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Are you a Peer Support Worker or other similar direct service professional? Do you yourself have lived experience with mental health & addictions issues, and provide support to others going through similar issues what you’ve experienced? This episode is for all those on the front lines of mental health care who have been there before themselves, and are maybe still going through it to some extent.  Hear from Tom Regehr, founder of CAST Canada, as he shares the story of alcoholism, homelessness and trauma that led him into a career within the mental health & addictions system.  Tom shares insights into what it’s like to provide support to others when you’ve gone through something similar in your own past. He gives advice on how to approach a situation when someone shares something that resonates with you, and what not to do. ————————————————————————————— 📲 Connect with me everywhere: Instagram: @skillfulsupportFacebook: @skillfulsupportTwitter: @farstadsteveEmail: steve@skillfulsupport.comMain Site: skillfulsupport.com

It can be very challenging to support someone with depression if you have training or experience in mental health care. Without any training or experience, it can be overwhelming and even exasperating.  In this episode, I speak with Roisin Boyd, a Clinical Lead with Trillium Health Partners in the Inpatient Mental Health Unit. Roisin has lived experience with depression, having first experienced symptoms as a 2nd year nursing student. Roisin shares her experience in struggling with depression, including the added challenges of anxiety that became part of her experience. She does a terrific job of painting a picture of what her experience was like, including the thoughts and feelings she was having in her darkest moments. Roisin also talks about the supports and interventions that worked well for her, and those that didn't. ————————————————————————————— 📲 Connect with me everywhere:Instagram: @skillfulsupportFacebook: @skillfulsupportTwitter: @farstadsteveEmail: steve@skillfulsupport.comMain Site: skillfulsupport.com

Do you support someone who is experiencing hearing loss? In this episode, I speak with Rex Banks about the challenges of supporting those who are going through hearing loss. Rex is the Director of Hearing Healthcare, Quality and Knowledge Enterprise at Canadian Hearing Services. Rex talks about the prevalence of hearing loss among adults, some common misconceptions about hearing loss, as well as strategies to support people who are deaf or hard of hearing.We also talk about the options for someone who is losing their hearing, including available devices and the many services they offer that are culturally and linguistically appropriate. ————————————————————————————— 📲 Connect with me everywhere:Instagram: @skillfulsupportFacebook: @skillfulsupportTwitter: @farstadsteveEmail: steve@skillfulsupport.comMain Site: skillfulsupport.com

Violence and brutality against black people by police is an issue across America. Black autistic people are at significant risk of being stopped, arrested and jailed by police.  It is imperative that you include planning for law enforcement interaction in the support plans you have for black people in your care.  In this episode, I speak with Joy. F. Johnson about how to prepare the people you support for police interaction. Joy F. Johnson is an autism advocate, inclusion specialist, and PhD candidate. She has lived experience as a black American with autism, and currently runs her practice out of Baltimore, MD.  Joy talks about her experience upon returning to the US from Germany, and the fears she had about encountering police. She outlines the importance of having a plan for interaction with law enforcement prepared ahead of time, and what should be included. She also talks about the importance of practicing the plan, ensuring that the person you support will be able to follow through on that plan, should they find themselves interacting with law enforcement. Joy tells us what needs to be in every support plan, how to how to spell it out, and how to practice it. She has written several tremendous resources, including social stories about police interaction, white privilege, and even a wallet card template you can use to record the information she lays out. ————————————————————————————— 📲 Connect with me everywhere:Instagram: @skillfulsupportFacebook: @skillfulsupportTwitter: @farstadsteveEmail: steve@skillfulsupport.comMain Site: skillfulsupport.com

In this episode, we're celebrating the release of episode #10! We look back at the topics we've covered so far, and the guests who have helped make it happen. Hear updates about future topics, exciting news about website updates, and more. Visit skillfulsupport.com/topics to enter the contest to win a $100 Amazon gift card! (Gift card is in Canadian funds)

A discussion on the distinction between acute stress and trauma for people who are providing support to others. Listen to Peter Hoag talk about the issues facing direct service workers during this pandemic, and how their work has been impacted. Find resources and show notes at skillfulsupport.com

In this episode, I talk with Trudie Gilbert about the importance of embedding health & safety into the work you do. Hear Trudie share her thoughts on safe workplaces and workspaces for people who support others for a living. Learn how to understand your rights as a worker, and what you should do if you find yourself in a situation that makes you feel unsafe. We also touch on the impact of COVID-19 on workplace health & safety, specifically as it relates to direct service professionals.  Go to skillfulsupport.com for show notes, resources and more.

Learn how to prepare for supervision meetings, with tips on how to navigate the complexities of the supervisory relationship. Hear from Theresa Fraser, President of the Canadian Association for Child and Play Therapy. For show notes and more, please visit skillfulsupport.com/supervision

Get a behind the scenes look at the hiring process in direct service professions. Hear Kristina Arena share tips and strategies to get hired in helping professions, such as Personal Support Worker, RPN, Care Aide, and more. Visit skillfulsupport.com for show notes, including resources mentioned in the episode.

Listen to Dawnmarie Harriott speak about her personal experience in facing stigma. In this interview, we talk about the impact stigma has on many people, including those experiencing homelessness, mental health issues, substance use, or countless other issues. We also discuss stigmatization by service providers, and what you can do to ensure that you are not perpetuating stigma in your work. Dawnmarie is a graduate of Voices from the Street program with Working For Change. Now the coordinator, Dawnmarie Harriott shares her personal experience of fleeing abuse, falling into poverty, housing obstacles, mental illness & addiction to educate the public to hopefully remove stigmas and misconceptions and create change to policies that create barriers for service users. Dawnmarie firmly believes that people with lived experience of all forms of marginalization should be included in research and service provision. Go to skillfulsupport.com for show notes, helpful resources, and more!

Learn self care strategies that you can use to reduce stress, decrease anxiety, and improve your overall well being. Hear from Tammy Whelen, Education Lead with the Canadian Mental Health Association / Peel Dufferin Branch as she tells her story, and talks about the self care strategies she uses in her life. Find show notes and resources at skillfulsupport.com.

Listen to Kari Gregorio Batterton speak on the topic of compassion fatigue. In this interview, we talk about how to think about compassion fatigue differently, how to recognize signs & symptoms in yourself, and what resiliency factors can protect you.  We also talk about some of the resources you can check out if you want to learn more about compassion fatigue.  Kari is a registered Psychotherapist with a Masters Degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of Toronto who has had the privilege of working with people struggling with serious mental health issues for over 19 years.  Kari works from an anti oppression framework to try and reframe client struggles to focus on their resiliency. Kari also identifies as someone who lives with serious mental Illness.Go to skillfulsupport.com for show notes, helpful resources, and more!

Trailer for The Skillful Support Podcast.