AB Health Services Community Workshops for the month of September

To register for the following workshops, visit:
 community.hmhc.ca/sessions/

Tuning In To Sensory Sensitivities: Understanding Sensory Modulation Disorders and Exploring Strategies That Help *Also available as a Webinar*
​Sept 12, 2019 @ 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
The Ability Hub
Life is a sensory experience. Sensory Modulation allows us to respond appropriately to sensory information from our environment every day. Our brains will automatically 'tune down' some information (e.g. background noise)so that we can 'tune up' other information and focus on what is important for daily functioning. For some people, sensory modulation is difficult and the ability to remain at the right level of focus and alertness for daily activity is challenged. In this workshop, we will discuss the process of 'tuning up' and 'tuning down' sensory information and learn to understand more about what might be happening in the lives of people with sensory processing disorders, as well as some strategies that might help to better 'tune-in' throughout your day.

The Teen Brain: How did we get here? How the teen brain shapes into the adult brain
Sept 16, 2019 @ 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Alberta Children's Hospital - Theatre
This presentation is brought to you by the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute/Child and Adolescent Imaging Research Program.
PLEASE DO NOT REGISTER ON THE CES WEBSITE BUT HERE: https://research4kids.ucalgary.ca/registration-teen-brain

Understanding a Child’s Pain: What to Do, How to Help * Also available as a Webinar*
Sept 17, 2019 @ 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Alberta Children's Hospital - Theatre
This workshop is for parents and caregivers on how to help their child cope positively with painful medical procedures, tests and injuries of childhood. 90 minute session will include a presentation with discussion focusing on how a child’s pain is perceived, how to talk to your child about pain, and how to successfully coach them to help themselves to overcome fears and worries associated with medical interventions.

Juno House presents: Healthy Brains = Healthy Children
Sept 19, 2019 @ 10:30 AM - Noon
Alberta Children's Hospital - Theatre
Before High School graduation, one third of adolescent girls will experience depression, anxiety disorders, self harm or an eating disorder.
At Juno House www.junohouse.ca we believe in the extraordinary healing power of parents and caregivers. We believe that you can learn all of the skills that you need to become your teen’s emotional coach. We believe that talking does not grow neurons; experience grows neurons. We will share steps and strategies from the Juno House Therapeutic Model that will give you effective emotional coaching tools for your children as they develop through adolescence and into young adulthood. You will learn about :
• Neuroscience and the developing brain,
• Brain integration of the left and right brain,
• How anxiety develops,
• The background of emotions and how to understand them in your child,
• The five emotional coaching steps, 
• Strategies to help guide your adolescent through the challenges they will face in their academic, peer, and emotional environments.

Sleep 101 for Teens and Parents
Sept 26, 2019 @ 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Alberta Children's Hospital - B2-200
Is your teen tired all the time? Does he/she have sleep habits that you’re pretty sure are not helping the situation? Not sure where to start? This session will focus on teens (13 years+) that struggle to obtain adequate, restful sleep. We will discuss the purpose of sleep and evidence-based sleep hygiene techniques helpful for setting up a foundation to obtain a better night’s rest. We will also cover how to make it easier to fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake up rested.
Teens (13 years+) and Parents are welcome to attend.

Expressive Arts and Innovative Therapies for Children and Adolescents
Sept 30, 2019 @ 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Alberta Children's Hospital - Theatre
Over the past decade, hospitalizations for mental health disorders in this age group grew by 55% to 65% while hospitalizations for all other conditions decreased by 24%. 

Newly updated information from the Canadian Institute for Health Information shows an increase in the number of hospital visits by Canadians age 5 to 24 for mental health disorders over the past decade, especially adolescent girls with self-injury, substance use issues as well as depression and anxiety. At the same time, the number of young Canadians diagnosed with mental health disorders remained stable. In addition, the number of young Canadians who were dispensed a mood or anxiety medication or antipsychotic medication has increased. 

Now as we live in a busy, sophisticated, extraverted thinking world most of our interventions for depression and anxiety are medications or talking therapies. This minimizes the fact we are individuals who not only think but we feel, experience bodily sensations and have intuition. Consequently, we neglect the importance of arts, sports, drama and the humanities and the magical symbolic world of childhood. This presentation will focus on the innovative role of arts for engaging and educating children and adolescents from around the world.