their clients, students, or patients face. This workshop will also explore brain function in autism, allowing participants to grasp the neurological underpinnings that contribute to the social communication and behavioral difficulties seen in individuals with autism.
Managing Challenging Behaviours and Enhancing Social Communication: Evidence-Based Interventions and Practical Strategies for ASD and SCD
Part 2 of this one-day workshop will focus on evidence-based interventions and practical strategies for managing challenging behaviors and enhancing social communication in children, adolescents, and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Social Communication Disorder (SCD). Building on the foundational knowledge from Part 1, this session will focus on practical, hands-on tools to support behavior change, teach social communication skills, and create supportive environments in home, school, and community settings.
Dr. Cara Marker Daily will explore behavioral strategies like Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), as well as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for promoting self-regulation and reducing anxiety. Participants will learn how to integrate social communication interventions such as PECS, turn-taking, and social skills training into their practices.
Additionally, participants will focus on modifying environmental factors (both home and classroom settings) to support the individual’s growth and behavior management. Emphasis will be placed on creating environments that promote social skills development and reduce triggers for challenging behaviors. Special attention will also be given to preparing children and young adults with ASD and SCD for independent living and adulthood, addressing topics like sex education, work readiness, and transitioning to the workforce.
Wednesday, April 30, 2025 | Day Three
Intervention Strategies to Improve Self-Regulation and Executive Function
PRESENTED BY Kathy Morris, M.Ed.
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.
De-Escalating Behaviour in the Classroom: Intervention Strategies for After the Meltdown
Witnessing a child spiral into an emotional meltdown can be one of the most challenging moments in the classroom. Children with autism, ADHD, and other executive function difficulties often struggle with emotional regulation, leading to outbursts that disrupt learning and social interactions. These behaviours can leave educators, parents, and caregivers feeling frustrated and uncertain about how to help.
This 3-hour workshop is designed for educators, parents, and caregivers who want to learn effective, research-based strategies for intervening when a child’s behaviour escalates. If you’ve seen children removed from class or sent to timeout, missing valuable learning and social time, this session will provide the tools you need to respond more effectively.
Led by Kathy Morris, M.Ed., B.S., a seasoned expert with over 45 years of experience working with children with autism, ADHD, and other neurodevelopmental challenges, this workshop offers practical strategies for managing meltdowns, tantrums, and challenging behaviours caused by sensory overload and emotional dysregulation.
Participants will learn how to use visual supports, hands-on techniques, and structured routines to help children regain self-regulation and prevent future outbursts. The course focuses on fostering positive behaviours, enhancing self-regulation skills, and improving the overall quality of life for neurodiverse children.
By the end of the workshop, you’ll have an actionable plan and the tools needed to de-escalate behaviour, support emotional regulation, and guide children toward positive replacement behaviours—helping them thrive both academically and socially.
