Day 1 & 2 Presentation Details
KEYNOTE ADDRESS:
John O'Neil:
The role of complimentary medicine in Mental Health
Dr. Gabor Mate:
Dancing with the Ego, Embracing the Spirit
The ego is a part of us who thinks it/is/us; our mistake is to fall in love with it. The cost we pay is dissatisfaction, unhappiness, relationship difficulties, illness, addiction and a spiritual void.
DAY 1 PRESENTATION TOPICS
Dr. Gabor Mate:
Dancing with the Ego, Embracing the Spirit
We will focus on how to dance with the ego through life without being seduced by its stories. The key is to know that our essence and our egos are distinct, to support the one without rejecting the latter.
John & Anne Louise Flaherty:
As Consciousness Expands, Addictions Dissolve
In recent times, a global realization of our expanded consciousness is transforming the way we each know ourselves, our world and our purpose in life. Such a shift in human awareness inevitably throws new light and wisdom on previously held perceptions about addiction and the process of recovery.
Dr. Saman Miremadi and co-presenter Chris Friesen:
Mental Health concerns of refugees in terms of substance abuse and its relationship to PTSD
To investigate the mental health concerns of refugees in terms of substance abuse and its relationship to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Although there is extensive research showing a robust relationship between substance use, PTSD and depression, there is a paucity of information on this relationship in refugees. In addition, we will take a further look at what the literature and our experience learned about the healing practices of refugee population in relation to mental illness.
Dr. Sharon Smith:
Engaging in spiritual conversation with people living with a mental illness diagnosis: The dilemma of language
Previous research has shown that people living with a severe mental illness are cautious about communicating their experiences of spirituality to health care professionals.
(1)Psychosocial rehabilitation models emphasize working within a client's value and belief system for effective intervention.
(2)Literature emphasizes that facilitating the recovery process requires a dialogue between professional and client concerning spirituality.
Two stories of the spirituality of individuals living with a diagnosis of schizophrenia will be shared. These stories highlight consumers' fears of ‘religious' stigmatization and of spiritual invalidation. Participants in this study tended not to share their spiritual practices, beliefs and experiences with mental health professionals even though their spirituality functioned as a means to overcome difficulties of living with schizophrenia and facilitated community integration.
DAY 2 PRESENTATION TOPICS
Dr. Steven Aung:
Practitioner as a Healer - Purification and Recycling of Energy
A healer should have abundant position energy. He/she should know how to purify the negative energy to positive energy and understand recycling negative to positive energy
Dr. Alanaise Goodwill:
Seven Gifts - Knowledge that is Indigenous to many of the Plains Nations of North America will be shared
From an Anishnaabike perspective (Ojibway woman), I will share some of our teachings that reflect our connection to nature and our connection to the land. The seven gifts, or sometimes called the seven grandmother teachings or seven laws, help guide our lives to live on this land while honoring all that there is on the land. If these seven teachings are not understood, we risk disrespecting the land and then disconnecting ourselves from what comes from the land. If we live by these seven teachings, then we will be able to achieve balance and wellness which can be reflected in good mental health. The intention of this presentation is to share knowledge that can help those who are interested in a North American Indigenous approach to healing.
Dr. Abdel hamid Afana & Aidan Jeffery - Multicultural Mental Health Resource Centre (MMHRC):
Establishing Multicultural Mentalh Health Resource Centre in Canada. MMHRC will create online resources designed for patients, families, community organizations, professionals and health planners. Our aims are to use a variety of web-based and electronic media to bring the tools and resources needed to improve delivery of care to a diverse population into the clinician's office and to evaluate the impact of this improved access to informaiton on clinician cultural compenence and clinical practice. The MMHRC will develop multilingual resources promoting mental health literacy, knowledge of specific mental health problems and available profesiional and community resources, particularly for newcomers (immigrants and refugees) and members of established ethnocultural communities.
Dr. Mitesh Patel:
Buddhist Philosophy & Western Psychiatry: Implications, comparisons and future directions
Compare and contrast ancient eastern Buddhist philosophy with Western psychiatry - provide an introduction to Buddhism and the burgeoning field of Buddhist psychology - Discuss the concepts of Karma and its implications on medical practice - Review the 4 Nobel Truths and 8 fold path - Introduce the concepts of mindfulness, yoga and meditation.
Dr. Andrea Grabovac:
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy
Define mindfulness, development of MBCT and an outline of content of the 8 sessions. A guide to meditation, breathing space - action and discussion of experience. Summarizing MBCT program at Vancouver Hospital psychiatry outpatient department and review results of Quality Assurance research evaluating efficacy of MBCT in the Vancouver Hospital out patient setting. .
Note: This presenter section will continue to fill out as more presenters are confirmed.
Dr. Gabor Maté,
Dr. Gabor Mate is a physician, author, seminar leader and public speaker. He is a former medical columnist for The Vancouver Sun and The Globe and Mail. His four books, all Canadian bestsellers, range in topic from Attention Deficit Disorder (Scattered Minds) , on which he has a unique perspective; to the mind/body unity and the influence of stress in health and illness (When The Body Says No); to the disastrous loss of parental influence in today’s culture (Hold On To Your Kids).
The most recently published, In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction has been a #1 national bestseller and has been awarded the Hubert Evans prize for literary non-fiction. His work has been widely translated internationally, in twelve languages, on five continents. For twenty years Dr. Maté had a family practice, and for seven years was Medical Coordinator of the Palliative Care Unit at Vancouver Hospital. For the past twelve yeas he has worked in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside with patients challenged by hard core drug addiction, mental illness and HIV. He has lectured at the University of California (Berkeley and San Francisco,) at Alabama State University, at McGill University, at Washington State University and has addressed many groups of physicians and health care providers, educators, psychologists, therapists, parents and other members of the lay public.
In 2009 Dr. Maté has been honoured with an Outstanding Alumnus Award from Simon Fraser University. His next book, to be published in 2010, will be The Making and Unmaking of Bullies and Victims: A New Look at a Contemporary Malaise, co-written with developmental psychologist Dr. Gordon Neufeld.
Dr. Steven K.H. Aung, MD, FAAFP
Dr Steven Aung is a geriatric and family physician and a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner (TCM) and teacher. At the University of Alberta, Dr Aung is an associate clinical professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry and an adjunct professor in the Faculty of Extension and the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine. He is a World Health Organization advisor on TCM.
Dr Aung was awarded a Professional Excellency from the Académie Diplomatique de la Paix in 1986, the Alberta Order of Excellence in 2002, the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2003, the Physician of the Century Award in 2005 and he was awarded the Order of Canada in 2006. He always promotes the integration of TCM and Western biomedicine in the spirit of a natural and compassionate approach to health care.
Dr. Sharon Smith
Dr. Sharon Smith received her bachelor's in occupational therapy from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. She practiced occupational therapy in acute and community mental health in a shanty town outside Johannesburg.During this time she was on the leadership team of a newspiritual community where some of her clients with mental health diagnosisattended. In 2001 she began her masters in theology at Regent College in Vancouver, Canada.
Shehas just completed her PhD in rehabilitation sciences at the University of British Columbiathat explored the meaning of spirituality for people living with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. She is passionate about working with people who live with severe mental illness, facilitating their integration into spiritual communities.She has done numerous workshops on mental health and mental illnessforhealth care and spiritual groups in Vancouver.She has recently accepted the position of Executive Director of Jacob's Well, a non-profit faith-based community, that seeks to build relationships with the residents and workers of theDowntown Eastside in Vancouver.
Trainer & Master Practitioner of Energy Pyschology Therapies, Master Practioner of NLP & Hypnosis
Pyschotherapist and Spiritual Teacher
John Flaherty B.A. , M.Sc
For more than 25 years, John has been instrumental in paving the way to cutting-edge initiatives and progressive advancements in the care, rehabilitation and spiritual growth of those experiencing addictive behaviours, trauma and emotional overwhelm . He has worked in the UK, Ireland and Canada, working in both the community and private sectors, providing a dynamic and visionary approach to recovery.
A former Roman Catholic Priest, John is now a highly skilled therapist and spiritual teacher drawing on a wealth of expertise, practical experience and professional training. He has dedicated his life to raising the human spirit and assisting individuals to find emotional freedom, increased confidence and personal peace.
Trainer & Master Practitioner of Energy Psychology Therapies, Usui Reiki Master
Psychotherapist and Spiritual Teacher
Anne Louise Flaherty B.Ed. , GradDipPhys
Anne FAnne Louise, an experienced teacher, paediatric physiotherapist and psychotherapist, provides a unique perspective by integrating an extensive knowledge and practical expertise in neuro-developmental disorders and sensory integration dysfunctions, energy psychology therapies and psychotherapeutic approaches. Anne Louise is skilled in identifying the impact of early childhood physical, mental and emotional experiences on an individual’s perception and subsequent life choices.
As Consciousness Expands, Addictions Dissolve
John and Anne Louise Flaherty teach a practical, clear, simple and direct message:
As a person allows the unfolding of consciousness, unwanted addictive patterns of behaviour and limiting beliefs naturally give way to a more congruent and fulfilled experience of life
**AGORA is the only Naturopathic Detoxification Protocol available in Canada for drug and alcohol misuse. A 10and 15 day Outpatient Treatment Program is provided.
Dr. Alanaise Goodwill
Dr. Alanaise Goodwill is a mental health clinician with the Aboriginal child and youth mental health team in Chilliwack, an Instructor of Indigenous Peoples' Knowledge at the University of the Fraser Valley, and the mental health consultant for the BC Fist NAtions Health Council. She is a member of the Sandy Bar Ojibway First NAtion in Manitoba, Canada, and resident within Sto:lo Nation traditional territory. Her teaching and research areas focus on Indigenous approaches to healing, counselling at-risk and gang affiliated Aboriginal youth and families, and mental health promotion in First Nations communities.
Lorna Howes - Director, Mental Health & Addiction Services
Since 2001 Lorna Howes has held the position as the Director of Mental Health and Addiction Services for Vancouver Acute and Community for Vancouver Coastal Health. She is responsible for setting strategic direction, as well as the overseeing, planning, implementation and evaluation of the Mental Health Services for Vancouver and UBC Hospitals, as well as Vancouver Community Mental Health Services.
Lorna graduated in Manitoba in 1976 as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse. Throughout her 34 year career, her work has included time at Brandon Mental Hospital, Brandon, Manitoba; Woodlands School, New Westminster, BC; Maples Adolescence Treatment Centre, Burnaby, BC; Shaughnessy Hospital and St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver, BC. Throughout her career Lorna has had the opportunity to work in a number of different areas and continues to be interested in all aspects of delivery of mental health and addiction services. She also has a Private Practice which she has continued to enjoy since 2000.
Dr. Andrea Grabovac. MD. FRCPC
Dr. Andrea Grabovac completed her psychiatry training at the University of British Columbia in 2002. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UBC. She works as a consultant psychiatrist in the Brief Intervention Unit at Vancouver Hospital where she sees acutely ill hospitalized patients. Dr. Grabovac also has an outpatient practice at the BC Cancer Agency where she uses mindfulness-based clinical interventions in her work with cancer patients who are suffering from depression and anxiety.
She has developed the Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) program at the Vancouver Hospital psychiatry outpatient department, and is doing quality assurance research to determine the effectiveness of MBCT delivery in a Canadian clinical setting. Together with Dr. Mark Lau, she is completing a research project looking at patient preference for modes of MBCT delivery.
She leads Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) groups at the BC Cancer Agency and is currently involved in a multicenter study comparing the impact of two interventions, MBSR and supportive expressive group therapy, on stress reduction and cortisol levels in breast cancer patients.
Dr. Grabovac continues to provide Continuing Medical Education for mental health professionals on the relationship between spirituality and psychiatry as well as on the clinical applications of mindfulness. She is Course Director for the mandatory 6 hour "Interface between Religion, Spirituality and Psychiatry" course for psychiatry residents, which was awarded a $30,000 grant from the George Washington Institute for Spirituality and Health for further course development.
Perry Omeasoo
Perry works for Vancouver Community mental health services at Strathcona Mental Health team as the First Nation mental health liaison worker. He has been working there for the past 11 years, and has been working in the health care field for the last 17 years.
As a child being raised by his grandfather and grandmother he did not know how to speak English until grade one when he went to residential school. His childhood included native ceremonies, sweats, sun dance ceremonies, and pipe ceremonies. This was normal to him and thought this was how all natives were raised. As he grew older his spirituality was the most significant part of my development. This continued into manhood where the Native spirituality he was exposed to as a child became the most prominent part of his life, almost as if it was a quest.[ Today he is a pipe carrier and sun dancer, and works to educate non natives about indigenous ways] and healing practices.
Dr. Mitesh Patel
I'm currently a Psychiatry Resident at UBC. I have had a strong interest in eastern philosophy and history over several years. I have travelled widely throughout Asia to learn more about ways of living that are captured in our western societies. I have learned a great deal and look forward to sharing this with conference attendees.
Dr. Abdel hamid Afana & Aidan Jeffery - MMHRC
The MMHRC will create online resources designed for patients, families, community organizations, professionals and health planners. Our aims are to use a variety of web-based and electronic media to bring the tools and resources needed to improve delivery of care to a diverse population into the clinician's office and to evaluate the impact of this improved access to information on clinician cultural competence and clinical practice. The MMHRC will develop multilingual resources promoting mental health literacy, knowledge of specific mental health problems and available professional and community resources, particularly for newcomers (immigrants and refugees) and members of established ethnocultural communities.
DAY 1 – OCTOBER 21, 2009
8:00am – 4:00pm
08:00 – 08:30 Registration/ Breakfast
08:30 – 08:35 Opening Blessing – Perry Omeasoo
08:35 – 08:45 Opening Remarks – Chris Friesen & Dr. Soma Ganesan
08:45 – 08:50 Welcome - Lorna Howes
08:50 – 09:30 The role of complementary medicine in Mental Health - Keynote Address – Dr. John O’Neil
09:30 – 10:30 Dancing with the Ego, Embracing the Spirit - Keynote Speech - Dr. Gabor Maté
10:30 – 11:00 BREAK
11:00 – 12:30 Dancing with the Ego, Embracing the Spirit - Dr. Gabor Maté
12:30 – 13:30 LUNCH
13:30 – 14:30 As Consciousness Expands, Addictions Dissolve - John & Anne Louise Flaherty
14:30 – 15:00 Mental Health Concerns of Refugees; Substance Abuse and its Relationship toPTSD - Dr. Saman Miremadi with co-presenter Chris Friesen
15:00 – 16:00 Engaging in spiritual conversation with people living with a mental illness diagnosis: The dilemma of language -Dr.Sharon Smith
DAY 2 – OCTOBER 22, 2009
8:00am – 4:30pm
08:00 – 08:30 Registration/Breakfast
08:30 – 08:45 Summary of Day 1 – Chris Friesen
08:45 – 10:15 Practitioner as a Healer – Purification and Recycling of Energy - Keynote Address - Dr. Steven Aung
10:15 – 10:45 BREAK
10:45 – 12:15 Establishing Multicultural Mental Health Resource Centre in Canada– Multicultural Mental Health Resource Centre (MMHRC) - Dr. Abdel hamid Afana & Aidan Jeffery
12:15 – 13:15 LUNCH
13:15 – 13:30 Spirit of Hope Award Presenation - Jim Siemens ISSofBC
13:30 – 14:45 Seven Gifts - Dr. Alanaise Goodwill
14:45 – 15:30 Buddhist Phylosophy and Western Psychiatry: Implications, comparisons and future directions - Dr. Mitesh Patel
15:30 – 16:15 Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy - Dr. Andrea Grabovac
16:15 – 16:30 Closing Remarks – Chris Friesen & Dr. Soma Ganesan
Dr. Aung - Practitioner as a Healer (October 22, 2009)
Dr. Sam Miremdi - Refugees and Mental Health (October 21, 2009)
Pre Conference with Dr. Steven Aung - Qi Gong Part 1
Pre Conference with Dr. Steven Aung - Qi Gong Part 2