Community of Practice Clinical Workshop Series 2024-2025
Our Goal
Our goal is to strengthen the capacity of professionals working in the mental health, community and social services sector in the Ottawa region who provide services to Black community members through online workshops, supervision access hours and an in-person half-day conference to share learning and best practices.
Community of Practice Components
Online workshops
Supervision Access Hours
In-Person Conference
Online Workshops
Featuring specific issues and focused on sharing information, these 2-hour online workshops will provide information and an opportunity to discuss selected topics. Each Workshop will be offered twice, once for Black professionals only, and once for any professionals working with Black community members.
Mental Health Experts include:
Jacklyn St. Laurent
Papa Ladjiké Diouf
Buuma Maisha
Shannon Black
Olivier Engoute
Jude Mary Cenat
Supervision Access Hours
Individualized Supervision Access Hours are 30-minute one-on-one appointments to discuss individual concerns throughout the project.
These Access Hours are provided to help community agencies build capacity to serve diverse clients within the Black communities in Ottawa and provide support to Black clinicians who may be working in isolation in private practice or traditional mainstream organizations.
To schedule your supervision access hours or more information, please contact Community of Practice Project Facilitator, Basant Mohamed, at info@obmhc.ca.
Community of Practice Conference
The Community of Practice conference was held on March 5, 2025, under the theme “Learning Through Connection: Intentionally Adapted Care for Equity-Deserving Communities.”
The event brought together a large group of mental health professionals from across Ottawa. The day featured insightful and critical discussions, fostering deeper connections and strengthening networks among participants.
Workshop 1: Working with ACB Clients Transference/ Countertransference and Cultural Challenges
This Workshop will help for a better understanding of the specificities of ACB clients. It will help clinicians also to be more aware of their transference and countertransference when they are working with ACB clients. Then they can make necessary adjustments in their approaches with those clients, the choice of their clinical tools, their therapeutic relationships with them, and their self-management as clinicians.
Workshop 1: Working with ACB Clients Transference/ Countertransference and Cultural Challenges
This Workshop will help for a better understanding of the specificities of ACB clients. It will help clinicians also to be more aware of their transference and countertransference when they are working with ACB clients. Then they can make necessary adjustments in their approaches with those clients, the choice of their clinical tools, their therapeutic relationships with them, and their self-management as clinicians.
Workshop 2: Empowering Sexual Health in ACB Communities: Anti-Racism and Culturally Sensitive Interventions
This workshop is designed to address the unique sexual health needs of African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) communities through an anti-racism lens and culturally sensitive interventions. Participants will explore the impact of systemic racism on sexual health and learn practical strategies to foster a more inclusive and supportive environment. The workshop aims to empower individuals and health professionals to improve sexual health outcomes within ACB communities by recognizing and addressing the cultural and social determinants of health. Additionally, the workshop will include a pleasure mapping activity to help participants become more comfortable with their own sexuality and to better understand and explore their clients’ sexuality.
Workshop 2: Empowering Sexual Health in ACB Communities: Anti-Racism and Culturally Sensitive Interventions
This workshop is designed to address the unique sexual health needs of African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) communities through an anti-racism lens and culturally sensitive interventions. Participants will explore the impact of systemic racism on sexual health and learn practical strategies to foster a more inclusive and supportive environment. The workshop aims to empower individuals and health professionals to improve sexual health outcomes within ACB communities by recognizing and addressing the cultural and social determinants of health. Additionally, the workshop will include a pleasure mapping activity to help participants become more comfortable with their own sexuality and to better understand and explore their clients’ sexuality.
Workshop 3: Addressing racial trauma in psychotherapy: A discussion on clinical observations
This workshop will discuss the uniqueness of racial trauma in the Canadian multiculturalism and EDI-promoting workplace. What are the implications of the often double-bind messages and experiences to which members of the black community and other minority groups are exposed in their work environment? The workshop will inform and equip participants on ways to address their racial trauma and that of their clients for a more effective therapeutic outcome.
Workshop 3: Addressing racial trauma in psychotherapy: A discussion on clinical observations
This workshop will discuss the uniqueness of racial trauma in the Canadian multiculturalism and EDI-promoting workplace. What are the implications of the often double-bind messages and experiences to which members of the black community and other minority groups are exposed in their work environment? The workshop will inform and equip participants on ways to address their racial trauma and that of their clients for a more effective therapeutic outcome.
Workshop 4: Cultural adaptability of assessment tools: racial trauma, crises & suicide prevention
This workshop aims to highlight best practices, thoughts and processes, which can inform more racially safe and affirming mental healthcare.
Workshop 4: Cultural adaptability of assessment tools: racial trauma, crises & suicide prevention
This workshop aims to highlight best practices, thoughts and processes, which can inform more racially safe and affirming mental healthcare.
