3.75 CPD Credits

MOC (Section 1)

& Mainpro+

Hosted by Deptartments of

Pediatrics & Oncology

This one-credit-per-hour Group Learning program meets the certification criteria of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and has been certified by Continuing Professional Development, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University for up to 3.75 Mainpro+ credits.

This event is an Accredited Group Learning Activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and approved by Continuing Professional Development, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University. You may claim a maximum of 3.75 hours (credits are automatically calculated).

3.75 CPD Credits

MOC (Section 1)

& Mainpro+

Hosted by Deptartments of

Pediatrics & Oncology

A Time for Relaxation, Renewal,

and Compassionate Care

A small group retreat (15 participants) designed specifically for females practicing medicine

Friday

• A delicious welcome dinner together at the on-site restaurant
• A brief introduction to ‘wisdom-making’ using self-compassion to set the compass for the retreat process together.

Saturday

• Learn the basics of Mindful Self-Compassion specifically tailored to the female physician experience
• Lunch at the on-site restaurant
• Group wisdom-making process exploring how to meaningfully integrate a self-compassionate way of practicing medicine in our challenging systems
• Deeply relaxing Sound Meditation to close our time together with special guest Robert McMaster (Sound Artist)
  

Facilitators

www.helenjbutlin.com

Helen holds a doctorate in Health Professional Education from Western University and worked in psychotherapy and counselling roles in health care for twenty-one years before opening private practice in 2019. Her clients are a range of practitioners in front line professions and she provides a referral-based service for the Ontario Medical Association’s Physician Health Program. Helen has worked with the research and practices developed in Mindful Self-Compassion since 2009 and graduated from the Self-Compassion In Psychotherapy 9-month Training Intensive. She brings practical tips for giving yourself compassion in busy daily life without the ‘cushion-sitting’. Helen’s unique approach in group facilitation guides an emergent ‘group wisdom’ so that each group experiences a rich, in-depth discovery of insights and wisdom that can be taken into daily life afterwards and no two retreats are the same.

https://www.cwimorg.com/post/one-foot-in-front-of-the-other-by-dr-jennifer-baxter

Jennifer is a Family Physician working and living on the Sunshine Coast, BC. She started her career as a full-service rural family physician, however following a severe concussion began her own wellness journey, She now combines her interests in clinical care (ER and mental health work), Leadership (presently in the role of Associate Local Medical Director in Sechelt), and Physician Wellness. Her Wellness work includes being a Peer Support Champion for Vancouver Coastal Health, offering Self-Compassion programs for physicians, and providing retreats curated specifically for physicians. Discovering and embracing Self-Compassion is one of the most transformative components of her personal wellness journey with profound impacts both personally and professionally. She has completed the Self-Compassion in Psychotherapy 9-month Training Intensive offered by the Centre for Mindful Self-Compassion.

What To Expect

• Learn the basics of Mindful Self-Compassion tailored to the female physician life and experience
• Explore tender and fierce self-compassion for inner support, more effective motivation, and healthy assertiveness
• Discover how being internally kinder to yourself builds self-worth and firmer boundaries
  
• Understand the growing research as to why self-compassion is a game changer for mental health
  
• Discuss and practice how specific approaches in self-compassion can buffer you from toxic workplace dynamics and structurally embedded oppressions
  
• You will leave with practical wisdom tips created together to work into your personal life and clinical practice going forward
  

CPD Learning Objectives

1..Apply the three fundamental components of Mindful Self-Compassion (mindfulness, common/shared humanity, kindness) using the framework developed by Neff & Germer (2018) during dysregulation or distress. Skills learned are applicable to daily life for recovery from triggering situations such as moral injury, gender bias, complex clinical issues, and interpersonal conflict.

2.Apply the 3 principles of "fierce self-compassion" (Protecting, Providing, Motivating) by Neff (2021) to mitigate the risk of "empathy burnout" (Singer & Klimecki, 2014). Develop the skill to shift the nervous system from dysregulated distress responses to anchored, regulated responses, fostering resilience against burnout symptoms.

3.Apply a practical application of the Validating Strengths exercise for self-worth buffering in a peer-to-peer debriefing of a difficult workplace experience with gender-bias embedded in it.

4.Self-apply a meditation skill to experience deepening of their embodied connection with nature using a method to (re)experience nature as interconnected with human life (from indigenous knowledge systems) fostering regulation of the nervous system into a calmer, resting state (Wall-Kimerer, 2015). It provides an experience that can be implemented in daily life to enhance mental health and well-being (Leavell et.al., 2019)

5.Apply the “Validating Strengths” practice in pairs, Gain hands-on learning for application and peer debriefing, facilitating dysregulation to regulation for buffering from the mental-emotional impact.

6.Apply 2 'wisdom nuggets' that most resonate from the group wisdom in large group discussion for managing gender bias in practice.

Testimonials

"Helen has an entirely refreshing and unique approach with meaningful content and insight. She brings her years of experience working in healthcare and supporting physicians with career and system navigation along with robust, practical evidence-informed skills training and mental-emotional support for our psychological well-being… I have seen her transform the perspectives of the apprehensive physicians sitting in the room who are there because they know they need something for themselves but have never sought help in this way. She naturally brings safety, community, and calm to a group…. Helen’s guidance towards building meaningful support both internally for ourselves and with others using grounded, practical and essential exercises that help us cultivate self-compassion is different than anything we have experienced before. Her interventions and skills are tailored to our specific profession and responsibilities as women (in her women physician retreats) and physicians in general. Her teaching and guidance is unlike anything I have witnessed from a non-physician and shows her expertise with our unique profession. I have been to many wellness sessions offered through hospitals and other venues and heard many people talk, but the person I keep coming back to and always want more from is Helen Butlin."

~ Dr. Anna Gunz (MD, FRCPC, FAAP),

Pediatric Intensivist, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry

"Helen Butlin is such a gifted practitioner and very experienced in her work with physicians. She is compassionate, very knowledgeable and catered the content so that it was very relevant to physicians. I’ve participated in retreats for female physicians with Helen and they have been such an amazing experience. We discussed both theory and practical approaches that we could use in our everyday practice. The hands-on exercises were very interesting, helpful and thoughtfully planned. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Helen’s retreats to any physician."

~Dr. Brianna McKelvie (MD, FRCPC)

Pediatric Intensivist, CHEO

"I attended Dr. Baxter's 2-day wellness retreat for physicians on the Sunshine Coast. I found her to be a wonderful facilitator, with a great balance of insight and questions, and pauses for reflection. It was such a great opportunity to connect with other physicians on a deeper level, and also to explore and understand myself. Dr. Baxter's kind and non-judgmental manner allowed me to be truly vulnerable, and in doing so let go of some of my guilt, challenges, and be a truer more authentic self. She also facilitated a wonderful and relaxing yoga session, and I really enjoyed the integration of physical activity and relaxation.

I would strongly recommend any physician to attend Dr. Baxter's retreat. It is a fantastic investment in yourself and your well-being!"

~Dr Nancy Yao (MD, CCFP)

Family Physician, Sunshine Coast

Price:

$480 + HST

($542.40 Total)

We'd love for ​you to join us!