Virtual

Harm reduction is an approach to help people explore their relationship with substances and behaviours. It works to reduce and mitigate damage and pain, and offers strategies to increase and promote safety, choice, and control. Harm reduction moves away from traditional understandings of “addiction” as a disease, and responses that are based on assumed morality and abstinence, or fear and punishment. This workshop explores the principles of harm reduction, how it works, and to whom it may apply. Participants will…

OUR HISTORYHISTORY OF WAYPOINT & RESEARCHDr. Jennifer Bazar OUR WORKHOW DO YOU MOTIVATE PATIENTS WITH SLEEP APNEA TO USE THEIR CPAP MACHINESTalia Emmanuel TIME OF DAY MATTERS: AN EXPLORATORY ASSESSMENT OF CHRONOTYPE IN A FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAKDr. Kimberly Belfry TRAUMA AMONG PSYCHIATRIC WORKERS PROJECTDr. Zoe Hilton & Elke Ham OUR VISIONDISCOVERING THE FUTUREDr. Nathan Kolla

The ISAM-CSAM Annual Conference brings together more than 700 leaders, researchers, and clinicians in addiction medicine to share, collaborate, and connect. In addition to a conference program featuring global leaders and prominent researchers, both ISAM and CSAM offer pre-conference and post-conference educational opportunities for professionals looking to expand their skills and knowledge. This year marks the first year that the conference will be held exclusively online, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and British Columbia’s restrictions on gatherings of more…

Advance your clinical knowledge and skills with two days full of presentations and workshops led by field experts, showcasing the latest developments in Acquired Brain Injury. The conference will be taking place virtually via the Remo conference platform. Remo is a web-video conference platform that allows people to have face-to-face networking online just like in-person events that build meaningful relationships and conversations. To ensure you have the best virtual conference experience possible, web demonstrations and guides will be provided as…

We look forward to welcoming you to the first ever virtual conference of IEPA. While we regret that the COVID pandemic prevented us from holding the conference in Rio, we are excited about the opportunities of holding an innovative virtual conference. This is the first time the conference will be organised with our colleagues in South America, and holding the conference virtually will be a great opportunity for IEPA to explore ‘New Frontiers in Early Intervention’ as well as using…

For those who work in an environment where there is potential for violence, it is important to develop the skills needed to defuse dangerous situations. This workshop is designed to teach people to de-escalate potentially violent situations through assertiveness and interpersonal communication. The training will explore how anger and violence interplay, including opportunities for self-assessment of personal communication styles. Participants will develop a clear understanding of how to assess the potential for violence and respond with a diverse set of…

Working with individuals who have autism can be a very meaningful experience, but it is not without its challenges. With recent reports indicating that an increasing number of individuals are on the autism spectrum, a greater number of care providers are encountering individuals with autism as part of their work and life. While every person with autism is unique, many face similar challenges. The primary focus of this workshop is to provide practical strategies for working with high-need individuals around…

Gender and sexuality are central features of identity development in adolescence. When a person’s internal experience of gender and/or sexuality does not match what would typically be expected of them based on their external appearance, it can cause great distress and difficulty. This workshop will show helpers how to best support youth in these situations. Participants will develop an awareness and understanding of what this experience can be like, enabling them to create more accessible and welcoming environments for lesbian,…

Self-injury refers to deliberate, self-inflicted tissue damage such as cutting or burning. Self-injury has reached alarming proportions among our youth; studies show that 14-24% of adolescents and young adults have engaged in this behaviour at least once, with a quarter of these reporting current, chronic self-injury. Helpers are increasingly encountering young people who are involved with self-injury. This workshop will assist participants in understanding the experience and motivations of adolescents who intentionally injure themselves. In addition, practical strategies for working…

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…

We are pleased to announce the 2020 Indigenous Health Conference (IHC) is now a digital conference held from December 3-5 2020. This interdisciplinary conference will bring together Indigenous peoples, health care providers, researchers and experts in the field who are working to address the huge health disparities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. This disparity has its roots in colonization. As revealed by the Truth and Reconciliation and Murdered and Missing women’s reports much of the history of Indigenous peoples in…

Human beings are built to connect. Our health and resilience are strengthened by interactions with others, which is why it’s natural for us to have a preference for in-person, face-to-face support during times of struggle. However, the realities of COVID-19 and social distancing have forced helpers to adapt how we connect and offer support. This workshop explores the benefits and challenges around supporting others remotely. Practical strategies for how to intentionally engage with others when we are not able to…

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…

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.

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…