About Peer Circles
Join a Peer Circle for Insightful Professional Development and Connection
Are you looking for meaningful professional development that offers more than just information? Peer Circles bring together mental health professionals across Ontario to learn, connect, and grow in a supportive, collaborative environment. These sessions offer a unique chance to explore real-world challenges, share experiences, and deepen your understanding of standards of practice.
Why Participate in a Peer Circle?
- Support Safe and Effective Care: Peer Circles create a supportive space to discuss complex practice scenarios and make informed decisions that prioritize client care.
- Reduce Professional Isolation: In a field where work can often be solitary, Peer Circles provide an opportunity to connect with peers who understand the challenges and rewards of mental health practice.
- Explore Ethical Grey Areas: Engage in thoughtful discussions around ethical dilemmas and “grey areas” in practice, gaining clarity and confidence in your approach to these challenging situations.
- Clarify Standards and Eliminate Misinformation: Guided by trained facilitators, Peer Circles help participants interpret standards accurately, identify any misconceptions, and gain practical insights for applying ethical frameworks in practice.
What You Can Expect from Peer Circle Sessions
Each Peer Circle is led by a skilled facilitator who encourages open discussion and collaboration. As a participant, you’ll work through a variety of case scenarios and apply ethical decision-making frameworks to navigate complex situations. Although specific topics vary, Peer Circles provide valuable guidance on standards of practice, confidentiality, consent, and information sharing, all within Ontario’s legal and regulatory context.
Benefits of Joining a Peer Circle
- Collaborative Learning: Engage in shared learning experiences that enhance your decision-making skills and deepen your professional knowledge.
- Practical Insight: Analyze real-world scenarios to better understand and apply ethical standards to your work.
- Strengthen Professional Connections: Build a network of colleagues who share your commitment to ethical and effective mental health practice.
CRPO has partnered with OAMHP to offer these valuable Peer Circle sessions, allowing mental health professionals to learn from each other and navigate complex practice issues in a safe, structured environment.
OAMHP is excited to offer Peer Circle sessions this year, led by six incredible CRPO-trained facilitators dedicated to fostering professional growth and connection. Join us to experience a different kind of professional development that not only expands your skills but also enriches your community in the field of mental health.
Sessions
Peer Circle: Case Study Small Group Discussion
Facilitated by: Katharine De Santos, RP
A Peer Circle is an interactive discussion focusing on gaining a better understanding of practice standards. To get the most from this online session, please consider having your camera on and engaging fully in discussion with your own personal experiences. Please note that the Peer Circle will not be recorded to ensure the privacy of all participants.
Registration is limited to 15 participants
OAMHP Members
Non-Members
Peer Circle: Case Study Small Group Discussion
Facilitated by: Elizabeth Scarlett, RP
A Peer Circle is an interactive discussion focusing on gaining a better understanding of practice standards. To get the most from this online session, please consider having your camera on and engaging fully in discussion with your own personal experiences. Please note that since the Peer Circle is designed to provide a safe space to explore grey areas and ethical dilemmas, the Peer Circle will not be recorded to ensure the privacy of all participants.
Registration is limited to 15 participants
OAMHP Members
Non-Members
Facilitators
Katharine De Santos
Katharine De Santos is a Registered Psychotherapist in Toronto with over 20 years of experience treating adults with various clinical symptoms and concerns including: depression, anxiety, trauma, relationships, substance use/addiction issues and eating disorders in Canada and the United States. She maintains an active engagement in Ontario’s psychotherapeutic community as the President of the Board of Directors of the OAMHP – as well as Chair of the Association's Public Policy Committee. As a compassionate and understanding therapist, she encourages self-discovery, self-acceptance and provides a positive space to heal and grow.
Laure-Marie Carignan
Laure-Marie Carignan, PhD, RP, T.C.F./R.C.F.T., has maintained a clinical practice for over 25 years in direct intervention and clinical supervision and training within community service agencies in the national capital region. She is a Post-Doctoral Fellow and part-time professor at Saint-Paul University, teaching psychotherapy and couple and family intervention skills, psycho-spiritual development of children and adolescents, couple and family development, ethics, and relational and clinical implications of neurodiversity. Her current research relates to the psychological impact of climate change. Laure-Marie has been active with CRPO as a quality assurance case writer and peer circle facilitator. She has also been active with OAMHP, facilitating a peer support group for supervisors, presenting a workshop on neurodiversity at the 1st OAMHP Annual Conference, and facilitating a number of peer circle on ethical issues.
Elizabeth Scarlett
Elizabeth Scarlett has worked in the mental health field for over 20 years, specializing in concurrent disorders, complex trauma and suicide intervention in a wide range of settings. Through her work as a clinical supervisor, CRPO trained peer circle facilitator, CRPO practice advisor, and workshop presenter, Elizabeth is committed to providing a collaborative, open and encouraging environment to support the development of mental health professionals at all stages in their career.
Jane Alway
Jane Alway is an RP with a private practice in York Region who also has experience working within clinics and agencies. She has been a board member of the OAMHP since 2013 where she has not only served as President but has also Chaired the Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee, the Governance and Risk Management Committee, and Nominations Committee. She is currently the Treasurer for the OAMHP.
Terri Roberton
Terri Roberton, RP, has 15 years experience as an Expressive Arts Therapist in private practice and works alongside clients with concurrent disorders through agencies in the downtown eastside. She was on the original executive, 2009, and is a 3 term ex-officio president of the Ontario Expressive Arts Therapy Association (OEATA) where she continues to sit on the Governance and Ethics Committees. She researched and co-shaped the OEATA Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. Terri represents OEATA at the Partnership of Registered Psychotherapist Associations. She has been a member of OAMHP since 2009."
For more information about this program, email services-coordinator@oamhp.ca