Tom Walker, MSW, RSW
Tom has over twenty-five years of experience in the field of mental health and addictions within the social service sector and in private practice. His background includes working in front line, management and senior leadership roles. In addition to training with CTRI, Tom is a Human Factors Specialist with Ornge where he provides trauma support and therapeutic interventions for paramedics and staff. His responsibilities with Ornge also include therapeutic interventions, debriefing staff and the development and implementation of a peer support program. Tom believes that real change happens through relationship, authenticity and empowerment. He is a gifted facilitator who integrates real world experiences into practical examples in the workshops he facilitates.
November 2019
Due to limited resources and time, brief counselling interventions that are effective and efficient are becoming more in demand. This workshop is designed to move beyond general counselling skills and offer increased capacity and confidence to those wanting to expand their existing knowledge base and current skill set. Participants will acquire a deeper understanding of Cognitive Behavioural, Strengths-Based, Narrative, and Solution-Focused counselling frameworks.
Learn more...December 2019
Critical incidents are situations that occur outside of our normal frame of reference and challenge us to understand and cope with what has happened. Critical Incident Group Debriefing (CIGD) is a short-term group intervention process that focuses on an immediate event. CIGD is one of several methods that may be utilized to lessen the likelihood of people experiencing symptoms of trauma and stress after a critical incident.
January 2020
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a clinical diagnosis that is often misunderstood. The experience associated with BPD involves intense emotional and behavioural challenges for both the individual and their relationships with the people around them. This workshop’s purpose is to increase the understanding of BPD from the perspective of all those impacted, including caregivers, family members, and those diagnosed.
Learn more...February 2020
Many of the challenges that we experience are based on irrational and unhelpful thought patterns that impact both our feelings and our behaviour. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a time-sensitive, structured, and present-oriented form of counselling that focuses on problem solving and teaching individuals how to modify these distorted patterns of thinking. CBT is also one of the most well-known, researched, and practiced forms of therapy available to us.
Learn more...March 2020
Trauma is a wound that injures us emotionally, psychologically, physically, and spiritually. As a result, the impact of trauma can be far-reaching and enduring. This workshop provides an overview of the way trauma affects a person through the brain and nervous system. A framework which describes different stages in the process of regulating and resolving the impact of trauma is reviewed.
People who struggle to regulate their intense emotional experiences often feel like they are at the mercy of reactive coping patterns. It can seem like these emotional storms hijack their behaviour, take control of their thinking, and hurt their relationships with other people and themselves. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) provides concepts and skills to help people have more choices, become more emotionally calm, and be more present in their lives.
Learn more...April 2020
To effectively respond to critical incidents (suicide, violence, etc.), schools, communities, and organizations need to plan ahead of time so they are prepared to respond to these unfortunate events. This training will focus on how to organize effectively and quickly at a time of high stress so that groups are better prepared to respond to the emotional needs of those affected by a critical incident. A key component of the training is the review of a Crisis Response Checklist, an important tool when managing the complexities of a critical incident.
Learn more...May 2020
Every person will experience grief and loss – a profound sense of final separation from something or someone important. Grief is a normal and appropriate reaction to the death of a loved one, the experience of separation/divorce, intergenerational loss, or the loss of opportunity. While there are similarities in how individuals work through loss, grief is a complicated and unique experience that requires helpers to be sensitive to the needs and experiences of those they are supporting.
June 2020
Many people who struggle with mental illness also struggle with an addiction. Recovery from both of these issues is complicated because they affect each other and are intertwined. Helpers may often be at a loss for where to start – did the addiction cause the mental illness, did the mental illness cause the addiction, or is there something else leading to both? This workshop provides a framework for working systemically with both issues at the same time.
Harm reduction is an approach to help people explore their relationship with substances and behaviours. It works to reduce and mitigate damage and pain, and offers strategies to increase and promote safety, choice, and control. Harm reduction moves away from traditional understandings of “addiction” as a disease, and responses that are based on assumed morality and abstinence, or fear and punishment.
Learn more...At checkout you will have the option to pay by credit card or to receive an invoice to be paid later.
Cancellation Policy
Registrations cancelled seven or more days prior to the workshop are refundable, minus a $50.00 administrative fee. Alternatively, you may receive a credit to attend a future training. Cancellations less than seven days prior to the workshop are non-refundable. If at any time you are unable to attend, you are welcome to transfer your registration to another individual at no extra cost. In this case, please notify CTRI of the name of the alternate person who will be attending.
We reserve the right to cancel workshops due to unforeseen circumstances or under-enrolment. Liability is limited to a refund of workshop fees only. Please make travel and accommodation arrangements with this in mind.
Limited Seating
Register early! To better facilitate group interaction, seating is limited.
Children and unregistered guests are not permitted in the meeting rooms.
You Will Receive
A spiral bound training manual and workshop certificate, as well as morning refreshments. Participants are on their own for lunch from noon until 1:00 p.m., unless otherwise stated. For live-stream participants, you will receive a pdf copy of the manual.
Group Registration Instructions
To register a group for a workshop, choose the appropriate number you would like to register for the selected workshop, and fill in all the relevant information.
Concerns and Grievances
If concerns arise at any time throughout the registration process, please contact the CTRI office directly at 204-452-9199, or email [email protected].
Special Accommodations
for Disabilities
Please contact the CTRI office directly at 204-452-9199 or [email protected] to discuss any special needs or accommodations you may require in order to have a positive learning experience.
Continuing Education Credit
Check our Continuing Education Credit page to find out which associations and organizations accept our workshops for credit.
