Psychosocial Spiritual Alberta Community of Practice
Recurring event January 16, 12:00 - 1:00pm Next Event: February 20, 12:00 - 1:00pm
Organized by: Palliative Institute
Audience: Healthcare professionals
Webinar Palliative care Spiritual health Mental health
This community of practice seeks to develop the clinical and self-care skills of professionals providing psychosocial-spiritual care to palliative patients, families and the bereaved in Alberta.
In palliative and grief care, there is often a component of suffering that we cannot “fix” or “take away”. Instead, as psychosocial-spiritual professionals we are called to companion and support, foster coping, processing, treatment, and sometimes healing. This COP seeks to develop the clinical and self-care skills of professionals providing psychosocial-spiritual care to palliative patients, families and the bereaved in Alberta. Developed with Alberta content, this series is open to social workers, spiritual care providers, creative arts therapists, occupational therapists, Indigenous liaisons, counsellors, psychologists, nurses and other clinicians providing emotional and spiritual support. Come explore relevant topics, meet your colleagues, deepen your knowledge, and build connections. We encourage you to attend all sessions, as able.
Sessions
Culturally Safer Care
Date: Dec. 19, 2024
Presenter: Juliet Foster, RN, Indigenous palliative care navigator, Indigenous Wellness Clinic, Covenant Health
Juliet Foster is a palliative and hospice certified registered nurse with over ten years of experience in palliative care. In this session, Juliet will share about her current role as an Indigenous palliative nurse navigator and how she helps Indigenous clients and their family navigate the health care system to find supports available through a culturally informed approach to care.
This session will explore the topics of social determinants of health and culturally safer care.
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Mindful Self-Compassion
Date: Jan. 16, 2025
Presenter: Dr. Charlie Chen, MD, Med, CCFP(PC), FCFP
Learn about the theoretical framework and some of the research behind mindful self-compassion and take part in a 12-minute guided meditation followed by small and large group discussions.
Please join Dr. Charlie Chen, MD, Med, CCFP(PC), FCFP to explore and discover the wonders of mindful self-compassion (MSC). MSC combines the skills of mindfulness with the emotional practice of self-compassion. You will hear about the theoretical framework and learn about some the research behind this practice. The session will involve a 12-minute guided MSC meditation followed by small and large group discussions about your experience.
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How to Care, What to Say: Talking About Grief and Loss
Date: Feb. 20, 2025
Presenter: Becky VanTassel BSW RSW M.Ed., Grief Education
In this session we will highlight the importance of discussing grief and loss with patients. Through interactive activities participants can expect to explore “Forever Remembered Stories” and their role in providing quality patient care. Participants will leave with additional resources to explore following the session.
Learning objectives
- After attending this training, participants will report:
- Increased awareness of the importance of discussing grief and loss.
- Increase knowledge of practical strategies to provide quality care in “Forever Remembered” moments.
- Increased knowledge of video resources to support patients and families.
Skill Building for Difficult Conversations
Date: Mar. 20, 2025
Presenter: Kimberly Crosby, psychologist, supportive care, Cross Cancer Institute
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Dementia and Grief
Date: Apr. 24, 2025
Presenter: Becky VanTassel BSW RSW M.Ed., Grief Education
Join Becky as she explores the intersection of grief and dementia and provides tools for helping those with dementia.
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Poetry in Therapy
Date: May 15, 2025
Presenter: Joanne Morcom, BSW, RSW, social worker, Extendicare Cedars Villa
In this session you gain knowledge of the therapeutic uses of poetry, including for coping with serious illness and in grief work. Joanne will provide information about bibliotherapy, poetry as therapy and resources for further study. Participants will have the opportunity to read and discuss a sample poem in break-out rooms before reconvening for a final discussion.
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Suffering and Spirituality in End-of-Life Care
Date: Jun. 19, 2025
Presenters: Wenda Salomons, MTS, certified spiritual care practitioner, Covenant Health; Craig Traynor, MDiv, spiritual health practitioner, Covenant Health
End-of-life suffering is complex. It can manifest through physical, emotional, relational, existential, and other psychosocial aspects of dying.
This presentation explores end-of-life suffering through a lens of spirituality. While touching on some historical and cultural background, it focuses on modern approaches to spiritual care and proposes some solutions to address suffering in end-of-life care.
Register nowThis event is part of the Covenant Health Palliative Institute's ECHO Hub virtual knowledge-sharing platform. Find more events or revisit past sessions on ECHO Hub.