All Webinars

Cognitive restructuring is a hallmark of CBT. An entry point into this nuanced, creative and dynamic intervention is an exploration of cognitive distortions and use of the thought record or thought journal. Once mastered, this intervention can be used in a host of contexts from negative automatic thoughts to rules for living, to schema work…and beyond. This tool is made all the more potent when elements such as imagery, creativity, metaphor, and culture are employed.            

This foundations webinar will teach participants the essential skills of cognitive restructuring through learning the rules so that they can be appropriately broken. The use of creativity, imagery and metaphor will also be introduced to help move the impact of cognitive restructuring from head to heart.

After this webinar participants will:

• Understand the power of this essential element of cognitive behavioural therapy
• Be able to utilize practical techniques to facilitate cognitive restructuring with clients
• Engage in interventions that deepen the impact of cognitive restructuring – moving from logic to feeling
• Have practical tools and resources to use in practice

Asking good, thought provoking (Socratic) questions is a keystone to CBT. Using Socratic Dialogue is a powerful approach that facilitates discovery and learning between the client and the therapist – this is often called Guided Discovery or Guided Empiricism. This approach is used in an variety of different way and requires a certain level of skill and risk on the part of the clinician, as asking open ended questions opens us up to uncertainty.

In this webinar we will explore Socratic Dialogue and Guided Discovery from a theoretical and practical level. Participants will come away with new thoughts and tools to use in their practice of asking good questions.

In this webinar participants will:

• Learn the importance of guided empiricism (discovery) in CBT
• Discover the power and risk of Socratic Dialogue
• Engage with developing the skill of asking good, Socratic questions and practicing guided discovery.
• Acquire practical resources to help them in their developing practice.

The history of racism in Canada has unfortunately led to an embedded and persistent reality of daily race-based traumatic experiences for Black individuals, families, and their communities today. Black mental health requires immediate and unique attention, which first requires all mental health practitioners to understand and respond to Black mental health concerns as a shared responsibility.

This webinar aims to provide a brief overview of racism in Canada as it relates to Black communities, and how its impact has created barriers to mental wellness systemically. We will also explore the unique stressors and mental health challenges many Black communities face as a result of racial trauma. Finally, to help participants learn best practices in supporting Black mental health, we will explore decolonizing psychology, cultural humility, and adopting an Africentric care model to better support in holding safe and transformative spaces for Black communities on their mental wellness journey.

Webinar Learning Objectives: 

• Understand systemic factors impacting Black mental health.
• Recognize the unique stressors and mental health challenges faced by Black communities.
• Identify ways decolonize psychology and increase cultural humility to reduce barriers to mental health care for Black communities.
• Learn practices grounded in Africentric care to provide mental health support tailored to Black clients.

Historically CBT has been viewed as overly rigid, paternalistic, cold and overly focused on a narrow perception of cognition. This foundations workshop will explore the basic tenants of CBT from a more current lens which conceptualizes CBT as a creative, flexible and client-centered approach that not only focuses on cognition but also feelings, spirit, culture, body and heart.             

From there participants assessment and case conceptualization (critical first steps in any CBT process) will be explored, using a bio-psycho-social-spiritual-cultural perspective. Case conceptualized will be a focus as it is a flexible, evolving, collaborative foundation to CBT treatment. Participants will come away with knowledge and hands-on (handouts and worksheets) resources to use in practice.

At the end of this webinar participants will:

• Be aware of the basic tenants of CBT in a “3rd Wave”, 2025 Context
• Understand the beginning steps in a CBT process namely connection, assessment and conceptualization focusing on a bio-psycho-social-spiritua-l-cultural approach
• Appreciate the various levels of case conceptualizations and its role in treatment planning
• Attain practical conceptualization models and worksheets for use in practice.

This two-hour workshop, "Foundations for Reconciliation in Social Work," provides an overview of the work being undertaken at MCSW to achieve its strategic pillars of Regulation, Reconciliation, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Public Awareness. It offers social workers insight into key foundational documents such as the TRC Calls to Action, UNDRIP, MMIWG Calls to Justice, Spirit Bear Plan, and Bill C-92, highlighting their relevance to social work practice. The workshop explores how these frameworks inform MCSW's strategies and the role social workers play in advancing reconciliation, cultural safety, and equity.

Webinar Key Objectives:

• An overview of Two-Eyed Seeing worldview and its relevance to social work practice
• Exploration of the TRC Calls to Action, UNDRIP, MMIWG Calls to Justice, Spirit Bear Plan, and Bill C-92
• Understanding the shift from Cultural Safety to Cultural Competence
• Review of Power Dynamics in Social Work
• Identifying Actionable Commitments towards reconciliation, cultural competence and equity

Reproductive Justice (RJ) is a framework and a movement that examines and seeks to dismantle oppressive systemic inequities in reproductive care and bodily autonomy. This webinar explores intersections of race, class, gender, ability, rural vs. urban environments, immigration status, and other factors, to identify barriers and opportunities within healthcare and social systems. Designed for beginners, it introduces strategies for ameliorating these barriers and advocating for equitable, affirming access to reproductive services from a social work perspective. The session highlights social workers' roles in promoting social justice, supporting informed decision-making, and challenging oppressive systems and practices. Participants will also examine the historical significance of RJ and learn practical ways to integrate its principles into practice, with a focus on addressing structural inequities and supporting equity-denied populations in reproductive health.

Learning Objectives:

• Attendees will learn about the definition of Reproductive Justice (RJ), its history, and how this framework and movement intersects with social work values and ethics.
• The webinar will outline some of the nuanced and context-specific ways that RJ appears in social work practice.
• A case study that highlights the intersection of RJ and social work will be used to help conceptualize ways that social workers can integrate a Reproductive Justice lens into their practice.

Presented in partnership with MCSW, this one hour webinar will provide participants with an introduction to the ethical issues that can arise when posting information on social media platforms. The requirements for social workers to “distinguish between their actions and statements as private citizens and actions and statements made as social workers, recognizing that social workers are obligated to ensure that no outside interest bring the profession into disrepute (MCSW, Code of Ethics, 2015, Guideline 7, pg. 26)” will be reviewed. 

Learning Objectives: 

• An introduction to the MCSW regulatory mandate.
• An overview of technology and social media terminology.
• Examples that arise when using technology and social media in social work practice.
• A discussion about the link between professional and personal behavior.
• Ethical considerations and standard of practice.
• An introduction to some risk management strategies.

In Canada, this part of the social work field is gaining recognition for its role in enhancing the quality of care for both animals and their owners. Areas of practice include addressing the LINK between human and animal welfare, support during hospitalization and end-of-life, grief and loss counselling, policy and curriculum development and other roles based on where the veterinary social work role is housed. Veterinary social workers collaborate with veterinarians, those who do animal welfare work, and community organizations to provide support. They also influence policy development at the interface of human beings and animals, ensuring services are inclusive and culturally competent. This growing profession is vital in fostering a compassionate and supportive environment for all involved in animal care.

Learning Objectives: 

•  Highlight the Integration of Veterinary Social Work: Discuss how veterinary social work is being integrated into veterinary practices across Canada, emphasizing the benefits for both animal and human clients.
• Address Mental Health and Well-being: Explore the role of veterinary social workers in supporting the mental health and well-being of veterinary professionals, pet owners, and communities, particularly in managing grief, compassion fatigue, and stress.
• Promote Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Showcase examples of successful interdisciplinary collaboration between veterinarians, social workers, and other professionals to provide holistic care for animals and their owners.
• Educate on Ethical and Cultural Competence: Provide insights into the ethical considerations and cultural competence required in veterinary social work, ensuring that services are inclusive and respectful of diverse backgrounds and beliefs.
• Future Directions and Opportunities: Discuss the future directions and opportunities for growth in the field of veterinary social work in Canada, including potential areas for research, policy development, and education
• Diverse Panel Representation: Highlight the diverse areas of veterinary social work, as the panel represents social workers from across Canada who work in a variety of environments including private veterinary practices, specialty clinics, and academia, to provide a comprehensive view of veterinary social work practice.

Immigrants now make up 1 in 4 Canadians.  Their rich diversity adds to the mosaic and economy of Canada however there are barriers to equitable access and experiences with health and social services, resulting in health inequities. This is also occurring within our context where anti-immigration and hate is increasingly normalized, and our health human resource crisis. 

The National Newcomer Navigation Network (N4) is a national network for the diversity of providers who assist newcomers in navigating the complex Canadian healthcare and social service systems. N4 will be expand our understanding of barriers newcomers face as well as how social workers can support our newest Canadians by sharing best practices and tools.

In this presentation, social workers will: 

• Gain an understanding of newcomer status as a social determinant of health.
• Gain awareness of tools and resources, which support social workers to provide equitable access and experiences in their practice.

Join Kristina Fifield with the Can't Buy My Silence campaign for an online webinar about the misuse of non-disclosure agreements. NDAs (or confidentiality agreements) were invented to protect intellectual property but have become the default solution for organizations, corporations and public entities to settle cases of sexual violence, racism, pregnancy discrimination, disability discrimination and other human rights violations.

The training will look at the abusive use of NDAs through an Intersectional GBV Trauma Lens and will discuss the ethical implications, trauma impacts and far-reaching consequences of NDAs when used to silence survivors/victims, conceal wrongdoing and perpetuate a culture of secrecy. The training will provide ideas for justice initiatives and ways to support survivors/victims in your work who are being asked to sign or who have signed an NDA.

Learning Objectives: 

• To provide up-to-date information to Social Workers about the abusive use of NDAs exploring the traumatic impacts of silencing, systemic injustices that give rise to NDAs, and the legislative changes happening in Canada and abroad around this issue.
• To educate Social Workers about how NDAs are used to protect perpetrators of abuse from consequences and how this permits a cycle of violence to continue unchecked inside workplaces and institutions.
• To share ways to get involved in the movement to ban the abusive use of NDAs, and provide tools and knowledge to help individuals in these situations to navigate the system and ensure they have opportunities to receive the care and support they need. 
• To ensure Social Workers have the knowledge and skills to effectively inform and counsel any survivor who may be asked to sign an NDA regarding their experiences of violence, racism, harassment or other human rights violation(s).
• To support Social Workers in recognizing the intersectional nature of the issue of the misuse of NDAs, including the disproportionate impact on women, gender diverse and racialized individuals, and in responding accordingly.