Upcoming Events

This practical workshop, led by a leading expert on trauma and based on the book Trauma and the Struggle to Open Up, will address ways to effectively navigate the therapeutic relationship with trauma survivors to help facilitate recovery and growth while avoiding common pitfalls. The therapeutic relationship is of utmost importance in all helper-client interactions, but it is especially important when working with trauma survivors - who often bring with them some unique challenges. For example, trauma clients may: Have…

Emerging research shows that gender affirmation has health benefits, and embedding it in mental health supports will minimize the negative consequences of transphobia, homophobia or biphobia. Added protections in human rights legislation also means that practitioners working with children, youth and families need opportunities to practice skills and plan for compliance in order to promote health and wellbeing in Canada’s increasingly gender-diverse demographics

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 t for settings in which just a brief encounter with…

Working with difficult to engage clients can be frustrating and challenging, even for seasoned clinicians. The challenge of working with younger clients in therapy can be further compounded by their fear of entering therapy, their lack of control over the decision to attend therapy, their feeling of being scapegoated for family problems, their lack of motivation for treatment, and their developmental capacity which can make it difficult for them to respond to traditional talk-therapy. The first step in working with…

The introduction of Ontario Health Teams brings significant new opportunities and challenges for the community mental health and addiction sector. Our Leadership Forum will focus on how we can work together to shape the new healthcare agenda, and ensure mental health and addiction are part of the solution. Join executive directors and CEOs from Ontario’s community mental health and addiction sector on November 18 for a robust conversation. The Leadership Forum is open to members in good standing of Addictions…

Due to limited resources and time, brief counselling interventions that are effective and efficient are becoming more in demand. This workshop is designed to move beyond general counselling skills and offer increased capacity and confidence to those wanting to expand their existing knowledge base and current skill set. Participants will acquire a deeper understanding of Cognitive Behavioural, Strengths-Based, Narrative, and Solution-Focused counselling frameworks. Practical strategies and techniques from each of these frameworks will be explored, accompanied with experiential opportunities to…

Due to limited resources and time, brief counselling interventions that are effective and efficient are becoming more in demand. This workshop is designed to move beyond general counselling skills and offer increased capacity and confidence to those wanting to expand their existing knowledge base and current skill set. Participants will acquire a deeper understanding of Cognitive Behavioural, Strengths-Based, Narrative, and Solution-Focused counselling frameworks. Practical strategies and techniques from each of these frameworks will be explored, accompanied with experiential opportunities to…

Join this important educational discussion forum to help us discern where we are with trauma and addiction and what might be incomplete, inappropriate or fundamentally needed. We will open with an agreed approach to the day, then use facilitated discussion and short educational segments to gather where you, the participants are with trauma and addiction, then look at ways to better serve folks.