NCR Chapter Professional Development Events

Presented by Dr. David Smith, Cpsych

Dr. David Smith, CPsych, is a counselling psychologist (McGill University, 1998) and a professor of counselling psychology at the University of Ottawa since 1998. In his 25-year clinical practice, he has worked in post-secondary, medical, and private practice settings. His interest in ACT started with a mindfulness meditation training program he completed some years ago, and which he continues to practice to this day. He has since completed clinical training using ACT with Dr. Steven Hayes (University of Nevada), Dr. Jason Luoma (Portland Psychotherapy Clinic), Dr. Mattheiu Villatte (Bastyr University, Seattle, WA), Dr. Russ Harris (author: The Happiness Trap), all international leaders in ACT development and training.

This one day introductory-level training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) will orient participants to the theoretical bases and clinical methods of this emerging evidence-based psychotherapeutic approach. Participants will learn about the six foundational therapeutic processes of the ACT model (i.e., the Hexaflex), become familiar with Relational Frame Theory that underlies the ACT model, learn therapeutic techniques to cultivate defusion and acceptance skills with clients, and integrate therapist use-of-self in ACT consistent ways. Participants will have an opportunity to develop their skills in this model through practice, roleplay, experiential exercises, discussion and application to clinical cases.

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Presented by Caroline Elson M.Ed, RP, CCC-S

Caroline Elson is a dynamic and compassionate psychotherapist, facilitator, educator and supervisor with over 15 years’ experience focused on concurrent disorder and holistic approach to client care. She is a clinical consultant in the Ottawa area, has a small private practice and teaches at Saint Paul University.

Join us for a day of learning to access, conceptualize and treat clients with an integrated model of mental health and addictions work. Theories of learning will draw from Trauma informed care, Stages of Change, Transpersonal and Motivational Interviewing. Specific Addiction tools and resources will be explored in this experiential workshop.  Included in the workshop will be 3 primary learning goals:  review of models of conceptualizing Concurrent disorders; increasing comfort in accessing problematic patterns of coping; ways of integrating addiction specific resources into treatment model.

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Presented by Lindsey Thomson, RP, CCC,

Lindsey Thomson is a Registered Psychotherapist working at Family Services Ottawa in the Increasing Access to Structured Psychotherapy Program. Lindsey specializes in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and has received over 300 hours of training and consultation. She enjoys working with the CBT framework as it combines her love for teaching and psychotherapy. In addition to this, Lindsey manages her own business specializing in mental health education and consultation.

Feeling stuck with your clients? Not seeing the change in their anxiety that you expected? Help your client confront and decrease their fear through exposure work. This intermediate level workshop will start with a review of the foundations of CBT and focus primarily on learning about, and putting into practice the three types of exposure: situational, imagined and sensation based. This workshop will be a split between traditional learning and individualized experiential learning. Participants will have an opportunity to watch role plays done by Lindsey on each type of exposure, and will also do their own hands on exposure work. Lindsey believes that the most authentic way for therapists to walk alongside their clients is by having lived experience with what they ask their clients to do. Participants are asked to come with an open mind and be prepared to challenge some of their own fears in a safe space.

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Presented by Dr. Monica Williams, PHD, ABPP

Monica has been working as a health care professional for over 25 years. She is a psychotherapist and a certified practitioner of Psychodrama. She specializes in treating adults with addictions and childhood trauma. Monica does individual, couples and group therapy. Her modalities are Transactional Analysis, Schema Focused Therapy and Psychodrama.

This is an experiential workshop. Using Action Methods, therapists will learn both classical psychodramatic techniques as well as three techniques specific to the treatment of Trauma (Therapeutic Spiral Model). This workshop will focus on developing an understanding of the power of psychodrama by experiencing as well as directing. Participants will be invited to bring their own material to the workshop.

Participants are asked to have these resources:

Presented by Greg Lubimiv, BSW, MSW, RSW, CAPT-S

Greg Lubimiv is the Executive Director of the Phoenix Centre for Children and Families, a children’s mental health centre in southeastern Ontario. He has over 40 years of experience in children’s mental health, adult mental health and child welfare where he has been involved as a clinician, trainer and administrator. He is a certified play therapist and supervisor with the Canadian Association of Child and Play Therapy. He has authored a number of articles and books, including Wings for Our Children: The essentials of becoming a play therapist. His contributions to the fields of play therapy, children’s mental health and the treatment of military children & families have been recognized through a number of awards, and in 2007 he was recognized as one of the top 5 Play Therapists in Canada. He is considered an expert in a wide variety of topics, including: childhood trauma, family therapy, grief and loss, vicarious trauma, reflective practice and temperament.

This presentation will provide participants concrete and easy to use tools, activities and techniques for working with families, which build play and playfulness into sessions. Instruction will be provided on working with the three general family types, working with feelings within the family, improving family communication, helping family members to work together instead of just working with the “problem”, and on how to turn progress notes into an effective clinical tool. Through small group practice, participants in this workshop will learn how to increase engagement and decrease resistance when working with families, as well as how to enhance the effectiveness of family goals and objectives.

Presented by Caitlin Sigg, MA, PhD Candidate, RP

Caitlin is a Registered Psychotherapist and PhD Candidate. She also holds a Master of Arts in Counselling and Spirituality, as well as a bachelor’s degree in Theology and Ethics. Caitlin has worked in counselling and psychotherapy with a variety of clients for different presenting concerns over the past several years. Presently, she is a Part-Time Professor and an Addiction and Relapse Prevention Counsellor in Ottawa. Previously, Caitlin was a Chaplain and Spiritual Care Associate in Brockville, as well as an Immediate Support Counsellor in Ottawa.

The goal and anticipated outcome of this presentation is to assist participants in understanding how grief in response to loss is a universal experience, yet individuals experience the grieving process in their own unique ways. This presentation also highlights how there are various types of loss that can cause people to grieve and they are not simply limited to death. Grief can lead to both physical and emotional symptoms, as well as spiritual insights and confusion. While grief is a natural and inevitable part of life, it is also one of the most neglected and misunderstood experiences by the bereaved, family and friends alike.

This presentation seeks to assist participants in addressing the following objectives: understanding the different types of grief and loss; recognizing factors and symptoms related to grief and loss; exploring ways to ‘embrace grief’ and the potential benefits of ‘giving voice to loss’; learning more about tools for support and healing both clinically and personally. This presentation will also provide participants an opportunity to distinguish professional disparities and practical resources to increase competence.

More Updates Coming Soon

Presented by Rick Goodwin, MSW, RSW

Rick Goodwin is the founder and Clinical Services Director of Men & Healing: Psychotherapy for Men in Ottawa. For nearly 20 years, he was the Executive Director of The Men’s Project, which he co-founded. Rick received his Master’s of Social Work in 1985. Since then, he has trained clinically in a variety of models, focusing primarily on engagement in trauma recovery, ending men’s violence, and human sexuality. Rick has won a variety of awards for service excellence over his career and was named a CAMH National Recipient in 2017.

The notion of emotional integrity is both a core value in the psychotherapy field, as well as a core outcome. However, there are a variety of roadblocks to emotional integrity, apart from fundamental aspects of masculinity that may block true interpersonal connection. Past trauma, emotional dysregulation, affective numbing, and habitual over-expression of anger and rage can all play a part. Whether the modality is group or individual services, this core need of wanting to “be heard’ is vital for all clients (not just males). Based on 20 years of providing the Emotional Integrity group program at Men & Healing, this workshop provides clinicians with a roadmap with respect to the psycho-social needs of their clients.

Presented by Stephanie Yamin, PhD, C.Psych. and Cynthia Bilodeau, PhD, RP,

Dr. Stephanie Yamin is a licensed clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. She is currently a professor at the School and Counselling, Psychotherapy and Spirituality at Saint-Paul University and a private practitioner. She works with adults, older adults, and organizations using an integrative approach favoured by cognitive behavioural therapy and emotion-focused therapy.

Cynthia Bilodeau is a professor at the School and Counselling, Psychotherapy and Spirituality at Saint-Paul University. She is a registered psychotherapist who specializes working with adults, older adults and organizations using an integrative approach favoured by interpersonal psychotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, and humanistic approaches.

This presentation will focus on working with individuals who have a diagnosis of neurodegenerative disease, mainly older adults (e.g., dementia and Parkinson’s disease). Ethical issues including how to obtain consent will be discussed. We will focus on how to adapt the therapeutic process to best serve these clients. Evidence-based approaches will be presented. Issues pertaining to caregiving will also be reviewed.

Presented by Dr. Monnica Williams, PHD, ABPP

Dr. Monnica Williams is a board-certified, licensed clinical psychologist and Associate Professor in the School of Psychologist at the University of Ottawa, Canada Research Chair in Mental Health Disparities, and Director of the Laboratory for Culture and Mental Health Disparities.

Past and recent research suggests that psychedelic drugs can be effective for many mental health conditions when utilized in conjunction with psychotherapy. For example, MDMA-assisted psychotherapy has been studied as a means of helping people overcome posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), believed to work by reducing fear of traumatic memories and increasing feelings of trust and compassion towards others, without inhibiting access to difficult emotions. Likewise, psilocybin is being studied for anxiety-related conditions, ibogaine is being studied as a treatment for opiate addiction, and ketamine is being used for major depressive disorder. Mental health practitioners need to be prepared to serve clients seeking psychedelic-assisted therapy or after-care (integration) in a competent and ethical manner. Discussed are next steps in ensuring that access to safe and appropriate care is prioritized as psychedelics move into late phase trials and expanded access, including the importance of quality training and culturally-informed care.

Presented by Mercy (Vicki-Anne) RODRIGUE, M.Ed., CCC, and Destiny Johnson

Mercy is a Canadian Certified Counsellor and holds a certificate in Mediation and a master’s degree in Counselling Psychology (formerly Educational Counselling). A trauma specialist, Mercy has an expertise in Anxiety Disorders (with a focus on PTSD), Eating Disorders (with a focus on Obesity) and Psychotic Disorders (with a focus on Schizophrenia). She has worked as an EAP Crisis Counsellor, a Conflict Resolution Practitioner, a Harassment Prevention Advisor, a Values and Ethics Advisor and a Mental Health and Wellness Coordinator, all for the Federal Public Service. She currently works for EPSI as a Senior Consultant in Talent Management and collaborates on various projects related to human resources. Mercy aspires to complete her doctorate in Neuroscience and is currently studying to become an ordained minister.

Destiny Johnson has worked as a spiritual care counselor, grief counselor, life coach, mentor and personal motivational coach for more than 7 years. Since her arrival to Canada, she has passionately served (volunteered) in many community support and mental health support capacities, including front-line with vulnerable clients of substance abuse, physical abuse, personality disorders, refugee welcome center counseling, family counseling and clients in recovery. Destiny is an ordained Pastor, who holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Communications with a minor in Journalism, Master’s studies in Holistic Nutrition and Accounting, a Diploma in Addictions and Community Support, a Diploma in Mental Health and recently received certification in Psychological First Aid.

Research has shown that spirituality and religion have several mental health benefits. However very little attention has been provided to negative spiritual and religious experiences. Additionally, these same elements are absent in most counselling curricula. To what extent is mental illness an illness? Is there a remote possibility that mental illness may be a form of demonic possession? If so, how can mental health experts clearly delineate whether they are treating a mental health disease versus a possible spiritual stronghold? This workshop aims to identify the pros and cons of spiritual and/or religious experiences and offers participants the opportunity to question whether mental illness is truly a disease or if it could be the result of a spiritual stronghold.

Presented by Amanda Neilson CYW, BSW, RSW

Amanda Neilson is a Harm Reduction Consultant and addiction counsellor currently working at Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services. In partnership with Rideauwood and Algonquin College, Amanda was the subject matter expert, developing and implementing a harm reduction framework for post-secondary institutions. Amanda also teaches part-time at Algonquin College in the Social Service Worker program. She is currently completing her Master of Social Work degree through the University of Victoria. Amanda is registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers.  Amanda has more than 20 years’ experience working with youth, adults and their families within the addiction and mental health sector.  In addition to her work with individuals, groups and post-secondary institutions, Amanda is a passionate and sough-after community speaker, trainer and educator.

This engaging and informative workshop focuses on developing participants’ understanding of problematic substance use and addiction through a trauma informed lens.  By including the impact of trauma in the current biopsychosocial model, participants will be able to broaden their intervention strategies and utilize a compassionate framework. Drawing from the works of Dr. Gabor Mate, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, as well as my 20 years of experience within the addiction field, this workshop invites participants to share and grow their knowledge to more effectively support clients with substance use issues. A full day workshop would include exploring trauma informed interventions.

More Updates Coming Soon

More Updates Coming Soon