The Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (MACP) leadership team had a busy week in Niagara Falls last week, May 19 to 22, at the conference celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA).
Dr. Roberta Neault, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Behavioural Science, facilitated a pre-conference workshop for private practitioners while Dean Helen Massfeller attended a pre-conference session on trauma counselling.
On Day 1 of the conference, we hosted our Program Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting onsite. Our VP Academic, Dr. Ron McDonald, joined the team in Niagara Falls, as did three members of the PAC, our Director of Clinical Training, Dr. Terry Lane, and a couple of our instructors.
A highlight of the conference for all of us was meeting students, PAC members, and instructors in person. At almost every session, students came up to introduce themselves to us and it was wonderful to make those personal connections that we have limited opportunities for in our blended learning format.
On the second day of the conference, Drs. Massfeller and Neault presented on our competency-based approach to course design, supervision, and faculty development. Given our recent recognition by the College of Registered Psychotherapists in Ontario (CRPO), many counsellor educators and program leaders attended this presentation for tips on how to successfully navigate the CRPO application process.
It was very helpful to have Dr. Lane in the room to speak on practicum realities and how the competency-based model is applied there as well.
On the final day of the conference, Dr. Neault co-presented with colleagues from Nova Scotia and Alberta on the topic of counsellor self-care – an important consideration for all faculty and students in the YU community who sometimes find themselves “stretched too thin.” Click here for 10 Tips to Facilitate Sustainability that were shared in that presentation.
