Training & Workshops for Healthcare Providers

Intended Audience: healthcare/mental health practitioners

Content: This workshop provides an overview of theory and practice of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (Linehan, 2014). It reviews Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and emotion dysregulation, and why DBT was developed to support people impacted by BPD. It will review the four components of traditional DBT, and introduce the four modules for skills building of DBT: Mindfulness, Emotion Regulation, Distress Tolerance, and Interpersonal Effectiveness. Case examples will be reviewed in various clinical settings (health psychology, severe mental health, family services) to review how DBT theory can be applied to more effectively support people impacted by BPD and emotion dysregulation.

Intended Audience: healthcare/mental health practitioners

Content: Although most healthcare providers have learned about the condition Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), few have an in-depth understanding of BPD and its etiology. This lack of understanding leads people living with BPD to experience additional barriers and stigma in healthcare. This presentation reviews the symptoms and presentations of BPD, and helps to foster both understanding and compassion for those impacted by the disorder. It will also equip members to feel more comfortable and prepared to navigate support for people living with BPD.

Intended Audience: mental health practitioners

Content: When we consider that 1 in 2 people will be impacted by cancer in their lifetime, it is highly likely that we will encounter psychotherapy clients who either experience a diagnosis or have a loved one go through cancer. Health Psychologists can be a helpful resource, but there are ways that you can learn to support your clients through this difficult period.

This talk aims to equip practitioners to know how they can continue to support their clients through a cancer diagnosis. We will review provide an overview of cancer care, review common reactions to cancer, and discuss some strategies for supporting clients through their (or a loved one’s) diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.

Intended Audience: healthcare/mental health practitioners

Content: Diabetes healthcare providers collaborate with their patients and depend on them to ensure that they are engaging in proper diabetes self-care and self-management. When they seem not to be adhering to recommendations, it is important to consider psychological and social barriers that might be impacting their adherence. Equipped with this knowledge, diabetes healthcare providers will feel more equipped to troubleshoot when their patients are having challenges with their diabetes self-management. This talk discusses:

1. What is the relationship between mental health and diabetes?

2. What are some ways that emotions and mental health might interfere with diabetes self-care?

3. What are some strategies to overcome these barriers?

Intended Audience: healthcare & mental health practitioners in cancer care

Content: This presentation provides an overview of trauma and trauma-informed care. It integrates both theory and practice to aid providers in tailoring their care practices to better support patients from a trauma-informed perspective. It additionally covers how to manage personal reactions to difficult behaviours related to traumatic responses.

Some topics that will be discussed include:

1. An introduction to trauma and common psychological responses

2. How trauma can impact cancer care

3. How to encourage someone to seek mental health care

4. Basic grounding strategies

5. Managing personal responses/vicarious trauma when hearing about trauma

Intended Audience: mental health practitioners

Content: This workshop provide an introduction to psychological responses to chronic illnesses. We will review how to consider the psychological and social impacts of a chronic illness as they arise in practice and when to refer to a health psychologist. Various theoretical orientations will be reviewed to discuss their utility in chronic illness psychological adjustment.