In this episode, Vicki gets into the details about AI and counselling with Candice Alder. They explore ways AI can be a positive resource and unpack some common missteps counsellors may take without AI literacy. Candice outlines some practical steps every counsellor should take to ensure their AI use is ethical and effective. This is part one of two conversations with Candice, and you can find the guidelines Candice has written here. Read More

Vicki and Wilma Schroeder discuss the new CTRI workshop, De-escalating Potentially Violent Situations for Health Care Workers. They review de-escalation as primarily verbal intervention aimed at calming escalation before it becomes physical, and note violence in health care has increased dramatically since the pandemic. Wilma outlines challenges specific to health care, including patients arriving with already elevated stress baselines (especially in emergency rooms), family distress, system and environmental “enablers”, and cognitive impairment factors such as dementia, ICU psychosis, or substance effects. Read More

Once again, Vicki and Joddie sit down to explore a topic together. This time it’s the familiar concept of the wounded healer. They explore some variations of this idea, from Carl Jung’s archetype to psychological links to vicarious trauma, and consider whether this is a strength or a hurdle to counsellor development. They also discuss an Indigenous authors’ view of interconnection with healing of the land and the reciprocal role of healing in a helping role. Inviting listeners to muse about their own connections to this topic, Vicki and Joddie find common ground in embracing the strengths from acknowledging and honouring our own wounds. Read More