What's on Branch?
This space will share highlights and reflections from the team on the various forms of learning, events, projects and activities. We'll be using both this page and our social accounts to share what we have on the go.
Formal learning which required funds to access is currently on hold.
Books on branch:
Below are a few books (physical/audio) that are currently on the go or recently read. Each image has a link taking you to another page to explore the book further. You'll find some short reflections on some takeaways shared below the book carousel.
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Currently being read
Reflections:
-Exploring various forms of emotional and communication processing.
-Incorporating cultural and political approaches to healing.
-Harm caused by colonization towards mental, emotional, psychological and spiritual parts of people.
-Practicing humanization, noticing non-verbal cues, inviting soothing supports and offering drink/snacks.
-Revisiting tools and naming conventions of how we collaborate with participants.
-How deep at the core colonization is engrained in our way of thinking and healing.
-How we refer to our clients, exploring new terminology
-Revisiting language on 'termination sessions'
-The decolonizing process allows for change while living in it
-We can reprogram ourselves by learning to emotionally decolonize ourselves with awareness, grieving and unlearning the falsities we are conditioned to believe
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Currently Being Read
Reflections:
-Masking:
-camouflaging; hiding or obscuring autistic traits to blend in or avoid being seen as disabled.
-compensation; overcoming strategies to appear “high-functioning”.
-Functioning in one or many aspects of life while being disabled in others.
-The urgency sensations around “appearing” normal is oppressing.
-Revisiting presumptive and harmful language on labels. Ensuring we refer to individuals with their language.
-Not being direct/accurate with our words can take away from expressing the realities that our societies and structures are not for disabled individuals which is part of the marginalized experience.
-Power that we all have in “self-determining” or self-realizing our identities and experiences and not needing to rely on the medical model that comes with harmful and limited access within a social experience of existence.
-Understanding how our biological experience can often be seen as the totality of our human existence which adds to stigma and stereotypes taking away from our own internalization of our unique human experiences.
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On Pause
Reflections:
-The importance of practicing the activities ourselves to experience them
-The degree of self-compassion that is instilled in these activities is so validating
-Coming back to the ACE technique is the best way to ground ourselves
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Completed
Reflections:
-Being kind to each of our parts and acknowledging them with compassion
-Giving space to our parts requires curiousity and willingness to heal and grow
Podcasts on branch:
Below are some of the podcasts that have been listened to. Each image has a link taking you to another page to explore the book further. You'll find a list of episodes and or some short reflections on some takeaways shared below the podcast gallery.
*Please note the shows mostly be viewed on various platforms. So please use the platform that serves your preference/values.
Episode Reflections
"Mentally Flexible" ACT/psychological flexibility focus - Ongoing
Episodes:
Listened - Dr. William Miller, Charting a Path Through Uncertain Times
Listened - Dr. Frank Anderson, MD - Authenticity, Trauma & Healing
Listened - Dr. Mark Shrime - The Transformative Power of Purpose
Listened - Dr. Carrier Hayward - The Being Human Collection
Listened -Dr. Brian Thompson & Dr. Brian Pilecki - ACT-informed Exposure
Listened - Dr. Diana Hill - Self-Compassio for Wise Effort
"Being: in practice" - Ongoing
Episodes:
Listened - Sex: Embracing Sex-Positive Sexuality
Listened -Neurodivergence: Unmasking and Embracing Difference in a Neurotypical World (Thank you to a client-collaborator for reccommending)
“Relentless Indigenous Woman Podcast” - Ongoing
Episodes:
Podcast Participation: Following Your Entrepreneurial Calling As a Therapist - Fearless Practice
Luc had the opportunity to participate in a podcast hosted by Fearlesspractice (a company supporting private practitioners) focusing on a series on why Canadian practitioners got into private practice. Luc spoke to their journey in becoming a counsellor + qualifying therapist.
Reflection: Luc found it meaningful to speak to his experience in finding their footing, being true to his values, and establishing a private practice that is built on adaptability, community practice oriented and considering client and practitioner baseline needs.
Follow this link to learn more about the episode and listen on you preferred podcast platform.
Community Gathering: Mind Matters: Community, Identity & Belonging (Waterloo, ON)
Luc was invited to join community members from the Kitchener, Wilmot and Waterloo to share our experiences of understanding and navigating our identities, sense of belonging, discover and being within forms of community.
Reflection: Luc experienced the gathering to be so fulfilling as a human. To share with vulnerability, empathy and feel welcomed and meet such amazing folks.
Follow this link to learn more about the community group.
Luc attended and witnessed traditional dancing, drumming and supported the market of Indigenous vendors hosted by Na-Me-Res.
Reflections:
This was an inclusive public gathering of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21)
The event centred traditional dancing in regalia, drumming where awareness and knowledge could be shared on historical and ongoing issues impacting Indigenous Peoples rooted in colonialism.
In total, 13 of the 94 Calls to Action have been completed since 2015 (Yellowhead Institute)
20-50% of people who are unhoused across Canada are Indigenous (Homeless Hub)
Follow this link to learn more about Na-Me-Res and the work they do supporting Indigenous men who are unhoused in Toronto. Follow this link to learn about the 94 Calls to Action.
Community Gathering: Na-Me-Res Traditional Pow Wow
Participatory Research Projects - Gender & Sexually Diverse Focus
The Expand Project: Smoking Cessation for Queer and Trans Young Adults:
Luc lead outreach efforts and assisted in the development of a research project focusing on gender and sexually diverse young adults (18-29), addressing the root causes of commercial tobacco use. The scope of the project focuses on Thunder Bay, Toronto, and Montreal. Through market research including a longitudinal survey, focus groups, and key informant interviews we have been building up to creating an awareness campaign and affirming services for folx looking to reduce their consumption or begin the journey of quitting.
The approach of the project is to meet people where they're at, addressing the reasons why people are smoking rather than a judgment or stigmatizing experience. Creating and joining community conversations around mental health, connectedness, alternative coping strategies, and managing stress for example. Luc's role focused on bridging research and community to ensure the lived experience, insights, and knowledge of the community is integrated into the project with a participatory action framework. The project is informed by an dedicated young adults, community organizations and members in each city, and an overall advisory of community stakeholders, academics, and public health experts.
*The project was recently awarded additional federal funding to increase community partnerships, research impact and health outcomes to communities across Canada.
To learn more about the research component, please visit here. To check out the social marketing campaign, please visit here.
Sexual & Gender Minority Youth Access to Services in Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic (S.M.A.S.H COVID):
Luc was invited to coordinate and offer his experiences in community engagement to an urgent research project addressing the barriers for gender and sexually diverse youth and young adults in accessing mental health services and care. We know that challenges and systemic issues were already present before the pandemic and the new reality not only enhanced what folx were experienced but in various ways made it worse.
Through this research, including an environmental scan of existing services, a planning committee of community stakeholders, and a design team. Implemented a design charrette co-design program for 40 youth and young adults to help identify what the barriers have been and create adaptations or new programming of an existing model to be implemented by Rainbow Service at CAMH and designed in a way that could be implemented universally.
To learn more about this project, please visit here.
