NOTE: MDPAC CE CREDITS - 1 hour of Self-Directed CE
$25 per recording for 90 days of access.
2025S1 - Therapeutic Relationship with Autistic Individuals
Autistic individuals are uniquely diverse yet, by diagnosis, share some common social challenges.
Jonathan Alderson specializes in best-practices that establish a rapid and deep “therapeutic alliance”.
Like all humans, autistic children and adults alike lean into relationships in which they feel secure, trusting, and loved. How can therapists, educators, and parents express these effectively to autistic students, family, and partners?
In this presentation, Jonathan will share insights and examples from his 25 years working directly with autistic people and their families.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of this webinar and discussion, attendees will be able to:
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Jonathan Alderson is the Founder and Director of the Integrative Multi-Treatment Intervention program for autism acceptance and development. Alderson offers a highly customized solution and specializes in blending play therapy, structured learning, ABA, sensory, and biomedical treatments into an integrated model, paying attention to order and timing. “The issues underlying the challenges of autistic children are multifaceted – so the treatment must also be multifaceted.” With a Masters from Harvard University and experience in Texas as the Curriculum Specialist Coordinator with Teach For America, he trained in autism treatment for eight years at the Autism Treatment Center of America in their Son-Rise Program in Massachusetts, where he worked as program administrator and Senior Family Trainer. He has worked with over 3000 families, over 25 years, supervising home-based programs in the UK, Ireland, Holland, Spain, Australia, Israel and Mexico. He has been a keynote speaker for The Saskatchewan Ministry of Health, The Primary Elementary Teachers Association of Halifax, The Geneva Centre for Autism. the Royal College of Pediatricians (University of Nottingham), and the Canadian Psychiatric Research Foundation.
He serves as the Chair of the Professional Advisory Committee of the Seneca College Behavioural Science Program. He was editor of the book Autism 101, 2nd Ed. and is the author of Challenging the Myths of Autism honoured with 7 awards including the Mom’s Choice Gold Award, and the International Book Award for Best Parent-Resource. He has been interviewed in the Toronto Globe and Mail, on CBC radio, Breakfast Television and is a contributor to the HuffingtonPost. He appeared in several episodes of the award-winning TV reality series Employable Me in which he coached adults with autism in their job search. Jonathan was editor of the book Autism 101, 2nd Ed. and is the author of the book Challenging the Myths of Autism, honoured with 7 awards including the Mom’s Choice Gold Award the International Book Award for Best Parent Resource.
In 2022 he founded Health Innovation Platform Inc leveraging technology to reach more families through the world’s first online instant individualized development plans for autistic children at www.Thriveguide.co
2024W2 - Re-learning Your ABC’s: A mini workshop for therapists to help clients navigate parenting their dysregulated child
Dr. Vivek Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General has released an advisory acknowledging that parents are under pressure. Stressors are high and children and parents are overwhelmed, dysregulated, and becoming more and more disconnected.
In this mini workshop, Dr. Julia Sen, psychologist, will walk you through re-relearning your ABC’s as a way to help your clients navigate parenting under pressure.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of the workshop you will be able to…
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Dr. Julia Sen is a clinical and counselling psychologist with over 20 years of experience. She has a full-time private practice, is a published author, a speaker, and workshop leader. Julia has focused on working with clients experiencing infertility as well as navigating the parenting journey.
She is the creator of the Renewed Parent Method which is a self-paced course based on her book, “Too tired to parent? Take the C.A.R.” highlighting how to become self-caring, self-aware, and self-reflective parents.
As a South Asian parent herself, Julia also founded the IBY (I Believe in you) League, a South Asian parent membership where she guides parents on how to raise high achieving, unconditionally confident, and compassionate kids.
Website: https://drjuliasen.com/services/parenting/
2024S2 - Gut Feelings: Implications of Gut Health on Mood Disorders
Emerging research highlights the critical role of gut health in mental well-being, with growing evidence linking the gut microbiome to mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. This seminar will provide psychotherapists with an in-depth understanding of the gut microbiome, exploring its impact on neurotransmitter production, inflammation, and stress regulation. Beyond the science, we will focus on practical, evidence-based strategies that clinicians can integrate into their therapeutic work to support clients struggling with mood disorders.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of this seminar, participants will be able to:
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Kristina Virro is a psychotherapist and nutritionist dedicated to helping people feel less stuck and more empowered in their lives. With a firm belief in the transformative power of therapy, Kristina opened her wellness clinic, Fresh Insight, which continues to support people of all ages and backgrounds. Her passion for enhancing access to mental health tools has allowed her to amass more than 100,000 followers on TikTok, and she has shared her expertise with media outlets like CP24, Global News Live, Narcity, and Canadian Living. When she isn't at work, she can be found knitting her 900th pair of socks and forcing affection on her cats.
2024W1 - The Stressed Brain and its Regulation - A Clinician’s Perspective
This webinar focuses on integrative treatments that can bring improved regulation to the stressed brain. Concepts from stress research, i.e., allostasis, allostatic load, and allostatic overload - will be defined and referred to within the chronic stress framework so as to enumerate integrative treatments that mobilize allostatic systems to improve brain and psychological health, as well as physical health. The treatments advocated include natural health products to lower the intensity of emotional overwhelm, and to reduce the pathophysiological harms to the brain and body.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Dr. Jonathan Prousky (ND, Bastyr University, 1998; MSc, University of London, 2008; MA, Yorkville University, 2016) has been practicing naturopathic mental health for over 25 years. His clinical focus is primarily on the evaluation and management of mental health problems using evidence-based integrative approaches.
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2023W1 - Spirituality Revisited for Personal Wellbeing & Clinical Applications
There are exciting new breakthroughs in our scientific understanding of ‘how reality works’ and the real relationship between brain & consciousness. Ironically, soft mysticism and hard science are converging – ancient and modern, subjective and objective – on the same conceptions about the underlying nature of reality. Yet the implications of these scientific breakthroughs are totally contrary to what we’ve generally come to believe. This new understanding also explains the reasons, (& the solutions), for the increasing mass emotional dysregulation and the looming existential threats.
In this webinar you will learn about the conclusive paradigm-busting evidence for the reality of the spiritual dimension and it’s critical importance now in our world gone mad. You will also learn some basic ‘spiritual centering’ and ‘rapport facilitation’ techniques for your immediate applications.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Howard Eisenberg, M.Sc. (Psych), M.D., is a GP Psychotherapist and long-time member of MDPAC.
He has been a Lecturer at the University of Toronto and an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Vermont. He was awarded the first postgraduate degree in Canada at McGill University for his highly successful Parapsychological research on Telepathy. He then pioneered the instruction of Parapsychology as a regular credit course at the University of Toronto.
Almost half a century ago, he authored his first trailblazing book, Inner Spaces: Parapsychological Explorations of the Mind. His new book, Dream it to Do it: The Science & the Magic, is the culmination of his successful quest to learn how reality works!
2022S2 - Post-secondary Student Mental Health - A Primer for "Off Campus" Physicians and Psychotherapists
70% of transition-aged youth (TAY) or 18-25 year olds in Canada will spend time in post-secondary school. This developmental phase of life carries specific challenges and a high prevalence of psychological distress, mental health and substance disorders. In this presentation we will discuss the key mental health and well-being issues which PSS students face, helpful theoretical models, and approaches to mental health care, including psychotherapeutic approaches which warrant consideration in this population, using case vignettes to illustrate concepts and challenges.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Dr. Catharine Munn is an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster. Her clinical, research and administrative work focuses on post-secondary student and health professional mental health and well-being. Dr. Munn is the Assistant Dean, Resident Affairs in Postgraduate Medical Education in the Degroote School of Medicine at McMaster. She also currently serves as an Advisor to the Provost on Mental Health at McMaster.
2022S1 - Webinar on CBT-I (2 Parts)
Introduction to CBT-I
Joins us for An Introduction to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) as we discuss the definition of insomnia, overview of basic concepts of CBT-I, discussion of sleep medication, techniques of CBT-I: Cognitive restructuring, Sleep Scheduling, Sleep medication tapering, Stimulus control techniques, Relaxation Techniques, and Sleep Hygiene.
We will analyze a Sleep Log of a patient and participate in Q&A to consolidate the information.
CBT-I Part 2
A follow-up to CBT-I Part 1, this session will allow participants to analyze a sleep log ( possibly in smaller groups ) and discuss together how to plan for the next week's homework for the patient.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Dr. Mary Ann Gorcsi is a family physician practicing in Brantford Ontario for over 23 years. She completed medical school at Western University in 1996 and residency in family medicine at McMaster. Her interest in mental health has led her to a part time psychotherapy practice, being a resource for her patients and those of her colleagues in her group. She is an Assistant Professor in the dept. of Family Medicine at McMaster University, having taught Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences curriculum to residents for 22 years. She presented CBT-I as part of a 4 week enrichment program for the last 2 years and has been well attended and well received.
2022W1 - Living In Harmony With Yourself: Introverts and Extraverts
Many of our patients find themselves in situations where they’re uncomfortable and don’t know why. They feel like something’s off or not quite right. Or they sense what the problem is but keep trying to be what others - especially parents, siblings, teachers, friends and eventually bosses and spouses - want or expect them to be.
Instead of honouring their feelings, they do what they feel is necessary to fit in. But always at a cost. One such internal conflict involves personality traits, specifically introversion and extraversion.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Dr. David Posen was a family doctor for 17 years before devoting his time exclusively to stress management, lifestyle counseling and psychotherapy in 1985. He was a charter member of MDPAC when it started as the GP Psychotherapy Association in 1984.
David has lectured widely across North America for 35 years, including presentations for McMaster CME programs, at conventions for the OMA, and GPPA, and physician groups in several Canadian provinces and many states across the USA. He is also the best-selling author of five books, including ALWAYS CHANGE A LOSING GAME (now in its 28th year and 5th edition), THE LITTLE BOOK OF STRESS RELIEF (translated into 7 languages) and IS WORK KILLING YOU? (profiled in USA Today, the Wall Street Journal and Publishers Weekly.) He’s also appeared many times on TV and radio across Canada and has been quoted in many leading U.S. media outlets such as US News & World Report, People and The Huffington Post.
2021S4 - IMAGO Couples Therapy - A 2 Part Series ($50 for access to both recordings)
Part 1: Repairing the Space Between (IMAGO Theory and Tools - An Introduction)
Part 2: A Prescription for Success in Your Clinical Practice using IMAGO
Review, group discussion and practice in response to feedback from session 1.
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS
Anna Gold earned her Master’s in Social Work in 1988. Anna works with the belief that it is in the depth of human connection that real understanding and healing can occur. Deeply appreciating the theory which connects her passion for inner work and relational work, Anna began studying IMAGO therapy in 2011. Anna also enjoys work as a clinical supervisor for therapists who are committed to the understanding that increased self-awareness, personal growth, and self-reflection are critical components of clinical competency.
Tim Utting earned his Master’s degree in Political Science in 1989. His interest in politics lay in human behavior where he found himself exploring such questions as “What is charisma and attraction?” After receiving his degree from the University of Toronto in 1990, he began his career as both a high school teacher and adjunct professor in education. Tim’s interest in human relationships, attraction and perception are all deeply embedded concepts in the world of relationship therapy. In addition, his love of teaching and his skills in helping others to ‘metabolize’ challenging concepts are at the forefront of his contribution to the workshop experience.
2021S3 - Introduction to ACT – Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
OBJECTIVES
1. Describe the therapeutic processes underlying the ACT model
2. Consider points of overlap and departure between ACT and other models of therapy
3. Reflect on patient formulation from an ACT perspective
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Dr. Sheri Turrell C. Psych, came to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy somewhat accidentally. After a ten-year career as a Registered Nurse, followed by a shift to graduate school at OISE / University of Toronto and working in various hospital settings as a Psychologist, she took part in a mindfulness-based stress reduction program (MBSR). After completing the MBSR course, Sheri was curious as to how the mindfulness practice that helped her could be of use to her clients. This exploration lead to the Association for Contextual Behavioral Therapy (ACBS) website and news of a two-day workshop with Kelly Wilson in Toronto almost ten years ago. After attending that workshop, incorporating mindfulness into her existing behavioral therapy practice became slightly clearer – only slightly because ACT invites us to never stop learning and growing. Sheri embarked on her current journey, fueled by her passion for ongoing learning and dedication to helping her clients, and immersed herself in “all things ACT.” Over the past ten years, she has co-authored two ACT texts, supervised graduate students and mental health professionals, and facilitated workshops internationally. Now, as Canada’s first female ACBS*Peer Reviewed ACT Trainer, Sheri is bringing her experience and skills as both a clinician and trainer, into partnership with Nikolay Pavlov to fill a gap in learning ACT – how to continue learning when the workshops are over?
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2021S2 - Brain Health & Aging
Learn the essential lifestyle changes for optimal brain health, and how to develop the enabling mindset to sustain them.
You know what you need to do to live a brain-healthy life:
Move your body.
Eat healthy and nourishing foods.
Minimize stress + overwhelm.
Get adequate sleep.
Lower blood pressure.
Manage blood sugar.
Challenge yourself mentally.
But the truth is, you are not executing on the healthy behaviours you know you should be to optimize the health of your brain and body. Using a four key pillars of brain health framework, Dr. Andrea Wilkinson will be sharing insights on how the brain changes with age and what you can do about it. She will unpack the powerful impact small shifts in lifestyle and mindset can have on your well-being, vibrancy, and energy as you age.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Dr. Andrea Wilkinson has a PhD in Psychology, with a specialization in Cognitive Aging. She has been researching brain health and cognitive maintenance for over 15 years. Dr. Andrea founded the Brain Vitality Blueprint - her signature methodology for adults who want to increase their mental vibrancy + physical energy as they age. She is the founder and CEO of BrainShape.ca and host of the BrainShape Podcast – a weekly show about the latest brain health research and interviews with experts in the field of health and aging.
2021S1 - MAiD and MD Psychotherapists: A Primer
As Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) comes to affect ever greater numbers of Canadians, this webinar provides guidance by a MAiD provider and MD psychotherapist — for MD psychotherapists.
We will review the basics of the eligibility assessment process and procedure as well as the unique psychotherapeutic issues that arise in the context of a MAiD death versus a natural death for patients, families, and health care providers.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Dr. Melissa Melnitzer is a family physician and MAiD provider practising home visiting palliative care with the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care at Sinai Health System. Prior to this, she practised psychotherapy and worked for 15 years as part of an interdisciplinary team serving people experiencing homelessness. She facilitates Balint groups for her peers as well as therapeutic writing groups more broadly. She also provides burnout prevention workshops for health care providers and others in caregiving roles.
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2021W2 - Ketamine for Mental Health Issues
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• who they are and how they became involved in working with ketamine
• history of ketamine
• streams of usage of ketamine in different settings and at different doses
• routes of administration
• indications and contraindications
• effectiveness
• adverse effects
• thoughts about working with patients in non-ordinary states of consciousness
• current legal status of ketamine in Ontario
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS
Mark Cornfield MD, FRCPC is a somewhat retired community-based psychiatrist whose career focused on long-term psychotherapy, complex PTSD, dissociative disorders, and couples therapy. He is trained in Imago Relationship therapy, EMDR, and Holotropic Breathwork™. More recently he completed Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) training at the Orenda Institute, and also with Dr. Phil Wolfson.
Since 2018, along with his life-partner Susan McBride, he has been treating patients with treatment-resistant depression using ketamine. They have also done pioneering work using low dose ketamine to facilitate couples therapy. Dr. Cornfield has a special interest in ketamine as an empathogen and facilitator of other therapeutic techniques such as Imago couples therapy and EMDR.
Susan McBride RN, MTS, RSW is a Registered Nurse with experience working in Emergency rooms. She also is a registered Social worker and had a private practice in Hamilton where she focused on trauma therapies and couples therapy. She is trained in Imago Relationship therapy, EMDR and Holotropic Breathwork™. Susan also completed Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) training at the Orenda Institute and with Dr. Phil Wolfson, editor of the ketamine Papers.
Susan has been working alongside Mark, to treat patients using KAP therapy. As a couple, they have been using low dose Ketamine to facilitate deep couples therapy with couples who have previously attended a basic Imago weekend workshop.
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2021W1 - Brain SPECT Scanning – 2 Part Webinar ($50)
Part 1: How Functional Brain Scanning Can Help
Part 2: How to Read Functional Brain SPECT Scans
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS
John Thornton , M.D. FRCPC Psychiatrist , currently in private practice in Toronto , previous Assistant Professor, Psychiatry, University of Toronto. His career has focused on coping with chronic impairment. Using holistic, integrative complementary approaches to brain health, his practice incorporates mind, body and spiritual techniques. He is a published author on chronic pain, schizophrenia, working with relatives, spirituality, prayer in psychotherapy, fibromyalgia, and using SPECT in psychiatry, TBI and ADHD. He has been using 3-D SPECT technology in practice since 2005 as an aid to diagnosis and evaluating treatment results for complex psychiatric cases.
Muriel J. van Lierop, MBBS, MDPAC(M) has practiced in Toronto as a General Practitioner, primarily in rehab medicine in Toronton until 1992 where she started to focus her practice on psychotherapy, training in several modalities. In 2008, with Dr. Thornton, Dr. Mary McLean and Dr. Howard Schneider set up the SPECT Scan Study Group, arranging for patients to have SPECT scans of the brain at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, to guide treatment.
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2020S4 - Compassion and Loving Kindness Practices for Self and Our Patients During these Challenging Times
This workshop will include a description of mindfulness, loving kindness, and compassion. There will be several guided meditations in mindfulness, loving kindness, self- compassion, and equanimity practices. Time will be allotted for partner sharing to engage in self-inquiry, reflection, and mindful listening. Participants will be instructed on how to guide our patients through some of these practices. There will be time for questions at the end of the workshop.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER:
Dr. Heidi Walk, MD, CCFP Physician Psychotherapist, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Group Psychotherapist and certified yoga instructor for the past 17 years. She has led workshops internationally on meditation and yoga.
2020S3 - Spiritual Emergence and Transformative Experiences
ELEMENTS OF THE PRESENTATION:
ABOUT THE PRESENTER:
Dr. Yvonne Kason MD, MEd, CCFP, FCFP, is a family physician and transpersonal MD-psychotherapist [retired], previously on faculty at the University of Toronto, and a former Mentor of MDPAC. She is an internationally renowned expert on Near-Death Experiences and other Spiritually Transformative Experiences (STEs), a term she coined in 1994.
2020S2 - Providing Therapy for Frontline Providers
ELEMENTS OF THE PRESENTATION:
ABOUT THE PRESENTER:
Dr. Harry Zeit, MD, Certificant MDPAC, Certified in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy
2020S1 - Clinical Rating Scales Used in Medical Psychotherapy and Primary Care Mental Health
ELEMENTS OF THE PRESENTATION:
The talk will focus on outlining the evidence basis and clinical utility of patient self-report symptom scales used in primary care mental health and medical psychotherapy. The scales outlined will include the GAD7, PHQ9, ASRS v1.1, SRS and ORS.
Discussion and tips for integrating the use of these scales into clinical practice, and organizing this data for future projects to support the evidence basis of positive clinical outcomes related to medical psychotherapy.
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Dr. James Whyte, MD, CCFP, Focused Practice in Medical Psychotherapy, Education Chair for Primary Care Mental Health Section of OMA, Presenter and Committee member for MDPAC Psychotherapy Training Program
2020S - Legal Issues that Intersect Mental Health and Family Law
ELEMENTS OF THE TALK:
ABOUT THE PRESENTER
David Frenkel is a lawyer at the Halpern Law Group and has exclusively practiced in the area of family law for over 12 years.
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2020W2 - Benefits and Challenges of Providing Group Treatment to People with Substance Use Issues
This presentation will outline the benefits and challenges of providing treatment to people with substance use issues within a group setting. Research findings and limitations will be discussed.
Methods used in implementing and evaluating specific group formats such as drop-in and series groups will be explored.
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS
Dr. Ashok Krishnamurthy, MD, CCFP , fellowship in Addiction Medicine, founder and clinician at AAPRICOT, an addictions medicine consultation service, and consultant to St. Joseph’s Health Centre and Women’s College Hospital where he runs group therapy sessions for people with substance use disorders.
Dr. Leslie Molnar, MSW, RSW, psychotherapist at Women’s College Hospital in General Psychiatry / Mental Health in Medicine Program.
2019F1 - A Primer on Psychotherapy for Substance Use
Presented by Dr. Wiplove Lamba, MD, FRCPC Psychiatrist, Physician Lead of Concurrent Disorders Program at Ontario Shores.
2019F2 - Advances in Neuroscience and Novel Treatments of PTSD
Presented by Dr. Jeanne Talbot, MD., PhD., FRCPC, Psychiatry Residency Program Director, University of Ottawa, Researcher in the Mood Disorders Research Unit U.of Ottawa
This lecture series is presented by Dr. Mary McLean, MD, FRCPC, a psychiatrist in Private Practice. Dr. McLean has a background in adult ADHD as well as child psychiatry and psychoanalysis.
2019W1 - Background on Adult ADHD and Defining it as a Disorder of Self-Regulation
The importance of treatment both in terms of reducing symptomatology of ADHD and also reducing the comorbidities.
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2019W2 - Introduction of questionnaires and Appropriate Detailed History Taking with Treatment Alternatives
2019W3 - Review of Material, Q&A after Assessments have been Tried, and Problem Solving
This lecture series presents an overview of Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) which is a brief, structured evidence-supported affect- and relationally-focused psychotherapy for depression across the life span, bipolar disorder to delay relapse, and PTSD.
2018F1 - Introduction to Interpersonal Psychotherapy - PDF
Dr. Paula Ravitz, MD, FRCPC, psychiatrist, Associate Professor and Head of Psychiatry, U of Toronto, specializing in IPT and mentalizing for adults.
No cost – PDF of presentation only
2018F2- IPT for Adolescent Depression
Laura Mufson, PhD Professor of Psychology, Columbia University, specializing in adolescent depression.
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2018F3 - IPT for PTSD
John Markowitz, PhD, Columbia University, researcher on IPT for PTSD.
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2018F4 - An Introduction to Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy for Bipolar Disorder
Holly Swartz, MD, University of Pittsburgh
2018F5 - IPT & Mentalizing principles, with case-based review of IPT take-home points
Dr. Paula Ravitz, MD, FRCPC, psychiatrist, Associate Professor and Head of Psychiatry, U of Toronto, specializing in IPT and mentalizing for adults.
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