Presented by Deborah MacNamara, Ph.D. and Carissa Muth, Psy.D., CCC, R.Psych and Varleisha D. Lyons, Ph.D, OTD, OTR/L and Caroline Buzanko, Ph.D., R. Psych
Wednesday, May 13, 2026 – Friday, May 15, 2026 | Calgary, ab
Wednesday, May 13, 2026 – Friday, May 15, 2026
8:30am – 4:00pm
Royal Hotel Calgary, Trademark Collection by Wyndham (Formerly the Executive Royal Hotel)
2828 23rd Street NE, Calgary, AB, T2E 8T4
phone: 888.388.3932
website: www.royalhotelcalgary.ca/
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.
8:30am - 11:45am May 13, 2026
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Frustration and aggression are among the most distressing behaviours adults face in children and teens. They can show up as tears, tantrums, temper, hostility, verbal attacks, physical aggression, bullying, shaming, or self-directed harm. While the most extreme acts capture our attention, what is often more concerning is the steady buildup of attacking energy—visible in children’s interactions, language, play, fantasies, and emotional tone.
Traditional behaviour-management approaches often fail with aggressive children, and in many cases make matters worse.
In this presentation, Dr. Deborah MacNamara offers a developmental and relational understanding of frustration and aggression, reframing aggression not as a behaviour problem to control, but as a signal that something essential is missing in a child’s emotional processing. Drawing on attachment science, neuroscience, and developmental theory, this talk helps adults move beyond reacting to incidents and toward addressing the roots of aggression.
Participants will learn how frustration is meant to be processed developmentally, why aggression emerges when that process breaks down, and how adults can set limits and provide leadership without escalating attack or damaging the relationship. Particular attention is given to tantrums in young children, rising aggression in older children and teens, and how to help children learn they can survive the inevitable frustrations and futilities of life.
This presentation is relevant to parents, educators, and helping professionals who want to respond to aggression with clarity, confidence, and compassion—while still holding firm boundaries.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Deborah MacNamara, PhD is a clinical counsellor and educator with more than 25 years’ experience working with children, youth, and adults. She is on faculty at the Neufeld Institute, operates a counselling practice, and speaks regularly about child and adolescent development…
More information: www.neufeldinstitute.org/person/deborah-macnamara/
12:45pm - 4:00pm May 13, 2026
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Play is often treated as optional, frivolous, or something children do once the “real work” of learning and socialization is finished. Yet from a developmental perspective, play is not a luxury—it is how growth happens.
In this presentation, Dr. Deborah MacNamara explores play as one of nature’s most powerful and underappreciated tools for shaping emotion, attachment, and human development. Drawing on developmental science, attachment theory, and neuroscience, this talk reframes play as the primary way children process emotion, build relational safety, and grow into their own persons.
Play—the kind that builds brains and forwards development—is becoming increasingly endangered. Premature pressure to perform, early academic demands, structured activities, and screens have crowded out the emotional playgrounds children need most. At the same time, rates of anxiety, aggression, and emotional stuckness continue to rise.
This presentation helps participants understand why play and emotion are inseparable, how play preserves emotional well-being and attachment, and why the loss of true play has such far-reaching consequences. Rather than offering entertainment ideas or “play strategies,” this talk restores a developmental understanding of play—what it is, what it does, and why humans of all ages depend on it, especially in times of stress.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
8:30am - 11:45am May 14, 2026
COURSE DESCRIPTION
TBA
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
TBA
Dr. Carissa Muth is a registered psychologist in Alberta and British Columbia and the Clinical Director at the Sunshine Coast Health Centre and Georgia Strait Women’s Clinic. She holds Doctorate of Psychology, Master of Arts in Counselling, and Bachelor of…
12:45pm - 4:00pm May 14, 2026
COURSE DESCRIPTION
TBA
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
TBA
8:30am - 4:00pm May 14, 2026
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Self-regulation is foundational to a child’s ability to attend, manage emotions, engage in learning, and participate meaningfully in daily occupations. Yet many children—particularly those with sensory processing differences, trauma histories, neuro developmental conditions, or chronic stress—struggle to regulate their bodies and emotions within home, school, and community environments.
In this immersive one-day workshop, Dr. Varleisha Lyons integrates neuroscience, occupational therapy, and mindfulness-based practice to deepen participants’ understanding of self-regulation across childhood. Drawing on current neurobiological research, participants will explore how the vagus nerve, brain–gut connection, and sensory systems influence emotional control, attention, and resilience. The workshop emphasizes practical, occupation-based strategies that support regulation in real-world contexts such as classrooms, therapy settings, and daily routines.
Through a blend of didactic teaching, video demonstrations, guided experiential activities, and paediatric case studies, participants will learn how to assess self-regulation challenges, identify contributing neurological and sensory factors, and implement evidence-based interventions. Special attention will be given to mindfulness-informed approaches, primitive reflex integration, and co-regulation strategies that can be adapted across developmental stages and clinical presentations.
By the end of the day, participants will leave with a clear, neuroscience-informed framework for supporting self-regulation in children, along with practical tools they can immediately apply in therapeutic, educational, and caregiving roles.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
Varleisha D. Lyons Ph.D, OTD, OTR/L is a renowned occupational therapist, author, and speaker who is deeply passionate about promoting culturally intelligent and spiritually centered mental health care. As a woman of African American and Native American heritage, with ancestral ties…
8:30am - 4:00pm May 15, 2026
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Big feelings don’t have to overwhelm little learners or the adults supporting them. This session gives you practical tools to help children manage emotions and build lasting resilience. Drawing on evidence-based practices, learn strategies you can use in real time and classroom routines that promote safety and connection. You’ll leave ready to prevent meltdowns, respond with confidence, and help children bounce back stronger.
WORKSHOP OUTLINE
Framing the Challenge
Emotional Literacy & Regulation Foundations
III. Anxiety Prevention, Early Identification, and intervention
Integrating Resilience Across Settings
VII. Reflection & Action Planning
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Caroline Buzanko, Ph.D., R. Psych, is a psychologist. Mother. Professor. International Speaker. Yoda of Anxiety. ADHD Superhero. And Changer of Lives. With nearly three decades of experience, she is a recognized expert in resilience and the social, emotional, and behavioural well-being…
| Registration | Super Early Bird Fee | Early Bird Fee | Regular Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| ONE DAY ENROLLMENT | -- | ||
| Individual 1 Day Enrollment | $299.00 | $319.00 | $339.00 |
| 1 Day Group 3-7 | $249.00 | $269.00 | $289.00 |
| 1 Day Group 8-14 | $224.00 | $244.00 | $264.00 |
| 1 Day Group 15+ | $199.00 | $219.00 | $239.00 |
| 1 Day Full-Time Student | $199.00 | $219.00 | $239.00 |
| -- | |||
| TWO DAY ENROLLMENT | -- | ||
| Individual 2 Day Enrollment | $539.00 | $559.00 | $579.00 |
| 2 Day Group 3-7 | $489.00 | $509.00 | $529.00 |
| 2 Day Group 8-14 | $464.00 | $484.00 | $504.00 |
| 2 Day Group 15+ | $439.00 | $459.00 | $479.00 |
| 2 Day Full-Time Student | $439.00 | $459.00 | $479.00 |
| -- | |||
| THREE DAY ENROLLMENT | -- | ||
| Individual 3 Day Enrollment | $719.00 | $739.00 | $759.00 |
| 3 Day Group 3-7 | $669.00 | $689.00 | $709.00 |
| 3 Day Group 8-14 | $644.00 | $664.00 | $684.00 |
| 3 Day Group 15+ | $619.00 | $639.00 | $659.00 |
| 3 Day Full-Time Student | $619.00 | $639.00 | $659.00 |
All fees are per person and in Canadian Dollars ($CAD)
Fees do not include applicable taxes (5% GST).
Super early bird cutoff date: March 13, 2026
To receive the super early bird rate, registration and payment must be received by Friday, March 13, 2026.
Early bird cutoff date: April 13, 2026
To receive the early bird rate, registration and payment must be received by Monday, April 13, 2026.
Please review our Registration Terms and Conditions for information on our cancellation policy, payment policies, rebates, and more. You must agree to our Terms and Conditions to register for a workshop or conference.
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Exhibitors are welcome at this event. We are pleased to offer sponsorship opportunities to businesses and organizations that provide services related to nursing, psychotherapy, addictions treatment, counselling, marriage & family therapy, psychology and other related fields.
→ More information
2828 23rd Street NE, Calgary, AB, T2E 8T4
phone: 888.388.3932
website: www.royalhotelcalgary.ca/
Our rates:
* Please check back at a later time as this information will be updated when corporate/group rates are secured.
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