Body, Mind, and Soul: Well-Being on Campus

The Listel Hotel
1300 Robson St, Vancouver, B.C.
(604) 684-8461

Dubbed “Vancouver’s most art-full hotel”, The Listel hotel is a cultural hub, known for its enthusiastic service and commitment to high design and guest comfort. This intimate Robson Street hotel boasts a perfect location in the city’s restaurant and shopping district.

The conference will be catered by the award-winning restaurant, Forage: www.foragevancouver.com

From the web site, “Casual, comfortable and affordable, Chef Chris Whittaker’s Forage celebrates all things BC. Forage loves working to create community. Whether it’s a West End cause or part of the burgeoning movement committed to farm to table fare. Forage is there.”

The following room rate has been confirmed for the conference dates of May 1 – 3 as well as for pre/post conference dates of April 28 – 30 and May 4 – 6 and are based on single or double occupancy:

$160/night plus taxes (refer to the PSCA Conference rate when booking).

Parking is available in the Listel’s secure parking area for an additional fee.

“Welcome/Opening Remarks”

Dave Seaweed & Duane Seibel

Monday, May 2, 2016

10:00am-11:00am

Welcome Address

Dave Seaweed is Aboriginal Coordinator at Douglas College, a role he has filled for almost fourteen years and in which he has supported 900+ aboriginal students. Dave recently did a guest lecture for the Douglas College’s PSYC 3333 class, Cultural Competency and Counselling with Canada’s Aboriginal Peoples, in which he taught about Aboriginal culture and mental health and wellness.

Opening Remarks

Shifting Priorities: From Supporting Students in Their Academic Pursuits to Supporting the Whole Person

Duane Seibel, Director of Student Affairs and Services at Douglas College. Duane has held various roles in the public post-secondary system at Thompson Rivers University, Selkirk College, University of the Fraser Valley, University of Victoria and Vancouver Island University. His post-secondary career started as a faculty member and Chair within Child and Youth Care Program but has expanded in the last 10 years to include, leadership, conflict resolution, human rights, mental health supports for post-secondary students and the impact of technology in post-secondary organizations and individuals. Duane also has strong connections to the Canadian Mental Health Association and last year completed a six month secondment to act as their Executive Director in Kamloops. Duane considers himself an administrator who is really just a “recovering” counsellor and very much values the work of his counselling team and of their colleagues across the province.

“Nurturing your Smile: How Laughter Yoga Can Foster Mental, Physical and Emotional Wellness”

Angela Voght

Monday, May 2, 2016

11:00am-12:30pm

Laughter has been documented to have psychological and physiological benefits. It has been shown to reduce stress, pain, anxiety, and depression. In this experiential Laughter Yoga workshop, the notion of “laughter as the best medicine” will be explored. Research on health benefits of laughter will also be discussed. The workshop will provide you with a chance to connect to laughter through laughter exercises that nurture the mind, body, and heart. This is a fun interactive workshop that will get you moving and connecting to your inner joy.

Dr. Kasim Al-Mashat is a Registered Psychologist in private practice. Kasim’s counselling background and interest in wellness led him to Laughter Yoga in 2007. After personally experiencing the benefits of increased laughter and the joy it brought to his life, he pursued his instructor certification. Kasim trained with Dr. Madan Kataria, the founder of Laughter Yoga, and became a Certified Laughter Yoga Teacher. He co-leads the certification training program for new Certified Laugher Yoga Leaders in BC. His work in Laughter Yoga has caught the attention of media including Maclean’s magazine, Simon Fraser University News, and Global BC Television. Kasim is also passionate about bringing Laughter Yoga to organizations, conferences, and corporate retreats.

“Campus Wellness Initiatives Presentation and Open Discussion”

Monday, May 2, 2016

1:30pm-3:30pm

This session is a chance to share and learn about campus wellness initiatives happening around the province. Several institutions will each do a 15-20 minute presentation introducing their approach to well-being on campus. Afterwards, we will have an open discussion to ask questions of our presenters or for other institutions to informally share their wellness activities. There will be tables set up with space for materials promoting wellness initiatives.

Confirmed presenters to date include:
– University of British Columbia. Wellness Centre and Peer Wellness Coaching.
– Vancouver Island University. Capacity to Connect: Supporting Students in Distress
– Douglas College. Student Engagement and Wellness.

“Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy: From Theory to ‘Practice’”

Dr. Mark A. Lau

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

9:00am-5:00pm

Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) has been shown to be helpful in treating anxiety and depression. MBCT’s emphasis on mindfulness practice offers clients a different way to encounter and identify those modes of mind that often characterize mood and anxiety disorders. Specifically, mindfulness meditation is the cultivation of an open, receptive mode of awareness in which one intentionally faces behavioural difficulties and affective discomfort. This promotes, among other things, the possibility of de-centering and dis-identifying from ruminative, or anxious thinking patterns. The result is a more kind-hearted self-observation and a softening of self-judgment.

This full-day workshop will help participants bridge the gap between the MBCT treatment manual and the moment-to-moment process of teaching therapeutic mindfulness skills to clients, specifically in the treatment of anxiety and the prevention of recurrent depression. The workshop will place emphasis on experiential learning along with didactic instruction.

In this workshop, you will learn about:

1. The theoretical rationale underlying the development of MBCT
2. Research to date supporting the use of MBCT in mood and anxiety disorders, including in an individual format
3. The structure of MBCT and the core therapeutic tasks that accompany each of the group sessions including inquiry and three forms of mindfulness training used in MBCT: the body scan, mindfulness of the breath, and 3-minute breathing space
4. Training resources for clinicians interested in facilitating mindfulness-based interventions

Dr. Mark A. Lau, an acknowledged expert in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), is a UBC Clinical Associate Professor in Psychiatry and a Registered Psychologist in private practice. He has over 20 years experience providing Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy to individuals and groups; conducting MBCT and CBT research, and providing leadership and education in this area. He is an internationally-acclaimed trainer, Mindfulness journal editor and multi-award winner in his field.

“Yoga and Mindfulness in Counselling: What Attuning to Mind and Body Can Mean for Student Wellness”

Samantha Beveridge, M.A.

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

9:00am-10:00am

Yoga and mindfulness practices are increasingly popular, including with post-secondary students. Mindfulness and yoga have also been integrated into counselling, a practice supported by neuroscience research. Mind-body therapies recognize the psychophysiological nature of mental health. This workshop will explore the research on acknowledging the body in therapy and how mindfulness and yoga facilitate healing and wellness. The presenter’s study on yoga-integrated counselling will highlight findings that showed clients desire a whole-person approach and yogic practices facilitate resilience, self-acceptance, and an orientation toward community.

Samantha Beveridge, M.A., is a recent graduate of the University of British Columbia’s Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology program. She has worked in mental health care since 2007 and currently works as a Counsellor at the University of the Fraser Valley. Samantha has been a practitioner of Anusara and Vinyasa yoga for 10 years. Her yogic practice has led her to research the relationship between yoga, mindfulness, and psychology and pursue further training in 2017.

“Mindfulness and Neuroscience”

Dr. Geoff Soloway

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

10:30am-12:30pm

Mindfulness allows helping professionals to be more flexible and creative in the moments of change and complexity, more intuitive to clients underlying needs, and more resilient when life feels full to the brim. This workshop will explore the neuroscience of mindfulness and application for oneself as a counsellor and with students in higher education. We will explore the relationship between mind-brain-self, interpersonal neurobiology, and practices that hardwire happiness and cultivate loving kindness. You will be introduced to a mindfulness-in-action practice called Take 5, and the core practice of new online mindfulness training called the 30 Day Mindfulness Challenge.

Dr. Geoff Soloway has been working in the area of health promotion, mindfulness and wellbeing for 15 years. Geoff is co-founder & Chief Training Director of MindWell Canada, focused on making mindfulness more relevant and accessible for more people. Geoff completed a PhD in Mindfulness and a Master’s of Education in Holistic Education at the University of Toronto (U of T). He also earned a Certificate in Organizational Coaching at the University of British Columbia (UBC). Geoff has been an Instructor at both the U of T and UBC, and continues to teach in Continuing Studies at UBC.