Breakout 1

10:15 - 11:45am 

Option 1 

Working with Kids in High-Conflict Divorce:

Safe, Effective, and Ethical Practice for the "Average" Therapist

Jeff Chang, RP, RMFT-SM

Children of high-conflict separation and divorce need our help, but the context does not make it easy for us as child, adolescent, and family therapists. Parents in high conflict may not agree on the need for therapy or which therapist to select. One parent may see the other parent’s suggestion for therapy for their child as the beginning of a campaign to reduce their parenting time. The apparently high proportion of regulatory complaints is legendary. Ethics professors, who have likely avoided these kinds of situations, are typically little help, simply warning students to stay away from these families. Senior colleagues and clinical supervisors can provide emotional support, sometimes with a “I’m glad you it’s you and not me” sentiment, but more often than not, lack the knowledge to provide clear guidance. Please click here to learn more about this workshop and the presenter. 

Option 2 

The Crack Where the Light Gets in: Trauma Resolution in Couples Therapy

Lalita Salins, RMFT-S, AAMFT-S, AASECT Certified Sex Therapist

This presentation explores the complex interplay of trauma and resistance as they relate to the challenge of establishing true intimacy in committed partnerships. The workshop will delve into the unconscious dynamics that shape relationships, provide specific strategies to shift relational patterns driven by trauma histories, and explore the therapist's role in fostering healing, growth and transformation. We will examine the importance of recognizing abuse-related internalizations and their role in the defensive strategies partners adopt, which often perpetuate emotional and sexual disconnection and conflict. Please click here to learn more about this workshop and the presenter. 

Option 3 

"You have good Reasons” – Co-constructing Hope together during a Pandemic or Other Crises!

Dina Bednar, MA, RMFT-SM, CSFT

Where would we be without hope? Jerome Frank once said that the purpose of therapy was to increase Hope. This experiential workshop will focus on Snyder’s hope theory and the elements of hope. Dr. Snyder states that hope can be activated by any one of the following: a goal; a pathway to a goal; and agency. SFBT focuses on these specific conversations, and is a strength-based and ‘hopeful’ approach. This experiential workshop will examine how clinicians can utilize hope research and the hope theory to be more effective in co-constructing hopeful conversations. Please click here to read Dina's bio.

Option 4

Maplewoods Centre Tour

The Maplewoods Centre is an innovative and interdisciplinary therapy clinic and clinical training facility within the University of Guelph. Created in 2021, it merges two existing university-based training clinics, the Couple and Family Therapy Centre (CFTC) and the Centre for Psychological Services (CPS).  It also houses tow extant professional training programs the Relational Psychotherapy Training Program (RPTP) and the Clinical Child Adolescent Psychology Program (CCAP). The CFTC was founded in 1979 and the CPS has been in operation for over 20 years. Please join the tour. 

Please click here to read more about the centre. 

1:15 - 2:00pm

Keynote Speaker: Hillary McBride, PhD. 

Deepening connection, facilitating repair: psychedelic couples therapy

Breakout 2 

2:15 - 3:15 pm 

Option 1 

The Empowerment Edge: A Guide to Finding and Thriving with the Right Clinical Supervisor

Radhika Sundar, RP, RMFT-S

Clinical supervision isn’t just a stepping stone in the journey to becoming a therapist—it’s a transformative experience that lays the foundation for a successful career. In "The Empowerment Edge," we’ll explore how graduate students can approach clinical supervision as a partnership that builds confidence, sharpens skills, and supports their growth as future therapists. This presentation is tailored to students seeking guidance in finding and collaborating with the right supervisor who aligns with their professional goals, values, and areas of focus. Please click here to read more about this workshop and the presenter. 

Option 2

Identity and Professional Practice as a Supervisor

Laura Glenney, MSc, RP, RMFT-SQ and Kathryn Guthrie, MA, RP, RMFT-SM

Whether you are in the process of becoming a Supervisor, or you’re getting ready for your Supervisor Refresher, this brief workshop invites you to reflect on your professional identity and role as a Supervisor or Supervisor-Qualifying in order to maximize the impact of your training or Refresher process. This includes understanding what is required to maintain currency as a Supervisor and fulfilling requirements as defined in the 2025 Supervisor Handbook. Please click here to read Kathryn and Laura's bio. 

Option 3 

A Normal Response to a Normal Situation: Trauma Through a Misplaced Adaptation Lense 

Spurgeon Root, MMFT, CACFT Associate Member 

A lot or trauma research and treatment is aimed at understanding and regulating reactionary biological response to stimuli, which has advanced out ability to understand and help clients. Some trauma responses can also be seen as helpful, learned survival adaptations that humans have honed over 1000's of years of horrible, "normal" experience. Looking at a brief overview of trauma over human history from a systemic perspective, this presentation follows with an examination of how our current situation of relative western peace and privilege is actually the anomaly. Trauma adaptations are mostly "disordered" when they occur in a peaceful setting. The presentation will close with material on working with clients whose learned management of trauma in one system, causes problems for them and the new or different system the find themselves in. Please click here to read Spurgeon's bio. 

Option 4

Panel 

2SLGBTQQIA+ therapists, supervisors, & working with 2SLGBTQQIA+ clients

Please click to see all the exciting events we have for you on Day 2 

Pour plus d'informations en français, veuillez envoyer un courriel à andrew@cacft.ca

Supervisor Refresher Course

Sunday, May 25, 2025 

In-Person Guelph, ON or Virtual 

Who should attend? 

Any RMFT Supervisor or Supervisor Mentor who is due for a refresher course in the next 10 months. The course is also open to any RMFT Supervisor Qualifying that feels this refresher course would be helpful.

Please click here for more details and to register. 

We greatly appreciate and thank our conference sponsors.