• Core Competencies
• Traditional Support Practices
• Behavioural Management Strategies; and
• Accountability Systems

Are ESSENTIAL BUT ARE JUST NOT ENOUGH – EQUALLY ESSENTIAL IS THAT SUPPORTERS AND LEADERS MUST HAVE:

• Mindful presence
• Personal & professional emotional maturity e.g. emotional self-regulation skills
• An uncompromising commitment to wanting to help others
• Authentic compassion for all others even when we don’t feel like it
• The most current evidence-based prevention and management interventions* necessary to compliment valuable however incomplete strategies

*CCS applies simple and practical research discoveries from the disciplines of mindfulness, neuroplasticity, social neurobiology, emotional freedom therapy, nutrition, GI health and biofeedback and integrates these sciences with what is relevant of conventional behavioural treatment and management.

This highly interactive workshop will have two main themes that will result in:

• Supported individuals improved inclusive quality of life including effective non-behavioural interventions to prevent and rapidly de-escalate behaviours of concern.
• Enhanced supporter job satisfaction, safety plus meaning and fulfillment in their roles.

The objectives will be achieved through:

1. Development of workers and leaders mindful emotional maturity

a. Emotional competence

b. Mindful self-regulation skills

c. Self and others awareness

d. Empathy / unconditional respect and kindness

e. Meaning, purpose and heart i.e. clarifying reasons for commitment

2. The most current evidence-based support strategies:

a. Sensory integration – how to assess and meet needs

b. Gastrointestinal (GI) health – essential nutritional and supplement requirements

c. Post-traumatic stress disorder, healing and recovery

d. Brain coherence to power up the brain to higher levels of cognition

3. Mindful development of unconditional compassion

Based on Neuroscience research findings from mindfulness strategies developed by Harvard Medical School research consultants, Shinzen Young (with whom Peter partners and co-facilitates), participants will actually experience unconditional compassion and learn how to access it at will.

On some days many Supporters and Leaders may wonder, from where will my strength come?

“Their needs just don’t wait until I am rested and my heart is open and resilient.”

On these days the mind and heart may silently cry out…..

• “I never dreamed that it would be this hard.  I fear that I’m burning out.”
• “I want so much to have more patience with him / her. I feel so badly loosing it / freaking out again.”
• “I want to give him / her so much more but I just have to tune out.”
• “Oh no, I’ve just spaced out again and missed much of what she just said.”

HELP!

When these cries happen, kindness is often replaced by unconscious indifference or overpowering rigid reactions to every increasing needs and insecurities.

Let us help you ensure that these ‘cries’ and concerns are minimal and do not lead to even greater suffering for Carers, Support Workers, Leaders and Community Members.

www.centreconsciouscare.ca

A Centre for Conscious Care has evolved from an Ontario based ‘not for profit’ organisation founded by Peter and Joanne Marks in 1986.

Senior Consultant: Adriana McVicker (Canada)

• 25 years of experience working with children, adults and their families.
• For the last 10 years, has worked with a service provider in developmental services in various roles including direct support and in positions of management including support services, staff development and project management.
• With her education in counselling, developmental psychology, sociology and health sciences, Adriana deeply values using a comprehensive approach while providing quality supports for people and families.

She is a true believer that all of us are interdependent and that we each carry a responsibility to help one another be the best we can.