Friday, September 25
YOUTH: GRIPPED BY GANGS (1)
If you work with youth at risk and their families, you will find this workshop will enhance your skills and knowledge in dealing with at-risk youth. This interactive workshop will provide insight into gangs from the perspective of those that have lived the life and escaped.
The workshop will examine the following critical issues:
· How gang involvement begins.
· What involvement means for those inside gangs.
· How to effectively implement specific skills which will empower at-risk youth.
INSTRUCTOR: Amir Javid, founder, REAL WORLD TRUTH (RWT). Amir Javid was born in Iran and immigrated to Richmond, B.C. with his family at the age of 6. In his teens, Amir entered the gang lifestyle – one that included violence, drugs and crime. Amir has since found a new calling, and through RWT works with youth at risk. In addition, Amir attends school, volunteers in his community, while supporting his wife and son.
Friday, October 16
SURFING STRESS SUCCESSFULLY (2)
Finding healthier solutions to workplace challenges requires remaining receptive to opposing thoughts and ideas. This workshop will provide practitioners with an opportunity to experience and learn two of Gary’s relationships tools from his Enlightening Moments™ Training. It is possible to free yourself from old patterns and discover a conscious alternative to dealing with stress at work. The workshop will include:
· Four relationship styles and how they interact.
· Discovering your relationship style.
· Breathing and meditation techniques to release stress.
· How diet can prevent or cause stress.
· Simple exercises to prevent workplace injuries.
INSTRUCTOR: Gary Bello, MA, (Integral Psychology - a comparison of Eastern and Western approaches to mental, emotional and physical well-being), Hatha Yoga and Meditation Teachers’ Certificate, co-founder of “Stress Reduction Center” in Burlington, Vermont and past executive director of Montreal’s “Integral Yoga Institute”. After 40 years of studying and practicing yoga and meditation, Gary travels the U.S. and Canada offering his fusion of Western psychology and Eastern philosophy.
Thursday, November 5
BOUNDARY SETTING TO SERVE CLIENT NEEDS (3)
Setting appropriate boundaries is fundamental to the development of healthy relationships with clients. In this workshop we will explore the meaning of setting limits. We will learn skills to determine what appropriates boundaries are and how to maintain them. We will explore the relationship between setting boundaries and meeting the needs of clients. Through case examples we will identify different types that are integral to keeping the best interest of the clients as the priority. We will also explore the many challenges that social service providers face when defining boundaries to clients.
INSTRUCTOR: Eleanor Lipov, BA, MSW, is a registered social worker. She has been a therapist at Family Services of Greater Vancouver for over 20 years which have included supervising counselling practicum students. Eleanor has also been a Field Liaison for practicum students at the School of Social Work at UBC for 20 years. In addition, Eleanor was the coordinator of the Women’s Sexual Abuse Survivor’s Program in New Westminster for 10 years, has facilitated groups for battered women and was a rape crisis counsellor.
Friday, December 4
ABC PERSONAL FINANCES: FOR CLIENTS (4)
This workshop will provide you with the knowledge and tools needed to share with your clients and support them in their personal money managment. This is an essential life skill that many have never been taught, yet choices on how it is earned, spent, saved and borrowed can have a tremendous impact on their lives. Learn practical skills which will provide your clients with a basic guidelines for financial goal setting, using a spending/saving plan, banking and savings tools and the wise use of credit.
INSTRUCTOR: Melanie Buffel, BA, studied Community Economic Development at S.F.U. Melanie has a passion for encouraging people to develop strong personal money management skills in order to build their assets and make their dreams come true. Melanie has worn many hats as a project manager, employment counsellor, small business developer, loans officer and community development consultant. Currently she is the Facilitator in the Money Skills: Financial Literacy Program at Family Services of Greater Vancouver and the Coordinator of the BC Asset Building Collaborative.
Friday, January 8
Location: Board Rm., 1616 West 7th Ave, Vancouver
MINDFULNESS-BASED COGNITIVE THERAPY (MBCT) (5)
MBCT is a group intervention integrating cognitive behaviour therapy for depression with mindfulness meditation, teaching formerly depressed patients new skills in order to help prevent relapse. Key themes include experiential learning and the development of an open and acceptant mode of response. Increased mindfulness allows early detection of patterns of negative thinking, feelings, and body sensations, allowing them to be "nipped in the bud". Formulations of specific prevention strategies are included in the later stages of treatment. In this workshop you will learn:
· the link between the development of MBCT and a model of cognitive vulnerability to depression
· outcomes from randomized trials of MBCT for the prevention of depressive relapse
· the MBCT protocol.
INSTRUCTOR: Mark Lau, PhD, is a clinical psychologist, Research Scientist and Director, British Columbia Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Network, BC Mental Health and Addiction Services and an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at U.B.C. Prior to moving to Vancouver in 2006, Dr. Lau was Deputy Head of the Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Unit at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto. Dr. Lau has presented MBCT workshops across North America and in the United Kingdom. He has been awarded the Scientist-Practitioner Award from the British Columbia Psychological Association and the Excellence in Continuing Mental Health Education Award from the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto.
Friday, February 5
HELPING THE HELPER: DEVELOP YOUR CREATIVE SIDE (6)
Counsellors, therapists, front-line workers, are often the most creative people, and the counselling process one of the most creative processes. When working with clients, creativity and therapy often overlap. What is creative is frequently therapeutic and vice versa. Yet therapists are seldom encouraged to think of themselves as either creative people or the counselling process as using a variety of imaginative techniques. This workshop is designed to help the helpers intensify their connection with their own creative selves. The session focuses on factors which enhance their creativity and factors which inhibit it. We explore ways of dealing with a variety of social, cultural, educational, professional, and personal factors related to creativity. The workshop helps professionals find that place that looks at the world with new eyes, that speaks with a new voice, and that ultimately helps them work with their clients in new and profoundly healing ways.
INSTRUCTOR: Darylynn Starr Rank, MA, is a registered psychologist and writer. She has worked as a therapist, clinical director, college instructor, consultant, columnist, and screenwriter. She has taught courses in creativity in a variety of venues including Langara, UBC, Family Services of Greater Vancouver, Capilano University, and Electronic Arts. She is interested in exploring the profound connections between therapeutic work and our creative centres.
Friday, March 5 PROFESSIONALBOUNDARIES: THE SLIPPERY SLOPE (7)
Many of us are committed to working in the helping professions. We enjoy helping others. This workshop will explore your personal definitions of what help means in relationship to what kind of assistance you are able to offer. Conflict can arise for front line workers. We will explore four communication statements that are essential to excel at in order to build and maintain strong boundaries. We will spend time on identifying cues and warning signs when boundaries are beginning to drift. Prevention is key in avoiding mild, medium and serious boundary violations.
INSTRUCTOR: Elaine Stoll, BA, RTC, registered clinical counsellor with over 25 years of experience in the helping professions. Elaine works with both men and women who use violence. She counsels teens, adults, couples as well as contracts her teaching/training skills to corporations and organizations. Elaine is also an accredited Choice Theory instructor with the William Glasser Institute in Los Angeles.
Friday, April 9
THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS: WHAT THE MODERN, SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF WELL-BEING HAS TO TEACH US (8)
This workshop will begin with a brief review of the modern scientific approach to the subject of "happiness"…from psychology, economics, political science, spiritual disciplines, and philosophy. Key findings and applications will be presented. Some may surprise you. We will examine how to use this knowledge in work with clients, and see how it may impact goal setting and guiding decisions. A final consideration will include implications for the problem of depression (lack of happiness).
INSTRUCTOR: Susan Silver, BSc, MSc (Clinical Psychology) has been working with groups and families for 30 years. She has extensive experience leading adult education/counselling groups on a wide variety of topics, including assertiveness, what to do with the rest of my life, parenting challenging teens, communication skills and immigrant/refugee issues. Susan's approach is family centered and focuses on strengths and positive possibilities. She retired from full time work more than five years ago.
Friday, May 7
FOSTERING CLIENT SELF-EVALUATION SKILLS (9)
Those seeking your help may have become dependent on what other people think and want for them i.e., weak boundaries. This sets the stage for violations. You can help your clients become stronger themselves by building more resiliency which will enable them to establish their own strong boundaries. We will explore a resiliency toolbox that you can take back to your clients to help them self-evaluate their strengths and challenges.
INSTRUCTOR: Elaine Stoll BA, RTC, registered clinical counsellor with over 25 years of experience in the helping professions. Elaine works with both men and women who use violence. She counsels teens, adults, couples as well as contracts her teaching/training skills to corporations and organizations. Elaine is also an accredited Choice Theory instructor with the William Glasser Institute in Los Angeles.
Contact Information for Professional Development
Family Services of Greater Vancouver
#200 - 1638 East Broadway
Vancouver BC V5N 1W1
Phone: 604.638.3390
Fax: 604.638.3392
