Workshops and Training
Self-regulation and Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence is now being heralded as the number one predictor of success. It used to be IQ but now it’s EQ, and it’s not as mysterious as you think. Self-regulation is particularly challenging for children, given that the part of the brain responsible for it (the prefrontal cortex) doesn’t finish development until well into the 20s. However, with specific support, guidance, and intervention, self-regulation can be developed. When our children learn that their emotions provide valuable information, they can learn to trust their instincts and use their inner guidance system, rather than becoming overwhelmed by their big feelings. In this workshop, you will learn a combination of theory and hands-on strategies that you can begin to use immediately with your child.
All classes are offered when there is enough interest to run them. If you are interested, please click the button below and you’ll be notified when registration opens for a new class, thanks.
Childhood Anxiety: Causes and Solutions
Anxiety has been gaining a large amount of attention recently, both in the media and in the clinical research, as numbers continue to climb. Recent data shows that 17% of children ages 2-5 years old meet diagnostic criteria for mental health problems. 62% of Ontario youth report ever having had concerns about their level of anxiety, and a staggering 70% of mental health problems have their onset during childhood or adolescence (https://cmho.org/facts-figures/#_edn4).
Interventions for anxiety must be grounded in a solid understanding of the true underlying causes in order to be effective. This workshop draws on the most up to date research on childhood anxiety and provides several options for restoring balance, including: a simple but highly effective communication strategy that parents can use at home, nervous system hacks to get the body out of fight or flight and back into rest and digest, as well as information on safe and natural supplementation clinically proven to be effective.
Problematic Behaviour and Gaining Compliance
Come to this workshop ready to fill your toolbox! This training is loaded with easy to implement strategies that will help you ease your child’s resistance to following instructions. Although there’s no magic wand, you’ll certainly leave this workshop feeling like you have special powers. There will be ample time for you to practice each strategy at home and then return to class for questions and answers to troubleshoot any challenges in implementation.
Learn how to “collect” your child, shape their behaviour, fade out your prompting, create choice when there is no choice, systematically target problem behaviours, say what you want not what you don’t want, capitalize on the difference between a contingency and a bribe, understand the purpose of the behaviour, validate emotions while promoting adaptation, and understand when and how to use loss of privileges as a consequence. Your biggest challenge will be handling your own excitement about the effectiveness of these tools and deciding which one to use first!
Diet and Nutrition: The Relationship Between Behaviour and Food
Scientists and researchers have been studying for decades the relationship between behaviour and food. But not until current times has this connection been given the credit it deserves. Are food sensitivities real? Is sugar really that bad for kids? Would you recognize the signs and symptoms of an essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency in your child? Did you know that EFAs are necessary for healthy brain function and development, and that deficiencies in EFAs are linked to many childhood challenges? Evidence mounts for the role of the gut microbiome in mental health, and many scientists now refer to the gut as the body’s “second brain.” Join me for an exciting review on the real role of food and nutrition in childhood behaviour, and perhaps more importantly, learn what you can do about it right now.
Mindfulness in the Classroom: Practical Strategies for Teachers
Tailored to teachers, this workshop provides a multitude of practical and easy- to-implement strategies for teachers who wish to bring mindfulness into their classroom. Participants will learn specific strategies for each part of the day including: the morning arrival, nutrition break, health and phys.ed, social studies, literacy (read-alouds, story-telling, creative writing, autobiography, journaling), history, geography, earth education, drama, visual arts, social emotional learning, attention, relaxation, inner life, knowledge of self as a learner, and the classroom environment.
De-Escalating Emotionally Distressed Youth: Coping with Trauma
Workshop for Middle School and Secondary School Educators
Working with youth who struggle with trauma, disengagement, addiction, and emotional dysregulation is a challenging position. This workshop offers professional level training and hands-on practice in evidence-based strategies used to communicate, support, and respond to students in a way that encourages them to perceive you as safe. Building a connection is the first step. Adult awareness and ability to recognize the underlying reasons for dysregulation, is the second step in creating an informed response; one which facilitates students to calm the nervous system and subsequently, the emotions and the thoughts, enabling them to learn and engage in practical classroom assignments. Leave this workshop with an expanded awareness, increased knowledge, and practical tools.