Event: 2025 Fall Conference: Rooted in Care

E01: Making Sense of Anxiety & Finding Your "Well": An Educator's Unexpected Path to Long-Term Well-Being

Morning Session: Making Sense of Anxiety in Kids with Dr. Deborah MacNamara Anxiety is the most common mental health issue among children and teens today, yet it is also one of the most misunderstood. From worries and compulsions to phobias and puzzling behaviors, anxiety wears many faces. In this keynote, Dr. Deborah MacNamara offers a fresh, developmental perspective on what anxiety really is, why it shows up, and how adults can create the conditions for children to find rest and resilience. Afternoon Session: Finding Your ‘Well’: An Educator’s Unexpected Path to Long-Term Well-Being This session examines the impacts of societal messaging and pressures (“the cultural backpack”) on the educator today and explores ways to “return to self”—following intuition instead of expectation—and approach life and work from a place of being ‘well’ (according to their own inner compass) , instead of being ‘good’ (according to other’s standards, needs, and expectations). This highly-liberating, heart-opening session is sure to empower educators to let go of what’s unhelpful and diminishing…allowing true nourishment and intentional living to emerge both professionally and personally.

Date: November 7, 2025
Time: 8:30 AM
Location: Morning Session: Confederation Centre
Afternoon Session: The Mack