Susan Hopkins EdD

06/24/2026

Not everyone can get to Peterborough in July.

And that's okay.

One of the things I love about the Self-Reg Summer Symposium is that people join us from all over the world. Some will be with us at Trent. Others will be joining from their homes, offices, schools, cottages, and communities.

What matters is that we are learning together.
Your online registration gives you access to the live-streamed sessions, opportunities to participate in discussion and Q&A, and recordings so you can return to the learning when it works for you.

We'll be exploring Co-Regulation, the Five Domains of Stress, and the questions so many of us are asking right now about behaviour, learning, well-being, and the world around us.

And for those who have been hoping to hear from Stuart Shanker & Co., his annual SRSS keynote is included for online participants as well.

If you've been thinking about joining us but weren't sure because you couldn't travel, I'd encourage you to take another look.

We would be glad to have you with us.
July 6–9

self-reg.ca/srss

- Susan

06/23/2026

A co-regulator is most (or perhaps, only) effective when they are regulated themselves.

06/23/2026

🚨 LAST CALL! 🚨

⏳ Just 13 days until SRSS 2026.

If you've been thinking about joining us, this is your sign.

Right now, many of us are feeling it.

The rising anxiety.
The exhaustion.
The conflict.
The shutdown.
The sense that what used to work isn't working in quite the same way anymore.

At this year's Self-Reg Summer Symposium, we'll spend four days exploring what the science of Self-Reg can teach us about the moment we're in, the role of stress in behaviour, and the power of Co-Regulation to restore connection, learning, and well-being.

✨ Why Everything Feels So Hard Right Now
✨ The Five Domains of Stress
✨ Co-Regulation & the Interbrain
✨ Practical tools you can use immediately
✨ Conversations with educators, leaders, clinicians, and researchers from across Canada and beyond

⭐ And a special reminder: this is your opportunity to hear from Stuart Shanker & Co. live. His keynote, Looking at the World Through Self-Reg Eyes, will be a powerful reflection on the world we're living in and where we go from here.

❤️ There is something deeply meaningful about gathering with people who understand what this work feels like.

⏰ Last call.
📅 July 6–9
💻 Online or In Person
🔗 self-reg.ca/srss

We hope you'll join us.

- Susan

06/22/2026

One of the things I hear most often from people attending the Self-Reg Summer Symposium is, "I finally felt like I found my people."

You find yourself surrounded by educators, caregivers, and professionals who are curious about children's behaviour, who understand the impact stress can have on well-being, and who are exploring many of the same questions you may be carrying yourself.

There is something deeply comforting about realizing that others have been wondering about the same things, wrestling with similar challenges, and searching for many of the same answers.

This latest blog from The MEHRIT Centre reflects on that feeling of connection and belonging that emerges when we come together to learn, reflect, and support one another in this important work.

Read more:
https://self-reg.ca/you-do-not-have-to-figure-this-out-alone/

If you've been curious about the Self-Reg Summer Symposium, there is still time to join us, either in person or online:
https://self-reg.ca/srss

What questions about stress and behaviour are you still carrying, and who do you turn to when you need to think them through?

06/22/2026

The goal is not simply to manage behaviour, but to understand the stress driving it. When we understand the cause, we can respond in ways that reduce stress rather than unintentionally adding to it.

06/21/2026

Thank you to Danka Gula for this beautiful reflection. 💛

A sign on a library door sparked a powerful Self-Reg question: What is behaviour trying to tell us?

When we look beneath harmful behaviour, we often find stress, disconnection, and unmet needs. And when we understand that, we can begin to respond with greater empathy and compassion.

I also loved the reminder that communities can send different messages too - messages of belonging, connection, and hope.

What signs of belonging and connection have you noticed in your community lately?

Read the full blog:

Signs of Social Cohesion and Self-Reg explores stress, bullying, empathy, and restorative practices through a Self-Reg lens.

06/20/2026

Some kids don’t need another reminder. They need a breather. They need trust. They need restoration.

06/19/2026

Every year at the Self-Reg Summer Symposium, I am reminded of something important: the people who spend their days supporting others need support too.

This blog from The MEHRIT Centre, Ltd. captures so much of what makes SRSS special. Yes, there is deep learning. But there is also connection, reflection, restoration, and the opportunity to be with others who understand both the joy and the challenges of this work.

The forest walks. The conversations over coffee. The moments of insight during a session. The feeling of being surrounded by people who share a common purpose. These experiences stay with us long after the symposium ends.

If you've ever wondered what makes SRSS different, I encourage you to give this a read.

https://self-reg.ca/four-days-designed-for-the-people-who-are-holding-everyone-else-together/

And if you're joining us at Trent University this July, I can't wait to learn alongside you. There is still time to register for SRSS 2026:
https://self-reg.ca/srss

When was the last time you felt truly restored while learning alongside others?

06/19/2026

A nervous system under too much stress doesn’t always fight back - sometimes it goes still.