September 29 - October 1, 2022
This Conference is over, and registration is closed
**NOTE: The 2022 Conference is over, but check our website for details about our upcoming 2023 Conference!
The OAMHP is excited to be running another amazing conference this year. Our 2022 Annual Conference will again be online, allowing everyone to learn and connect virtually.
While we had planned for a hybrid in-person/virtual conference, we have made a difficult decision to offer the conference and workshops virtually only. The in-person opportunity to connect will have to wait!!
We still hope that you will find the OAMHP Conference to be a space to reflect, re-connect, re-energize, and re-commit to the mental health care profession - even virtually.
It’s a great opportunity to learn and to share your own work with others. We are looking forward to seeing you there!
Registration
Conference Schedule
Burnout and Butterflies: Dual-Process Model Strategies for COVID-Stressed Counsellors
Sept 29
6:00PM-10:00PM
Speakers: Dawn McBride, Ph.D., Registered Psychologist, Tenured Associate Professor, in Private Practice, and Alyson Worrall, Ph.D. (Educ), Registered Psychologist, in Private Practice
As a result of the rise in mental health issues among the general population caused by the pandemic, counsellors have seen a large increase in demand for their services. This, in turn, has led to an increase in counsellor burnout and overwhelm as they try to help clients cope with anxiety and social isolation while they themselves are faced with similar issues caused by the pandemic. The pandemic created a unique situation where both the counsellor and client come together subjected to similar physiological and emotional stressors. This applied workshop will address ways in which counsellors can decrease their own sense of overwhelm while continuing to assist clients. There is a very large experiential component to this workshop, including creating an origami butterfly.
Intended for:
Mental Health Professionals
Learning Level:
Introductory
Qualifies for:
3 CECs
Intended for:
Mental Health Professionals
Learning Level:
Introductory
Qualifies for:
3 CECs
Secure Parent, Secure Child; Insecure Parent, Secure Child
Sept 30
9:00AM-12:00PM
2:00PM-5:00PM
Speaker: Annette Kussin, M.S.W., RSW, Psychotherapist
There is clear evidence from research that the Adult Attachment of the parents, particularly the primary caregiver, is a predictor of the Attachment of the child. This signifies the importance of parents developing secure attachment either before having children or after they have their children. Even parents with Insecure Adult Attachments who understand their Attachment category and the effect on their own personalities and their parenting, will be able to parent more effectively and not personalize their children’s issues. The workshop will help participants learn the Adult Attachment Categories, based on the research of Dr. Mary Main and how each category affects parenting. Participants will learn how to determine a parent’s adult attachment and how to reflect this to the parents with whom they are working non-judgementally. Parenting interventions will focus on helping parents understand how their attachment affects their parenting, how to parent using secure parenting responses and how they can ensure they do not transmit their insecure attachment to their child/ren. It is important that therapists and counsellors working with an attachment lens understand their own Adult Attachment.
Intended for:
Mental Health Professionals
Learning Level:
Introductory
Qualifies for:
6 CECs
Intended for:
Mental Health Professionals
Learning Level:
Introductory
Qualifies for:
6 CECs
Developing Your Personalized Approach to Supervision: The Contextual-Functional Approach
Sept 30
9:00AM-12:00PM
2:00PM-5:00PM
Speaker: Jeff Chang, Ph.D., R.Psych.
Clinical supervision is the “signature pedagogy” of behavioral health disciplines. Supervisees differ in their developmental needs (from Master's practicum students to postdoctoral licensure candidates), with diverse theoretical orientations, work contexts, and intersectional identities.
The Contextual Functional Meta-Framework (CFM), with six components and nine roles of supervisors, is a guiding framework for supervision practice. This workshop will guide participants through six components of the CFM, and the nine roles of supervisors. By the conclusion of the workshop, they will be led to develop a personalized framework for supervision.
Because the six components orient supervisors to what to think about, as opposed to telling them what to think, this is not a model of supervision, but a meta-framework. Because the components and supervisory functions are not tied to a particular theoretical orientation, discipline, or professional activity, the net effect is a practical approach to supervision that is sensitive to contextual and organizational demands, acknowledges the various “hats” that supervisors wear, focuses on what works, attends to the life stage of the supervisee, and sees supervision as a medium for life-long learning. The supervision process attends to the development of the practitioner, but only earns its keep when it enhances service delivery and clinical effectiveness.
Intended for:
Current and prospective clinical supervisors
Learning Level:
Intermediate
Qualifies for:
6 CECs
Intended for:
Current and prospective clinical supervisors
Learning Level:
Intermediate
Qualifies for:
6 CECs
Private Practice in a Post-COVID World: How can we continue to use the flexibility we’ve learned?
Sept 30
9:00AM-12:00PM
Speaker: Michael Decaire, M.A., C.Psych., RP
COVID-19 was disruptive to our daily and professional lives. In this practically focused workshop, we will demonstrate how FLEX Psychology was already well positioned to adapt to many demands of COVID-19, but also how we were forced to flexibly adapt to many unexpected challenges.
Finally, we will focus on the lessons learned and how we can use this to make future proof, efficacious, adaptable, and financially successful clinics that can not only survive future disruptions, but thrive within whatever in person and online care space presents itself in the future.
Intended for:
Private practitioners
Learning Level:
Introductory
Qualifies for:
3 CECs
Intended for:
Private practitioners
Learning Level:
Introductory
Qualifies for:
3 CECs
Mindful Hypnotherapy and its Therapeutic Concepts, Techniques and Implications
Sept 30
2:00PM-5:00PM
Speakers: Dr. Sayyed Mohsen Fatemi, Ph.D and Debbie Papadakis
This workshop offers a new perspective on hypnotherapy and its therapeutic implications. Integrating Langerian mindfulness with hypnotherapy, the workshop provides the audience with a new understanding of hypnotherapy and its applications and implications.
Beginning with a preamble on hypnosis, hypnotherapy and its components, the presenters will then discuss the therapeutic applications of hypnotherapy in a wide variety of contexts including insomnia, pain management, relaxation, stress management, trauma, weight loss, addiction, anxiety management.
The discussions will continue to focus on different levels of awareness and consciousness by exploring prepersonal, personal and transpersonal and preconventional, conventional and post conventional realms and explore the distinctions between knowledge and wisdom in wider therapeutic contexts.
The distinction illustrates how wisdom considerably goes beyond knowledge. Whereas knowledge is acquired through information, wisdom needs understanding it. Knowledge and wisdom focus on dialectics of having and being. Knowledge is something we have; wisdom is something we must become. Knowledge informs us, whereas wisdom transforms us; knowledge empowers, wisdom enlightens.
The presenters then turn to mindfulness and its two mainstream versions: meditation-based mindfulness and Langerian mindfulness. By integrating Langerian mindfulness with hypnotherapy, the presentation will discuss, explain and describe the features and components of mindful hypnotherapy and its uniqueness in offering therapeutic interventions.
Intended for:
Mental health professionals
Learning Level:
Introductory
Qualifies for:
3 CECs
Intended for:
Mental health professionals
Learning Level:
Introductory
Qualifies for:
3 CECs
The Psychedelic Psychotherapy Renaissance: Evidence-based or Trendy-taboo?
Oct 1
9:00AM-12:00PM
Speaker: Dr. Tatiana Zdyb
The resurgence of psychedelics for the legal treatment of patients with mental illness has been gaining significant momentum both within the medical & health investment communities over the last few years. This work session brings together a comprehensive overview of the current research findings, key insights to date, evidence-based treatment models and other key information for mental healthcare professionals.
Discussion topics
● Findings/limitations of the current research
● Common patient questions / concerns
● Legalities and extended health benefit reimbursement
● Case study(s)
Intended for:
Mental health professionals
Learning Level:
Introductory
Qualifies for:
3 CECs
Intended for:
Mental health professionals
Learning Level:
Introductory
Qualifies for:
3 CECs
Trans 101: Transitioning
Oct 1
9:00AM-12:00PM
Speaker: Silvana Hernando, Rainbow Health Ontario
This workshop will help attendees to explain social and legal transition for children, youth, adults, and seniors, explain puberty suppression for trans and non-binary youth, explain transition-related hormone therapy for trans and non-binary adults and seniors, explain which transition-related surgeries are funded by the government of Ontario, Canada for trans and non-binary adults and seniors, recognize that transition is a process and it is unique for every person, and practice according to WPATH’s Standards of Care.
Intended for:
Mental health professionals
Learning Level:
Intermediate
Qualifies for:
3 CECs
Intended for:
Mental health professionals
Learning Level:
Intermediate
Qualifies for:
3 CECs
Effective Therapeutic Support for Autistic and Neurodiverse Youth and Adults
Oct 1
9:00AM-12:00PM
Speaker: Alisha Stubbs, MSW, RSW, PhD(c)
This session will include an overview of mental health and the intersection of autism. Included in this will be the complexities such as other intersections (such as gender and race) and a component of therapist-reflexivity to center positionality. Further, the complexities of the autism and neurodiversity movements and discourses will be overviewed to provide context of various themes in the autistic community.
Next, recent research on mental health and autism will be presented to showcase the current need for responsive services in the mental health sector. This will include incidences of anxiety, depression and suicidality among autistic individuals. Often times autism gets compartmentalized by Ministry funding and as a result, the increasing number of folks on the spectrum requiring both crisis and ongoing mental health supports are in a position of working with professionals with limited experience with autism. Likewise, therapists are put in a position of supporting autistic clients with limited training and experience.
Finally, the session will provide practical tools for mental health professionals to implement into their practice. This will include areas on adapting cognitive behaviour therapy, providing sensory-accommodating spaces, and other indicators for increased support for autistic clients engaging in mental health services.
Intended for:
Mental health professionals who engage in therapy
Learning Level:
Introductory/Intermediate
Qualifies for:
3 CECs
Focus On:
Focus on neurodiverse clients
Intended for:
Mental health professionals who engage in therapy
Learning Level:
Introductory/Intermediate
Focus On:
Focus on neurodiverse clients
Qualifies for:
3 CECs
Meet with Representatives from Your Regulatory College at OAMHP’s Annual Conference
OAMHP is pleased to announce free conference sessions from three regulatory colleges will again be happening at the OAMHP Annual Conference. All conference attendees and all OAMHP members will be able to attend a 1-hour presentation and Q&A with the College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO), the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO), or the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW).
These talks will give you the chance to connect with the college and ask questions that will help you better understand the role of the college and how it can support you in your work.
College of Psychologists of Ontario
Date: Thursday September 22 from 1:00-2:00 PM
- Topic: Public Protection and Regulatory Support
- Speaker: Barry Gang, MBA, Dip.C.S., C.Psych. Assoc. Deputy Registrar & Director of Professional Affairs
College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario
Date: Tuesday September 27 from 1:00-2:00 PM
- Topic: Everything You Need to Know About Your College
- Speakers: Deborah Adams, Registrar & CEO
Sonya Teece, Manager – Quality Assurance Program - The purpose of this session is to provide registrants and potential registrants with an update on the work taking place in each of the College’s core areas, with particular focus on the QA program overhaul; the development of a diversity, equity and inclusion strategy; and opportunities to participate in and inform CRPO’s public protection work.
Attendees are encouraged to come prepared to engage in a Q & A session, since the goal is for everyone to leave the session well-informed about the responsibilities and benefits of psychotherapy regulation in Ontario.
Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers
Date: Tuesday October 4 from 1:00-2:00 PM
- Topic: Demystifying the Regulation Process: An Overview Through the Lens of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW)
- Speaker: Sue Botelho, MSW, RSW Professional Practice Associate
- The OCSWSSW has the important mandate of protecting the public through the regulation of the social work and social service work professions. This presentation will walk through how the OCSWSSW fulfills its mandate with a focus on how it supports the ethical and professional practice of members. Discussion will include a description of the proactive services offered by the OCSWSSW, such as consultations and resources, as well as information on the complaints and discipline process.
Please note: all details for attending a regulatory college presentation session including the Zoom link will be provided on the My OAMHP Community Conference Group and at the conference.
You do not have to register for these! They are open to all conference attendees and OAMHP members!
Information on how to attend will be provided in September in the My OAMHP Community Conference Group. However, you can RSVP to let us know your interest and to send us any questions in advance.
Conference Prices
Regular Pricing in effect July 11- September 28
Prices do not include HST
Event Speakers
Click on a Speaker for More info
OAMHP would like to thank our conference sponsors for their generous support.
Call for exhibitors and sponsors
As our largest event of the year, the conference represents a unique opportunity to reach our membership of over 3,000 mental healthcare professionals from across Ontario. Being an exhibitor or sponsor is a great way to promote your work and support the OAMHP.
We have options to fit every budget, from small independent businesses to large corporations. Have a look at our sponsorship menu for pricing and details. If you are interested or have more questions, please contact Nadia Halim at nhalim@oamhp.ca