Presented by Dr. Ignatius Odongo, DBA, MPM, FCIM & Prof. Oxford York, PhD, MA, CCC, CTP, CGP, CSTIP, RMFT-Assoc.

Dr. Ignatius Odongo, FCIM, MPM, MBA, DBA  is a Strategy and Organizational Development consultant. Dr. Odongo has been involved in several research projects sponsored by the Institute of Development Studies of the University of Sussex (UK), University Research Co. LLC (URC) Center for Human Services (USA), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health (Centre for Communication Programs), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Oxfam Great Britain, White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, World Vision International, ZOA Refugee Care and Save the Children. He has a strong passion in working with families, educating youths and creating innovative ways for youth employment in South Africa and elsewhere.

Prof. Oxford York is an integrative psychotherapist and certified informed professional in trauma, grief and sex. He studied Neuroscience and Neuropsychology at McGill University. Also, he has worked for 23 years, in Critical Care, Ambulance and Anesthesia settings before returning to school to complement his knowledge  of the human being by studying Spirituality and Counselling at Saint Paul University. This allowed him to understand the mind, body and spirit to incorporate into his private practice for whole-person health and healing. His client work caters to individual, couple and family mental health care needs.

The learning outcome of this webinar is to increase each practitioner’s comprehension on male mental health and how it affects men’s emotional intelligence and psychological safety.  Participants will learn to:

1. Acknowledge the prevalence and challenges of male mental health issues
2. define toxic masculinity and it’s impact on emotional intelligence
3. explain how gender socialization influences emotional intelligence
4. identify symptoms of men mental health issues
5. identify cultural differences in men’s upbringing
6. better comprehend black toxic masculinity
7. appreciate how healing from toxic masculinity make you a better husband, father, brother and a son
8. better inform clients on improving their own health by being active and informed.

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Presented by Dr. Helen Ofosu, MA, PhD

1 hour = 1 cec

Dr. Helen Ofosu has been practising Industrial / Organizational Psychology (also known as Work or Business Psychology) in the public, non-profit, and private sectors for over 20 years. In addition to Career and Executive Coaching, her specialties include the assessment and development of leadership skills and navigating the complex issues of workplace bullying, harassment, diversity and inclusion.

Dr. Ofosu is an Adjunct Professor of Psychology at Carleton University, and she is the Chair of the Section on Black Psychology at the Canadian Psychological Association. She’s thrilled to have a new book, “How to be Resilient in Your Career: Facing Up to Barriers at Work,” published by Routledge in February 2023.

I am an Organizational Psychologist who offers executive coaching and career coaching. In my practice,

I see clients who struggle with work-related issues and often benefit from the services provided by members of the CCPA.

I will address the problematic experiences of underemployment, impostor syndrome,

harassment/bullying and discrimination, and navigating the workplace as a member of an underrepresented

group. These topics will be discussed within the context of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and mental

health.

Counsellors and psychotherapists who have worked primarily in private practice will benefit from the

insights I share based on 15+ years in a traditional workplace, my background in organizational

psychology, and 10+ years of experience in career and executive coaching. My remarks will also be

grounded in EDI principles and linked to my new book “How to Be Resilient in Your Career: Facing Up to Barriers at Work.”

I appreciate the value of practical and actionable sessions, so I always make my presentations easy to

understand so that attendees can implement the content I share. Attendees will come away with a clearer

understanding of the complexities of the modern workplace, many hidden challenges their clients face, and

some accessible resources for continued learning.

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Mego Nerses has a Master’s degree in Counselling from the University of Ottawa and is a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. He is also a Certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA). Mego has a private practice in Ottawa and provide services in English, Arabic and Armenian. In addition to his clinical practice, Mego Nerses is a seasonal professor at Algonquin College, teaching courses in mental health and addiction. They have published peer-reviewed articles and contributed chapters on counseling, coming out, and trauma, specifically related to LGBTQ+ refugees and newcomers in Canada. Mego Nerses has presented workshops and offers trainings nationally and internationally on the mental health of LGBTQI+ and SOGIE refugees and asylum seekers. Mego has been conducting immigration and asylum evaluations for the Canadian Immigration Courts for over 10 years. He is trained to provide asylum and forensic evaluations. For his dedication to helping LGBTQ+ refugees and asylum seekers, Mego Nerses received the 2017 Humanitarian Award from the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA).

Immigration clinical evaluations can be very challenging and complex, especially when it comes to refugee claims. This type of evaluation requires a unique combination of clinical, ethical, and professional skills. This introductory workshop will cover a wide range of topics related to immigration evaluations. It is an opportunity for participants to learn different styles of conducting evaluations such as asylum claims, violence against women, LGBTQI, hardships, human trafficking and torture survivors

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Presented by Dr. Mary Hogan Finlay, PhD & Jenn Nelson, RP.

Dr. Hogan-Finlay has worked as a healing professional and lecturer since the late 1960s, initially in Psychiatric nursing and later as a psychologist. She has taught at the Clake Institute of Psychiatry, University of Toronto. (Now CMHA); University of New Brunswick, N.B and Saint Paul University, Ottawa. She was an Associate at the Centre for Treatment of Sexual Abuse and Childhood trauma where she worked as a clinician/ supervisor and participated in rotations to teach and provide treatment throughout many communities in Nunavut. She currently works in her private practice with adult individuals and couples. She has been very excited working as a Certified Brainspotting therapist and Consultant in Brainspotting.

Jenn is a Registered Psychotherapist. She worked many years as a healing professional in community mental health and addictions. She was actively involved in the Ottawa DBT Consult Team. She is an avid learner and utilizes a wide range of therapeutic modalities. In 2019, she founded a private practice RHUAH Psychotherapy to individuals and those in relationships. Jenn is a certified Brainspotting Therapist and Consultant in Brianspotting. She is a skilled and experienced Trauma therapist. She also offers supervision, training and group facilitation.

Learning goals:

1. Attain an overview of Brainspotting (BSP), the theory, current research and introduction

to the technique of this treatment modality and treatment applications.

2.Information about Brainspotting trainings; Basic and more advanced.

*This talk will not prepare attendees to use Brainspotting. Phase 1 BSP

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Stephanie Buehler, MPW, PsyD, CST-S, IF is a licensed psychologist, AASECT Certified Sex

Therapist, and a Fellow of the Int. Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health. Dr.

Buehler is the author of several books, including the bestselling textbook What Every Mental

Health Professional Needs to Know about Sex, 3rd Ed. Dr. Buehler has spoken to lay and

professional audiences all over North America and around the globe.

In this presentation, participants will learn the fundamentals of assessing and treating sexual

issues using suggestions, education, and a solution-focused approach.

Participants will learn to:

1. Identify the symptoms of the most common sexual problems faced by clients.
2. Identify the most effective suggestions and information that clients can be given to

resolve these common sexual problems.

3. Utilize a solution-focused approach to counseling individuals and couples regarding their

sexual complaints.

4. Determine when a referral to a specialist or medical provider might be indicated

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Location: Mill Street Brew Pub, 555 Wellington Street Ottawa, ON

Date and Time: March 1st from 6pm – 10am

Free event and no registration required.

Great food, networking and door prizes.

Olivia Iorio is a graduate researcher in Honours Kinesiology and Clinical Exercise Physiology from Concordia University. Her thesis focused on the Relationship Between Paraspinal Muscle Cross-Sectional Area, Fatty Infiltration, and Muscle Strength in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain. With a passion for exercise as pain management and recognizing its importance for mental health, she aims to contribute to the field through further research and practice.

Prof. Oxford York is an integrative psychotherapist and certified informed professional in trauma, grief and sex. He studied Neuroscience and Neuropsychology at McGill University. Also, he has worked for 23 years, in Critical Care, Ambulance and Anesthesia settings before returning to school to complement his knowledge  of the human being by studying Spirituality and Counselling at Saint Paul University. This allowed him to understand the mind, body and spirit to incorporate into his private practice for whole-person health and healing.

The learning outcome of this webinar is to increase each practitioner’s comprehension of how pain is diagnosed and treated and how clients can improve their own health by being active and informed. In order to be ethical practitioners, it requires importance in comprehending whole-person care to everyone who needs  healing. Part of the mission as Psychotherapist and Counsellors is to inspire hope and contribute to health and well-being by providing education on the best practices in a safe and effective manner to every client through integrated clinical practice, research and applied knowledge.

This webinar is designed for mental health professionals to have a new way to better care for clients. This will be achieved by allowing each participant to create a system that allows enough time to thoroughly investigate client problems and to quickly and easily advise clients to see other specialists.

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The workshop is designed for mental health professionals who are supporting clients with a diagnosis of dementia or with a loved one with a diagnosis of dementia. This workshop is led by Kelly Wilkinson (M.Ed., CCC) who has 5 years of professional experience supporting families in memory clinics and family health teams in dementia grief counseling and education. This workshop provides a safe and supportive space for participants to learn and share.

Participants will learn about dementia and grief, related resources in Canada, and the practical techniques for navigating different phases of the disease. Topics discussed will include grief types, answering communicative behaviors, reminisce therapy, enhancing communication, improving self-care, and finding meaning in purpose. The workshop is focused on creating an opportunity for participants to learn through activities and share their experiences, strategies, and resources.

The learning outcomes for this workshop are to provide a robust framework for understanding the multiplicity of emotional challenges that individuals with dementia, and dementia caregivers encounter. This workshop aims to facilitate personal growth, open communication channels, and offer solutions to participants. Upon completing the workshop, participants will have a deeper understanding of the emotional, psychological, and social complications of dementia, learning applicable best practices for support.

Registration Link

Feb. 10 WINTER FULL-DAY WORKSHOP

BUILDING CAPACITY IN APPLYING A NEURODIVERSITY LENS TO COUNSELLING PRACTICE

Presented by Tara Connolly, M.A., RP

Tara Connolly M.A., RP, is a Transitions Specialist with over 20 years experience working with and learning from neurodiverent clients, including autistic adults and youth.  She has consulted on the use of inclusive practices to support accessibility in a variety of settings including school boards, post-secondary institutions, government agencies and healthcare settings, to build capacity in accessible practices.  She was instrumental in designing an innovative service that supports the transitions of students on the spectrum into and throughout post-secondary environments. It empowers students to leverage the tools they need for success and builds the capacity of the post-secondary community to recognize and effectively incorporate the inherent strengths of neurodivergent thinkers.

In her counseling practice, Tara supports a full neurodiversity of thinkers to thrive on their own terms and co-create meaningful transitions into and throughout adulthood. She offers training to other clinicians, educators and healthcare providers looking to increase their understanding of neurodiversity and learn more about how to work most effectively with clients on the spectrum and other neurodivergent thinkers. Tara is currently the Assistant Director, Research and Development for the READ Initiative (Research, Education, Accessibility & Design) at Carleton University.

This workshop is designed to help counselling practitioners explore the ways they can incorporate a neuroinclusive lens to the work of their practice.  It will include 4 components, with participants 1) Learning some of the impacts the lived experience of neurodivergence can have on individuals and how that can relate to their mental health and wellness,   2) examining some of the ways those lived experiences map onto the current way participants are delivering therapeutic support in their counselling practice, 3) learning some of the therapeutic approaches and theoretical orientations that are supportive to a neuroinclusive practice, and 4) learning some strategies they can apply and some potential changes they can make to improve the accessibility of their counselling services to neurodivergent individuals

This workshop requires a basic understanding of the concept of neurodiversity.

Learning Objectives:

• Gain understanding of the vast diversity and intersecting identities within the lived experiences within neurodivergent community
• Identify and determine the level to which the therapeutic practices they use and the way in which they deliver counselling services aligns with neurodivergent experiences  to promote best practices and accessible mental health support
• Discuss therapeutic process vs treatment, as it relates to an empowering approach for clients
• Identify some practices and therapeutic frameworks from the literature that are conducive to supporting neurodivergent clients
• Create an initial plan for implementing 3 practical strategies and/or changes in their practice that will be supportive of neurodivergent clients.

This workshop will include some theory and some experiential elements.  Participants will have the opportunity to learn from some first-person experience.  There will be some group work, as participants will be asked to consider the practical application of the strategies provided to their own practice and share with their fellow participants.

Registration Link

Presented by Danielle Vriend-Fluit, PhD, RP, RMFT & Danielle Braun-Kauffman, RCC

Danielle Vriend-Fluit is an Assistant Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy and has been

in clinical practice for 18 years. She is a Registered Psychotherapist as well as a Registered

Marriage & Family Therapist and is an Approved Clinical Supervisor with CAMFT. As part of

her teaching load, Danielle teaches a trauma-informed course and is trained in EMDR (Eye

Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy), and body-

based practices for trauma.

Danielle Braun-Kauffman is a Registered Clinical Counsellor and has been in clinical practice

for 19 years. She is a community leader in trauma-informed therapy and has worked

extensively with trauma using experiential, body-based practices, and psychedelic work. She

is Founder and Director of Repose Therapy in Abbotsford, BC and oversees 16 therapists and

3 interns. Her passion is for doing trauma-informed therapy well and for helping all clients find healing.

By the end of the workshop, participants will:

1.) Develop an understanding of the complex relationship between trauma and shame;

2.) Gain an understanding of the impact shame can have on healing trauma;

3.) Learn clinical conceptualizations of shame when working with clients;

4.) Develop knowledge of the cycles of shame / self-loathing for clients;

5.) Learn best practices and practical skills to working effectively with shame, specifically

through a trauma-informed lens.

6.) Be able to apply these interventions appropriately in their clinical work.

Registration Link