Webinar Recordings

NOTE: MDPAC CE CREDITS - 1 hour of Self-Directed CE

$25 per recording for 90 days of access. 


2024 WEBINARS

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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2023 WEBINARS


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!

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2022 WEBINARS


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.

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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.

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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:

  • Carl Jung’s definitions when he introduced the terms in 1921
  • The biological basis of introversion and extraversion
  • The implications of these tendencies for behaviour, social interaction, work and the effect of caffeine, alcohol and drugs
  • How patients can use this information for themselves and in relationship to one another

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.

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2021 WEBINARS

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)

  • What is IMAGO
  • Introduction to the principles and structure of IMAGO therapy and the IMAGO intentional dialogue in particular
  • How is the IMAGO process a ‘template’ for repairing diverse challenges in couples’ work?
  • How is IMAGO therapy addressing the individual in therapy (i.e. How patterns in relationships are connected to childhood experiences and what to do about this from an IMAGO lens)
  • Learning the essential components of dialogue (with practice opportunity).
  • The value of the workshop (Getting the Love You Want)

Part 2: A Prescription for Success in Your Clinical Practice using IMAGO

Review, group discussion and practice in response to feedback from session 1.

  • A deeper dive into practicing dialogue and the variety of dialogues available.
  • Some key concepts from IMAGO such as The Lost Self, Differentiation, From the Unconscious to the Conscious relationship, etc…
  • Tools we provide for couples to continue to build on their connection without necessitating therapeutic intervention.
  • Using IMAGO beyond couples’ therapy.

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.

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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.

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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

  • Brief review of the use of Imagery technologies in clinical practice.
  • To demonstrate that 3-D SPECT:
    • technology is user friendly,
    • correlates with clinical presentation
    • can help in choosing treatment.
    • can be used to evaluate treatment.
  • To show that 3-D SPECT can be used to educate patients and therapists about psychiatric disorders and their treatment.
  • To highlight that:
    • Physicians can learn to correlate imaging results with clinical presentation.
    • Combining the patient’s clinical information with SPECT scanning imagery aids in diagnosis and management
    • Imaging specialists (nuclear medicine, radiology) provide anatomical descriptions of blood flow and cannot be expected to provide clinical interpretation or treatment recommendations.

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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2020 WEBINARS

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.

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2020S3 - Spiritual Emergence and Transformative Experiences

ELEMENTS OF THE PRESENTATION:

  • Introduction to Spiritually Transformative Experiences: a Kundalini Awakening during medical school, and a Near-Death Experience in medevac plane crash as a resident.
  • Diagnostic features of 5 categories of Spiritually Transformative Experiences:
  • Near-Death Experiences - 3 main sub-types
  • Mystical Experiences – 7 main sub-types;
  • Spiritual Energy/Kundalini Awakenings;
  • Diverse Psychic Experiences – 10+ main sub-types; and
  • Inspired Creativity
  • Common after-effects of STEs: physical, psychological, spiritual
  • Strategies for counseling persons with STEs
     

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.

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2020S2 -  Providing Therapy for Frontline Providers

ELEMENTS OF THE PRESENTATION:

  • Address dysregulated arousal (as a first order of business) during virtual sessions.
  • Identify and work with neurobiological processes associated with social distancing.
  • Negotiate session content to maximize patient benefit, addressing salient and urgent needs as they present.
  • Provide and ensure safety and connection during and between sessions.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER:

Dr. Harry Zeit, MD, Certificant MDPAC, Certified in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy

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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           

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2020S - Legal Issues that Intersect Mental Health and Family Law 

ELEMENTS OF THE TALK:

  • What family law issues and/or red flags to be mindful of when psychotherapists counsel their clients going through a separation or divorce;
  • The most current mental health issues typically seen in family law cases;
  • How mental health issues are addressed by the courts or within negotiations between separating spouses; and,
  • What rules of evidence that psychotherapists need to be cognizant of in their line of work as it relates to family law

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.

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FALL 2019 WEBINARS

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.

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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

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WINTER 2019 WEBINARS

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 

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2019W3 - Review of Material,  Q&A after Assessments have been Tried, and Problem Solving

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FALL 2018 WEBINARS

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 

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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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