Online Workshop

Woman putting hands on face as if distressed

Everyone who is in the helping field will at some point in their career experience some level of compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, burnout, moral distress, frustration or stress, which can lead to people becoming negative, cynical, avoiding clients, calling in sick often, contributing to declining morale or leaving the profession. 

Are there solutions for people to help themselves? Who would have thought that those in the helping field would be affected by the countless stories heard across the desk?

This interactive two-day workshop not only defines and assesses your compassion fatigue, but helps you build the tools to effectively address and manage it.

Learning Objectives

  • Define and know the differences between compassion fatigue, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), burn-out and vicarious trauma
  • Recognize signs and symptoms as well as physiological and psychological effects of compassion fatigue
  • Identify the basics of crisis response
  • Identify your own level of compassion fatigue through an assessment
  • Build resilience and a healthy well-being plan
  • Locate resources

Who Should Attend?

Any staff in a human, social or community services organization.

Duration

Two, three-hour online workshops held over two consecutive days.


Workshop Dates and Registration

All sessions in Eastern Standard Time.

April 18 - 21, 2023

  • Part 1: Tuesday, April 18 | 9:00 – 12:00 

  • Part 2: Friday, April 21 | 9:00 – 12:00 

  • Registration cut off: Friday, April 14

Register Now


June 6 - 7, 2023

  • Part 1: Tuesday, June 6 | 9:00 – 12:00 

  • Part 2: Wednesday, June 7 | 9:00 – 12:00 

  • Registration cut off: Friday, June 2

Register Now


September 21 - 22, 2023

  • Part 1: Thursday, September 21 | 9:00 – 12:00 

  • Part 2: Friday, September 22 | 9:00 – 12:00 

  • Registration cut off: Tuesday, September 19

Register Now

Pricing

  • Members: $285 + HST

  • Non-Members: $370 + HST

Technical Requirements

OMSSA will be hosting this virtual workshop on Zoom, an online, interactive platform that you can join straight from your web browser, or by downloading 'Zoom Client for Meetings' on your computer or tablet

Participants will be expected to join the workshop via both video and audio. Participants should therefore have access to a desktop computer, laptop computer or tablet with:

  • a webcam or built-in camera

  • a built-in microphone or a headphone jack where you can plug in a headset or earphones

We strongly recommend that participants use a headset or earphones with a built-in microphone in order to limit background noise. 

System requirements: Click here for more detailed information on system requirements from Zoom.


About the Facilitator

Valerie Spironello, MSW, RSW has been a social worker for over 35 years working in a variety of settings including health care (palliative care, chronic illness), child welfare, and domestic violence. Valerie is an Assistant Professor (PT) with the Department of Family Medicine teaching in the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University.  She has provided workshops and presentations to service providers on a variety of topics such as compassion fatigue, work/life balance, mindfulness and end-of-life care.  Valerie is also a meditation teacher trained in the use of mindfulness in the clinical setting. In her private practice Choosewellness.ca, she provides counseling, groups, workshops and retreats to assist others in living well in Body, Mind and Spirit. After experiencing compassion fatigue herself, Valerie committed to using her ‘re-found' sense of humour to help others look at, and live their best life. She is very excited to be collaborating with OMSSA to offer this knowledge as support to its members!