On September 29 and 30, 2023 the OAMHP held our Annual Conference, “We’re Back & Together Again!” at the Radisson Blu in Toronto.

We are still in the process of recovering from how the pandemic affected our interactions with ourselves, our relationships and our clients. The conference was a much needed reminder of the need for welcoming each other back in a shared, physical space.

The conference provided workshops and networking opportunities that were curated to help mental health professionals nurture their own well-being and, by extension, that of their clients.

From the opening keynote presenting stark data about the state of mental health of Canadians, and of mental health professionals specifically – to inspiring moments of collective vulnerability around questions of self-care – the Conference truly delivered.

By all accounts, those who attended left feeling inspired, reinvigorated, and remembering the unique value of being in the same space together. 

Attendees were welcomed by OAMHP President, Liana Palmerio-McIvor, who welcomed participants (including those who attended the livestreamed Keynote and Panel discussion) to the first conference held in-person since 2019.

Liana emphasized the importance of collaboration and community in addressing the mental health challenges faced by professionals. 

Following the informative opening address Board member, Juli Fyfe, moderated the lively Panel discussion, “Caring for Ourselves so We can Care Better for Others”.

The panelists, Cathy Gatlin, Raechel Pefanis, and Tifrah Warner, brought a variety of lived and professional experiences and perspectives. Participants openly shared their struggles and successes while navigating how to take care of themselves.

After lunch on Day 1, the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario, the College of Psychologists of Ontario and the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers presented to their various audiences. Participants were brought up to date with the current foci of the regulatory colleges and any issues of relevance to the mental health professionals they represent.  

The afternoon programming of Day 1 was comprised of three workshops that were highly appreciated, which spanned the spectrum of “self-care”. On one end of the spectrum, we had “Improv for Mental Health Practitioners” where Cathy Gatlin had participants tapping into their imaginations to work through some typical feelings and scenarios they encounter as mental health professionals. Laughter abounded.

On the other end of the spectrum, we had Tifrah Warner’s, “Discovery and Exploration of Professional Roles”, which involved contemplation and meditation. In the middle of the spectrum was presenter Raechel Pefanis, who grounded participants with a dance party before launching into her offering, “Creating a Sustainable Practice”. 

Rounding out Day 1 was the always delightful President’s Reception, where attendees, exhibitors and student poster presenters networked, socialized, and connected. Here we saw mental health professionals from different disciplines – and different stages of their careers – come together to share their experiences, exchange ideas, and build new professional relationships.

A standout of the President's Reception was the student poster presentations, where students in the field of mental health shared their research projects and benefitted from feedback from peers, colleagues, and established professionals. 

The majority of participants felt that the Day 2 workshops helped them build new skills, gain insights, and learn different perspectives that will be useful in their work. 

4 Blinks: A Flash-like Approach to Processing to Trauma: In this session led by Christina Janiga, attendees learned a new technique for reducing the disturbance associated with traumatic or distressing memories.

Exploring Resilience through Overcoming the Trauma of Anti-Black Racism: Dr. Greene facilitated an open discussion that helped attendees learn concepts like nigrescence and anti-Black traumatic stress. Participants were also provided with a cultural definition of self-care that will help when treating a variety of clients.

Transference and Counter-Transference: Using interactive scenarios, Candice Hamilton-Miller and Polina Fedotenko encouraged participants to explore T/CT concepts to understand their own self awareness.

Following the conclusion of the conference on September 30, a hybrid (in-person and online) Annual General Meeting of Members was convened.

OAMHP Past-President, Jane Alway, provided a powerful Land Acknowledgement in recognition that September 30 was the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

OAMHP member, the incomparable Marian Moon, was appointed Chair and she deftly elicited engagement from members who attended both in-person and online.

As President of the Board, Liana Palmerio-McIvor presented a video which updated Members on the past year’s activities of the Association, through the lens of our Strategic Directions document. OAMHP members can access the video here and Annual Report in the Member portal. Business of the Association was conducted, and the AGM wrapped up with several awards being presented. 

President’s Award: Awarded to Jennifer Lane, Board member and Chair of the Professional Development Committee. Jennifer has dedicated countless hours to volunteering for our Association. We are immensely grateful for her unwavering commitment and selfless efforts.

Certificate of Recognition: Awarded to Kayleen Edwards in recognition of how her outreach to the Association fostered significant growth in our Certified Supervisor's program. Her involvement and innovative ideas had played a pivotal role in shaping the program.

Certificate of Recognition: Awarded to Christina Crowe for the time, effort, and dedication she brings to everything she does. With a generosity of spirit, she shares her knowledge, experience and efforts to bring light to the challenges in the mental health systems – contributing to Make the Invisible visible.

By all indicators, our Annual Conference, “We’re Back & Together Again!” was a resounding success. It brought together mental health professionals from across Ontario, fostered collaboration and knowledge sharing, showcased innovative practices, and provided a platform for meaningful discussions on important issues in mental health care.  

Please know that these events are for you, our members! We welcome comments, feedback, and suggestions. For those of you who attended, you can respond directly to the online survey. If you would rather share your thoughts directly, feel free to email Maryann Istiloglu directly: mistiloglu@oamhp.ca.

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you at our next gathering! 

PLEASE DO NOT UNSUBSCRIBE! The Ontario Association of Mental Health Professionals (OAMHP), a division of the Ontario Association of Consultants, Counsellors, Psychometrists and Psychotherapists (OACCPP) operates under the assumption that its members receive all communiques.

If you would no longer like to receive outside information in the form of e-blasts, please click UNSUBSCRIBE and subscribe to "Only Notices Directly from the OAMHP."