Archived Webinars 

Anxiety and the Gift of Imagination 

Looking for a new way to help children understand and manage their anxiety? Attend this webinar and you will be introduced to a different clinical model for working with children and anxiety management. A therapeutic formulation of anxiety that has worked extremely well for hundreds of children in Dr. Alter’s private practice will be presented. Dr. Alter will explain how the link between imagination and anxiety can be used effectively in treatment. This approach actually motivates children to use therapeutic tools and strategies. You will learn how children’s anxiety and thinking are different from adults, the difference between normal anxiety and that which requires professional treatment. 

Introduction to Prenatal Attachment and Bonding

What is happening before your baby is even born? How can you begin to develop an attachment with your baby in utero?

Please join us for an engaging panel discussion on prenatal attachment and bonding. Mary-Jo Land, psychotherapist and member of The Psychology Foundation of Canada Early Years Program Committee, will lead the conversation with experts in the field, Dr. Nour Zaki, Michael Blugerman, and Michael Trout. Our panel will help illuminate what we mean by prenatal attachment, why this area of child development and what we can do as parents and child serving professionals to enhance prenatal attachment and bonding.

Intro to prenatal attachment - slides

Prenatal webinar - resource list

The Struggle to Juggle: Working Parents Pandemic Survival Guide

The pandemic has forced parents to juggle so many more balls in the air just to even attempt to live the ‘new’ normal. Who’d of thunk instead of love letters and chocolates, Lysol wipes are the new most coveted gifts for the busy mom or dad? While this workshop will not give working parents the secret to cloning themselves, it will give them tips to help think and act more strategically based on decades of scientific evidence on how to cope with stress.

Webinar PDF

The impact of anti-black racism on children and youth in Canada-Webinar

The impact of anti-black racism on children and youth in Canada- Dr. Kofi's video

Description: “Our children are suffering. While our attention is turned to police brutality victims, protests, riots and “#blacklivesmatter” - understand that young black children are suffering behind this as well. I am grieving because of it, and so are many of you. Some of you are at different stages of it – sadness, anger, denial and don’t want to talk about it.”

Dr. Belfon will be joined by Nigel Enniss, Anti-Black Racism Practice Integration Lead from Children’s Aid Society Toronto, to lead and engage in a candid conversation with webinar participants on how we can better support and promote the mental well-being of black youth in Canada.

Webinar PDF

Health Anxiety in the Time of COVID-19

This webinar provides an overview of health-related anxiety, and how COVID-19 can intersect with this problem. Participants will learn about the many faces of health anxiety, and about its possible causes. The webinar will also discuss differences between health anxiety based on realistic health concerns and exaggerated or unrealistic health anxiety. An overview of strategies for managing health anxiety will be provided, as well as helpful resources on the topic.

PDF: Handout - Health Anxiety in the Time of COVID-19 

How to Support Our Kids with Special Needs During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Dr. Alter is returning for Part II of a series on Supporting Our Kids during the COVID 19 Outbreak. This time focusing on children with special needs–children with anxiety issues, diagnosed with ADHD, on the autism spectrum, anger issues, depression, loss and grief, as well as some suggestions for children who may be at risk for abuse. The webinar will focus on how to better understand these issues during this difficult time and offer many concrete suggestions and strategies for helping kids and adults cope better.

Thrive at Home: Coping During COVID

Feeling isolated at home, with a smaller social network? Wonder how others are coping with the stresses of the COVID-19 new reality? Please join us for a lively discussion on caring for yourself and others with Dr. Diana Brecher from Ryerson University, who will share her tips for resilience in these challenging times.

Part 2 Title: Connecting and Protecting through Play, Movement, the Arts and Nature

Play is not only valuable but essential for children’s well-being. While children may show strong preferences for different types of play, there are common elements that are present in experiences that calm and engage children’s brains. A wide variety of play opportunities allows for discovery and mastery. Also important is adult connection and involvement, at varying levels in children’s play, depending on the degree of stress, the immediate needs of the child and the goals children have for themselves.

PDF: Connecting and Protecting through Play, Movement, the Arts and Nature

Ensuring the Essential Emotional Needs of Young Children in High Stress Times

Part 1 Title: Calming your brain to calm your young children’s brains

Essential emotional needs of children are the same during a pandemic. They need to know that their home is safe and their parents are emotionally available and responsive. The science of brain development helps us understand the differences in brain chemistry that occur when our emotional needs are met and when we perceive threat and experience stress. Young children have challenges in maintaining a calm emotional state because their brains are still developing this capacity. As well, you may be struggling with low levels of emotional energy. Your self-awareness and your understanding of young children’s needs can help guide your thoughts, feelings and actions during this stressful period and help restore a sense of calm connection in your home.

PDF: Calming your brain to calm your young children’s brains

The Good Fight 

Are tensions running high with your colleagues at the moment? Are you hoping for some respite with family but finding nerves are just as frayed in those relationships? Are you struggling to keep conflict from bubbling to the surface? In this webinar, you’ll get suggestions for how to surface and work through issues before they cause resentment and erode trust. This talk will help you think differently about the value of conflict and the risks of letting issues fester. You’ll leave with a number of techniques you can apply immediately to help you deal with the inevitable friction points during this stressful time.

Life, Interrupted

School and placements are cancelled. Graduations and celebrations are cancelled. At times, leaving your home is cancelled. Depression and anxiety rates are up. Join Dr. Nasreen Khatri to learn how we can encourage youth and young adults to move from a "cancel" mindset to a "can do" mindset and let's weather this pandemic together.

A Parent's Guide to Staying Sane During COVID-19 Pandemic

Are you getting overwhelmed with all the self-isolation? Is coping with “social distancing” and “stay-at-home” a challenge for you? In this webinar you’ll get suggestions for how to stay sane during the COVID-19 pandemic. This talk will introduce you to the basic ideas of emotional intelligence and hardiness and why they are important in times like this. In addition, you will be presented with a number of actionable steps you can take right now to help you and your family deal with these challenging times.

Stress Busters: 30 Minutes of "Magical" Practices - Session 1 and Session 2

We all encounter stress in our daily lives that at times can be difficult to manage – affecting the health of our body, mind, emotions and spirit. This is especially true as we navigate the many challenges from the COVID 19 pandemic. Practical approaches are needed that can help kids, youth and parents manage their stress. Webinar participants will learn about and practice some simple yet powerful techniques for calming our family and ourselves despite what is occurring around us.

 

Support documents for session 1 and session 2:

“Session 1: Gentle Techniques to Help Calm Your Kids”

“Session 2: Stress Busting Techniques for Youth & Young Adults”

Being Alone Together The Social Pandemic of Loneliness during COVID-19

Social distancing, while necessary during the COVID-19 pandemic, creates challenges for all of us to connect during an unprecedented time of global health and economic crises. Join Dr. Nasreen Khatri to learn how to optimize social connection and get the emotional support you need and deserve now.

Calming the Commotion

We are all under pressure from the threats created by the pandemic. Parents and teens know it and feel it. Children certainly feel it. Being at home together for these weeks can be very trying, with anxiety spiking with the daily news. In this webinar, Mary-Jo Land will join you in leading the way to calm in your home. Turn this time into an opportunity.

 How to Support Our Kids During the COVID-19 Outbreak

These are probably the most stressful times most of us have ever had to endure. Many kids are also feeling that stress. Dr. Robin Alter, shared some strategies and answered questions on how you can best support the mental health of young people in your life. 

Parenting Resilient Children and Youth at Home and at School 

Resiliency relates to one’s ability to adapt well when facing stress or challenges. We hope for our children to learn “bounce-back” strategies that will help them along life’s road. The Webinar will detail skills and competencies that promote resiliency assets in and out of school. It will address aspects of self-esteem; social skills, self-advocacy, and productive learning habits.

Stress Lessons Tools for Resiliency Grade 9-12 Webinar

Stress Lessons: Tools for Resilience is a resource designed for education professionals, and their partners, who want to help youth develop resilience. Full of psychologically-sound strategies and tools, this resource will help teens develop resilience and positive coping skills. With components for teachers, counsellors, administrators, parents and caregivers.