About this Event
*THIS EVENT HAS BOTH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE OPTIONS*
Welcome to The Student Based Mental Health & Education Conference: High Risk, Dysregulated Kids and Indigenous Perspectives in Technology-Saturated World
On behalf of Jack Hirose & Associates, welcome and thank you for joining us in Winnipeg, Manitoba. We are delighted to bring together educators, counsellors, therapists, administrators, mental health professionals, and helping professionals from across Canada for three days of practical, evidence-informed learning.
Winnipeg is a vibrant and culturally rich city with a strong sense of community, diverse dining, arts and cultural attractions, and a unique history. We encourage you to take advantage of your time here by exploring the city and experiencing the warmth and hospitality Winnipeg has to offer.
Throughout the conference, you will explore practical strategies for supporting children and youth experiencing emotional dysregulation, mental health challenges, trauma, and other complex needs. Sessions will also highlight Indigenous perspectives, resilience, connection, and culturally responsive approaches to supporting children, youth, families, and communities.
We hope you enjoy both the conference and your time in Winnipeg, and leave feeling inspired, connected, and equipped with practical strategies and new ideas to support the children and youth in your communities.
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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.
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Day One – December 2, 2026
Emotional Regulation: Understanding Triggers and Responding to Behaviours Across Educational and Clinical Settings
Presented by M.A.
8:30am - 4:00pm December 2, 2026
Children and youth experience emotions and behaviour in different ways, and how adults understand and respond to those behaviours can have a significant impact. Whether you are a teacher, counsellor, psychologist, therapist, educational assistant, administrator, parent, or another helping professional, this workshop invites you to take a closer look at how you currently approach emotional regulation and challenging behaviour.
Rather than simply asking, “How do we stop or manage this behaviour?” participants will be encouraged to step back and consider: What might this behaviour be communicating? What does this child or youth need from the adults and environment around them? Through discussion, reflection, and practical examples, we’ll challenge some common assumptions about emotions and behaviour and explore how shifting our perspective can change the way we respond.
Participants will examine their own current practices and strategies, considering what is working, what may need to change, and how adult expectations and responses can influence a child or youth’s ability to regulate. The workshop will explore practical approaches for responding to emotional and behavioural challenges in ways that promote connection, safety, and understanding rather than simply focusing on compliance or behaviour management.
Throughout the session, participants will have opportunities to share experiences, discuss real-world challenges, and consider how these ideas apply to their own settings. The workshop concludes with a practical planning component where participants will identify and brainstorm specific changes they can make in their classroom, clinical practice, community setting, or home.
Participants will leave with a refreshed perspective on emotional regulation and behaviour, practical strategies they can begin using right away, and concrete ideas for creating environments that better support children and youth with a wide range of emotional and behavioural needs.
Day One
🕑: 08:30 AM - 04:00 PM
Emotional Regulation: Understanding Triggers and Responding to Behaviours
Host: Tracy Whittaker-Taggart, M.A.
Info: Children and youth experience the world in different ways, and those differences influence how they respond to stress, relationships, learning, and everyday challenges. Whether you are a teacher, counsellor, psychologist, therapist, educational assistant, administrator, or another helping professional, understanding emotional regulation is essential to supporting children and youth effectively.
Through a psychological and developmental lens, this workshop explores the factors that influence emotional regulation and the relationship between triggers and behaviour. Together, we’ll examine an important question: What is this behaviour communicating, and what does this child or youth need right now? Participants will be introduced to evidence-informed strategies and frameworks for understanding and responding to behaviour, while also considering how our own experiences, assumptions, and reactions can shape interactions.
Agenda
Info: Introductions
Understanding emotional regulation: brain development, stress, and executive functioning
Why behaviour is communication: looking beyond the behaviour
Identifying triggers and understanding individual differences
Evidence-informed strategies to support emotional regulation
Creating environments that promote safety, connection, and resilience
Applying strategies through case examples and collaborative discussion
Reflection, action planning, key takeaways, and wrap-up
Learning Objectives
Info: Explain the relationship between emotional regulation, executive functioning, stress, and behaviour.
Recognize the factors that contribute to emotional dysregulation in children and youth.
Differentiate between observable behaviour, underlying emotional needs, and potential triggers.
Interpret behaviour as communication and use this understanding to guide supportive responses.
Evaluate evidence-informed strategies for promoting emotional regulation and determine when they are most appropriate.
Apply practical approaches to foster regulation, resilience, and positive relationships across educational, clinical, home, and community settings.
Reflect on how their own responses, assumptions, and environments influence children’s emotional regulation and behaviour.
Event venue & nearby stays
Wyndham Garden Winnipeg Airport, 460 Madison Street, Winnipeg, Canada
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.