CES Sessions
All sessions are offered at no cost.
Community Education Service acknowledges that the land on which we virtually gather is the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta. The City of Calgary is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3.
Unmasking ADHD in Girls: Insights, Strategies, and Next Steps ***please register using the poster only***
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Presented by:
Dr. Alethea Heudes, Registered Psychologist
This presentation explores how ADHD can present differently in girls — often overlooked or misunderstood — and how it impacts their day-to-day lives. Participants will leave with strategies, tools, and guidance on next steps for seeking a diagnosis and/or accessing support
Can We Talk: Sexual Health and Parenting ***please register using the poster only***
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Presented By:
Diana Wark (She/Her), Parent Program Coordinator for Centre for Sexuality
Join us for an interactive workshop to learn how to navigate those sometimes awkward but essential conversations that foster well-being, healthy relationships and informed decision-making. We empower parents with knowledge, skills and confidence to engage in open, honest and supportive conversations about sexuality and sexual health with their children.
This session provides tools to clarify and talk about family values around sexuality and sexual health, explore the role of parents and schools in sexual health education and discuss the concept of sexuality wholistically
Navigating Technology with our Youth ***please register using the poster only***
Noon - 1:30 PM
Presented by:
Andrea Halwas, BA, MFA, PhD, REACE, Registered Expressive Arts Therapy Consultant, Associate Therapist & Educational Coordinator at Juno House
In this 1.5 hour presentation, we will discuss the role of technology and today’s youth. The message of this presentation is not only based on technology, but also about a child’s healthy brain development and the necessary parenting/caregiver role in creating healthy, emotional, regulated, and integrated brains. This presentation will address the underpinning of a child’s emotional brain development and how to grow it, as well as how technology can dangerously hijack this.
We believe that talking does not grow neurons; experience grows neurons. This workshop is designed to give attendees the skills to become their child’s emotional coach. The workshop will provide participants with:
• An understanding of the basic neuroscience behind healthy brain development,
• The dangers of technology for healthy brain development,
• Technology use rules that will help your child
• When building healthy brains, how to identify emotions in your child/student, and
• How to become your child’s/student’s emotional coach in only five steps and in that, build a resilient child.
The presentation is facilitated by a therapist from Juno House who has years of both clinical and facilitating experience. Juno House was founded in 2008 as a Centre of Excellence for adolescent girls and young women who are experiencing anxiety-based mental health issues of self harm, obsessive compulsive disorders, depression and eating disorders.
Is Your Child Struggling at School? It May Be Time for a Psychoeducational Assessment ***please register using the poster only***
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Presented By:
Tanya Keto (MEd), Co-Clinic Director AVERY Family and School Psychology Services Registered Psychologist
Psychoeducational assessments combine standardized assessments of a child’s intellectual and academic abilities and behavioural rating scales with the dynamic clinical judgment of a trained psychologist to determine the what, how, and why of struggling students. This process measures overall aptitude and academic achievement in core academic skills, as well as any additional factors that may impact a child's performance at school (e.g., attention and concentration, learning disabilities, mood, anxiety, etc.), and provides strategies to support them.
Whether a diagnosis is made or not, the information can be used to identify what the student needs to reach their potential. This session will take a deep dive into what teachers need to know about the psychoeducational process including:
• The psychological processes that underlie learning to read, write, and do math
• The specific academic skills being investigated including reading, writing, math, language, etc.
• Aspects of social/emotional and behavioural functioning that may be impacting the student, including attention and concentration, depression, anxiety, etc.
• The diagnostic process
• Recommendations, strategies, and accommodations
• Using the psychoeducational assessment report for Individual Education/Program Planning (IPPs, IEPs, etc.)
Level Up: Exploring the Impacts of Gaming on Adolescent Learning and Cognition ***please register using the poster only***
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Presented by:
Stephen Sills, Registered Psychologist
A presentation about benefits and consequences associated with playing video games during adolescence. We will cover some of the recent scientific literature and recommendations for helping adolescents navigate this ever-expanding genre of entertainment and socialization.
Building Resiliency in Today's Youth ***please register using the poster only***
Noon - 1:30 PM
Presented by: Andrea Halwas, BA, MFA, PhD, REACE, Registered Expressive Arts Therapy Consultant, Associate Therapist & Educational Coordinator at Juno House
Brought to you by specialists in Girls' Mental Health
Before High School graduation, one-third of adolescent girls will experience depression, anxiety disorders, self-harm or an eating disorder. However, there is an incredible power in caregivers who can support our youth, both young women and men, before they seek therapy.
At Juno House®, we believe in the extraordinary healing power of parents, caregivers, coaches, and teachers. In our 1.5 hour workshop presentation, we will share steps and strategies from the Juno House Therapeutic Model® that will provide effective emotional coaching tools for today’s youth as they develop through adolescence and into young adulthood.
We believe that talking does not grow neurons; experience grows neurons. This workshop is designed to give caregivers the skills to become their child’s emotional coach. The workshop will provide participants with:
• Basic introduction of interpersonal neurobiology,
• Where emotions live in our brains,
• The essential role emotions play in mental well being,
• How to identify emotions in youth,
• How to become an emotional coach in only five steps.
Cyber Safety ***please register using the poster only***
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Presenter: Adriana Dewar, B.A., M.A., Community Outreach Coordinator, YouthLink Calgary Police Interpretive Centre
Are you and your family cyber-safe?
In today's interconnected world, the internet and social media have revolutionized the way we connect and learn. However, with limited oversight, these digital realms also pose potential risks such as privacy breaches, cyberbullying, sextortion, and criminal activities.
YouthLink Calgary presents an essential program designed to empower parents and guardians with the tools needed to ensure your family's online safety.
Executive Functioning Essentials for Parents ***please register using the poster only***
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Presented By: Tanya Keto (MEd), Registered Psychologist
Clinic Director of AVERY Family and School Psychology Services
Executive Functioning (EF) refers to the behaviour management system of the brain. These cognitive processes tell us what to do, when to do it, and how well to do it. Individuals with Learning Disabilities and/or ADHD may experience increased difficulty in the development and use of these functions compared to their same-aged peers. When kids struggle to regulate their executive functioning it can result in lower grades, lack of motivation, school avoidance, social difficulties, anxiety and stress. But these “problem behaviours” are simply symptoms of unmet needs. Join Tanya to learn how difficulties with executive functioning could be causing problem behaviours and what you can do to help!
Mental health for highly sensitive teens; unique struggles for these emotional feelers ***please register using the poster only***
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Presented by: Tracy Fields, BSW, MSW in partnership with Tracy Fields Counselling
Highly sensitive teens are often misunderstood by parents and teachers as they often have stronger emotional reactions. In this presentation, learn why this happens, and the necessary tools required to help these teens manage their emotions so they don't become derailed.
Can We Talk: Healthy Relationships ***please register using the poster only***
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Presented by:
Diana Wark (She/Her), Parent Program Coordinator for Centre for Sexuality
Join us for an interactive workshop to learn how to navigate those sometimes awkward but essential conversations that foster well-being, healthy relationships and informed decision-making. We empower parents with knowledge, skills and confidence to engage in open, honest and supportive conversations about sexuality and sexual health with their children.
This session we will describe and explore healthy, unhealthy, and abusive relationship patterns. We will learn about effective communication and practice discussing topics related to romantic/intimate relationships in ways that are grounded in your values.
Dyslexia Essentials ***please register using the poster only***
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Presented By:
Tanya Keto, Registered Psychologist
AVERY Family and School Psychology Services
This presentation is suited for both caregivers of children/youth and educators working with children/youth.
Occurring in an estimated 5-15% of the population, Dyslexia refers to individuals who have foundational and often extreme difficulties with reading, spelling, and writing. These difficulties span academic settings and grades and can impact reading comprehension, the development of vocabulary, and the ability to spell and communicate in writing. Educators and caregivers play a critical role in the trajectory and outcomes of students with Dyslexia, and there is so much we can do to help these kids and alter their trajectories.
In this session we will discuss:
• Red flags
• Diagnosis, statistics, and developmental trajectory of students with Dyslexia.
• Cognitive processes involved in reading.
• Evidence-based Tier 2 and 3 interventions.
Supporting Youth: How to Respond to Sexual Health Misinformation ***please register using the poster only***
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Presented by: Primary Care Alberta, Sexual & Reproductive Health, Calgary Zone
Everyone needs quality information about sexuality to be healthy, yet misinformation and disinformation about sexuality continues to cause problems for youth. In this session, we will talk about:
• Mis-, dis-, and mal-information - where do youth come across them and how they impact youth mental and sexual health
• How sexuality education and media literacy offer useful responses to mis-, dis-, and mal-information and support youth mental and sexual health
• Tips for supporting youth media and sexual health literacy
• Reputable, youth friendly resources for credible sexuality information