JOIN US
Connect. Learn. Grow.
You have likely discovered that working with blended/stepfamilies is not quite the same as working with first families. Your models of evaluating the problems and providing the solutions are not cutting it.
Clients are frustrated. You are frustrated. The frustration you feel is common and widespread.
Step or blended families are NOT the same as first families and the challenges they bring to therapy are unique. The problems they experience need to be solved differently.
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An opportunity for psychologists, counsellors, pastors, social workers and other professionals to build on their knowledge of the challenges that stepfamilies present in counselling and their differences from first families.
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Using a systemic lens, the presenters will help participants build a framework to understand these challenges and provide tools that they can use in helping these families.
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A fun and compelling training and networking experience, using evidence-based practice, research, and case examples from presenters with decades-long experience in the field
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De-mystify the complexities of each stepfamily member’s experience and foster empathy and confidence in the clinician’s ability to use the right interventions.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Get inspired.
Join us in this first-of-its-kind conference to:
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be inspired on normalizing blended family challenges
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discover those differences that are of real significance
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be informed by industry thought leaders on what to do
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be guided towards more effective clinical practice
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give your clients confidence knowing you have the training needed to help them
Day 1 - 8 am - 5:30 pm
Full day training on the 5 main challenges in blended families and what to do.
7:30am-8:00am- arrival and registration
8:00am-9am- Breakfast
9:00-9:15am- Welcome
9:15am-12:30pm- Meeting the (Big) Challenges of "Blended Families" with Dr. Papernow
12:30pm-1:30pm- Lunch
1:30pm-5:30 pm- Meeting the (Big) Challenges of "Blended Families" with Dr. Papernow (con't)
Day 2 - 8 am - 1 pm
Half day training with two options to CHOOSE from:
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A ‘Deeper Dive’ with Dr. Papernow. She will be applying the principles from day 1 to your real stepfamily cases. This is a participant-led time to address your clinical questions and solve even more complex stepfamily issues.
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A presentation by Dr. Jeff Chang on effectively working with children whose parents are in high-conflict divorce, navigating the legal minefields and effectively managing the parents while you work.
7:30am-8:00am- arrival
8:00am-9am-Breakfast
9am-9:15am-Welcome
9:15am-12:30pm- Speaker in Room A or B (Dr. Papernow or Dr. Chang)
12:30-1pm-Conference Wrap Up
1pm-3pm (optional time to network with conference speakers and other attendees)
Breakfast included both days + lunch on Thursday
OUR SPEAKERS

DR. PATRICIA PAPERNOW
Dr. Patricia Papernow has taught about “blended families” all over the U.S. and the world. She has written about best clinical practices for meeting stepfamily challenges and shared current research about “blended families” in dozens of articles and book chapters and has authored the leading books in the field: Surviving and Thriving in Stepfamily Relationships: What Works and What Doesn’t, and, with Karen Bonnell, The Stepfamily Handbook: From Dating, to Getting Serious to Forming a “Blended Family.” Patricia is a highly engaging teacher, a systems and trauma-trained clinician, and an attuned caring clinical supervisor. She is the recipient of the 2017 award for Distinguished Contribution to Family Psychology from the Society for Couple and Family Psychology of the APA (American Psychological Association). Dr. Papernow is a psychologist practicing in Hudson, Massachusetts, USA.

DR. JEFF CHANG
Dr. Jeff Chang is Associate Professor in the Graduate Centre for Applied Psychology, Athabasca University. Jeff is a Registered Psychologist (AB) and a Registered Marriage & Family Therapist Supervisor Mentor (RMFT-SM). Jeff has worked in children’s mental health, employee assistance programs, and private practice. His current practice focuses on families embroiled in high- conflict separation and divorce. He publishes in the areas of high conflict divorce, clinical supervision, child and family therapy, postmodern therapies, and school-based counselling. Besides dozens of book chapters and articles, Jeff’s two books are Basic Family Therapy (6th edition, with Philip Barker) and Creative Interventions with Children: A Transtheoretical Approach. Dr. Chang practices and resides in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
REGISTRATION
Get Invested.
Are you ready to mingle? Ready for a professional networking opportunity? Meet with others in the field who are struggling to understand better and help their clients in Blended Families. Form supportive, collaborative groups post-conference! Obtain up to 9 CEU’s from your professional organization! Expand your practice with families desperate for the right help!
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$350 for Professionals
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$250 for Students
Register groups of 5 or more and receive an additional 10% discount!
Health Advisory & Refund Policy
We are monitoring government and public health guidelines constantly. Full refunds are possible should the pandemic persist, and the conference is postponed or cancelled, or you are unable to travel due to government restrictions in your province or country. Full refunds minus an administrative fee of $40 will be issued for all the other reasons until March 31st, 2022. An administrative fee of $80 will be charged to process refunds after March 31st.

VENUE AND ACCOMMODATIONS
Deerfoot Inn and Casino
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For reservations call 403-236-7529 or 1-888-875-4667
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Group Code is CCJOURNEY or mention Journey Counselling
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Rate is $149.00 per night, plus applicable taxes, single or double occupancy.
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https://deerfootinn.com/hotel/rooms-and-suites/traditional-king-room/