Upcoming Events

When diversity and cultural differences lead to misunderstandings or distrust, they are often viewed as challenges to manage within our work environments. However, they are better viewed as valuable assets to organizational health. This workshop examines specific elements of diversity and culture as they relate to communicating, power differentials, and experiences of discrimination. Participants will learn strategies for working with differences and promoting inclusion in the workplace.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder defined by pervasive inattention and hyperactivity. These symptoms can severely interfere with functioning in school, work, social, and home settings. ADHD typically emerges during childhood or adolescence and carries on into adulthood for approximately half of all cases. This disorder afflicts over 5% of children and 2% of adults in the general population. Prevalence rates of ADHD are even higher among subpopulations like youths and adults entangled in the criminal justice system. In…

The ability to regulate one’s body and find balance in emotion, thought, and physical health is at the core of healing and well-being. This workshop is designed to first teach participants to develop these skills for themselves. From this base, the application of mindfulness-based strategies in counselling work is explored. In this highly experiential training, participants will practice mindfulness, regulation, and activation strategies meant to promote compassionate self-awareness and emotional balance. The skills learned are relevant and applicable for working…

Handling difficult interactions on the phone is a challenging task, especially if the caller is in a heightened state of emotion. For many, the ability to navigate difficult phone conversations with respect and professionalism is an essential workplace skill. This workshop is designed to provide practical strategies for dealing with clients and customers over the phone who are in a heightened emotional state. Participants will learn over-the-phone techniques for de-escalating anger, resolving conflict, and communicating effectively.

Walk-in clinics and other forms of quick access to services have become a key part of the landscape of service delivery in Ontario as outlined in the policy paper, “No More, No Less: Brief Mental Health Services for Children and Youth" (Duvall, J., Young, K.,Kays-Burden, A.,2012). Narrative therapy ideas and practices provide therapists with ways of quickly engaging people in deeply meaningful and useful conversations. These practices are a perfect fit for settings in which just a brief encounter with…

Since the publication of Kristin Neff's ground-breaking book Self-Compassion, there has been a surge of interest in the science and practice of self-compassion, particularly in clinical settings. But that has generally focused on the gentle version of self-compassion, which involves “being with” ourselves in a compassionate way. We comfort and soothe ourselves when in pain, just as we might for a friend who is struggling. We give ourselves our own kind attention and care rather than cutting ourselves down with…

People who struggle to regulate their intense emotional experiences often feel like they are at the mercy of reactive coping patterns. It can seem like these emotional storms hijack their behaviour, take control of their thinking, and hurt their relationships with other people and themselves. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) provides concepts and skills to help people have more choices, become more emotionally calm, and be more present in their lives. This workshop explores key concepts and useful skills such as…

The ability to regulate one’s body and find balance in emotion, thought, and physical health is at the core of healing and well-being. This webinar explores the application of mindfulness-based strategies in counselling work. Viewers will learn mindfulness, regulation, and activation strategies meant to promote compassionate self-awareness and emotional balance. The skills learned are relevant and applicable for working with clients of all ages—from children to elders.

Noticing, Naming, and Navigating This New Reality How are you doing—really? What supports you in this time? What else do you need? What more could your agency be considering as things move forward? For workers in this sector, the COVID-19 pandemic emerged when agencies were already responding to the complex front lines in the work with HIV, Hep, and Harm Reduction: individual and systemic oppression and marginalization, physical and mental health, homelessness, poverty, violence and racism, etc. Our organizations have…

Trauma is prevalent in our world and has an impact on many of the people we interact with, including our clients and colleagues. Compassionate and trauma-informed care is essential to providing effective support and building sustainable services. This workshop explores how to build a trauma-informed culture in a workplace setting that integrates knowledge throughout the organization. Participants will develop an understanding of the pervasive impact of trauma on individual health and relationships. Guiding principles will be explored for increasing emotional…

Many of the challenges that we experience are based on irrational and unhelpful thought patterns that impact both our feelings and our behaviour. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a time-sensitive, structured, and present-oriented form of counselling that focuses on problem solving and teaching individuals how to modify these distorted patterns of thinking. CBT is also one of the most well-known, researched, and practiced forms of therapy available to us. This workshop provides a strong foundational knowledge of the principles and…

People who struggle to regulate their intense emotional experiences often feel like they are at the mercy of reactive coping patterns. It can seem like these emotional storms hijack their behaviour, take control of their thinking, and hurt their relationships with other people and themselves. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) provides concepts and skills to help people have more choices, become more emotionally calm, and be more present in their lives. This workshop explores key concepts and useful skills such as…

Sanda Kazazic is passionate about working with individuals dealing with housing, mental health and substance use challenges from a person-centered, harm reduction, trauma informed, low-barrier approach and creating safe, inclusive space for program and service delivery. She is currently the Drop-in Manager at All Saints Church Community Centre in Downtown Toronto East. Learning Objectives: Increase understanding of complex dynamics of crystal meth use particularly among people experiencing homelessnessGain knowledge of practical skills for working with people experiencing psychosis due to…

The Mental Health for All (MH4A) Conference plays a unique role in uniting the people and ideas that exemplify mental health in Canada. The Canadian Mental Health Association‘s MH4A Conference is an important place of convergence, where service providers, front-line workers, researchers, funders, policy makers and people with lived experience of mental health problems and mental illnesses come together to set the agenda. The theme of this year’s conference is Hope in an Age of Uncertainty. This year’s objective is…

People who struggle to regulate their intense emotional experiences often feel like they are at the mercy of reactive coping patterns. It can seem like these emotional storms hijack their behaviour, take control of their thinking, and hurt their relationships with other people and themselves. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) provides concepts and skills to help people have more choices, become more emotionally calm, and be more present in their lives. This workshop explores key concepts and useful skills such as…

Trauma is a wound that injures us emotionally, psychologically, physically, and spiritually. As a result, the impact of trauma can be far-reaching and enduring. This workshop provides an overview of the way trauma affects a person through the brain and nervous system. A framework which describes different stages in the process of regulating and resolving the impact of trauma is reviewed. Protective steps for enhancing helper wellbeing are also provided. Participants will learn key principles and strategies for working with…

CAG2020 is the 49th Annual Scientific and Educational Meeting of the Canadian Association on Gerontology, Canada’s premier association of those who work, research or have an interest in the field of aging.