Anxiety, Social Media, and AI: Practical Strategies for Educators and Mental Health Professionals

Presented by Lisa Porter, DCP, CCC, CCS

Thursday, November 26, 2026 – Friday, November 27, 2026  |  Richmond, bc

Date & Location

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health concerns affecting children and adolescents, yet it is often misunderstood or overlooked in educational and clinical settings. While some young people experience anxiety through excessive worry, avoidance, or perfectionism, others present with irritability, emotional outbursts, oppositional behaviour, school refusal, physical complaints, or difficulties with attention and emotional regulation. At the same time, social media, smartphones, artificial intelligence, and constant digital connectivity are reshaping how young people experience stress, relationships, identity, learning, and help-seeking. Educators and mental health professionals are increasingly being called upon to recognize these evolving presentations of anxiety and respond in ways that promote resilience and wellbeing.

This practical two-day workshop provides evidence-informed strategies for understanding, recognizing, and responding to anxiety in children and adolescents across educational and clinical settings. Participants will explore the developmental foundations of anxiety while examining how social media, artificial intelligence, and digital technologies can both contribute to and alleviate stress. The workshop will also examine how anxiety may present externally through behaviour, academic difficulties, emotional dysregulation, and interpersonal challenges, helping participants recognize presentations that are often mistaken for defiance, disengagement, or lack of motivation.

Drawing on current research, case studies, and practical applications, participants will develop effective approaches for supporting anxious children and adolescents in schools, counselling settings, healthcare environments, and community programs. The workshop will explore practical intervention strategies, collaboration with families and interdisciplinary teams, classroom and counselling approaches that foster emotional safety, and the ethical considerations surrounding emerging digital technologies. Throughout the workshop, participants will learn practical strategies that can be implemented immediately to better understand anxiety, strengthen resilience, and support healthy development in an increasingly digital world.

Who Should Attend

Education and Clinical Professionals: K–12 Classroom Teachers, School Counsellors/Psychologists, Learning Assistance/ Resource Teachers, School Administrators, School Paraprofessionals including Special Education Assistants, Classroom Assistants and Childcare Workers. All other professionals who support students 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 Early Childhood Educators.

Learning Objectives

• Describe the developmental foundations of anxiety in children and adolescents, including how anxiety may present through both internalized and externalized behaviours across educational and clinical settings.
• Examine current evidence regarding the relationship between anxiety, social media, artificial intelligence, and digital technologies, including factors that may contribute to both risk and resilience.
• Recognize the diverse ways anxiety may present in school, community, and clinical settings, and distinguish anxiety from other behavioural, emotional, and learning concerns.
• Apply practical, evidence-informed strategies to support children and adolescents experiencing anxiety, while promoting resilience, emotional regulation, healthy coping, and positive engagement across educational and clinical environments.
• Develop collaborative approaches for working with families, educators, and mental health professionals while evaluating emerging issues related to artificial intelligence, digital wellbeing, ethical practice, and technology-supported mental health care.

Your Presenter

Lisa Porter, DCP, CCC, CCS

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).

Registration & Fees