Date: Tuesday, November 22, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The Zoom link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Exhaustion. Overwhelm. Depletion. Stress. Mental health. These words have become common in our vocabulary over the last 3 years. And for good reason. Many of us are bursting at the seams, and cannot cope with what’s going on. If you can identify with anything mentioned, you may be experiencing burnout. We know that many people are experiencing this right now, in various forms. How do we navigate it effectively? Learning how to manage stress to be able to care for your kids, parents, and anyone in between is essential to stay out of burnout. Take time to invest in yourself today!

Facilitator: Tara Rhodes is a certified life and leadership coach, speaker and an award-winning facilitator and trainer. She is dedicated to helping people gain the clarity and confidence to advocate for the life they want to live, and then developing the healthy habits to make that a reality. She firmly believes that life is too short to live a life that makes you unhappy, and is on a mission to help her clients take control of their lives so they can share their unique gifts with the world. A wife and mom to two lively boys, she actively practices what she preaches to maintain a healthy balance and presence in her every day. You can find out more at on Tara Rhode’s website.

Date:Monday, November 21, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

While childcare costs in the GTA can be high, many families are eligible for government subsidies to help offset fees. In this webinar, City of Toronto staff will provide information on the subsidy process, from eligibility, to applying to finding a childcare centre where your subsidy can be used. Join us for more information on whether this is an option available to your family!

Facilitator: Peter Young, City of Toronto Children’s Services

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, postdoctoral fellows, faculty, and their partners are welcome. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Date: Wednesday, November 2, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Family responsibilities can range from taking care of older adults to children, in this session we will be discussing strategies on how to balance both personal and professional responsibilities in your job search and career development.

This interactive themed discussion co-hosted by Career Exploration & Education and the Family Care Office will provide you and a group of your peers with the opportunity to learn strategies, ask questions and discuss ways to balance family responsibilities, the job search, and career development. There will be a 1-hour presentation by a Career Educator followed by 30 minutes of discussion-based conversation,

Facilitator: Steven Lappano, Career Educator, UofT Career Exploration and Education

* Life Management Series is Co-Curricular Record (CCR) approved. Students who complete four workshops over two academic years will receive Co-Curricular Record recognition. CCR connects skills to involvement opportunities.

Registration required. U of T students welcome. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Date: Thursday, May 12, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

This is the second and final session in the Children and Bullying series. In the first session, parents learned about different types of bullying, as well as roles, signs and consequences of bullying for bullies, victims and witnesses. During this session, we turn our focus on supporting victims and witnesses of bullying. Parents will learn how to help their child respond to bullying, whether as a witness or a victim. First, we will address strategies parents can utilize before the child experiences bullying. Here, we will focus on resiliency and examine key protective factors that help build it. Next, we will explore specific skills and techniques parents can teach their children in order to help them respond to bullying with confidence. We will end the session by identifying situations that need a higher level of parental intervention such as meeting with school staff/officials or searching for professional support for their children. Attendance at the first session is not a pre-requisite.

The presentation will occur from 12-1:00pm and the facilitator will be available for questions for the last 30 minutes.

Recommended for parents whose children are 7 to 14 years of age.

Facilitator: Nana Gulic is an Education Doctorate student at OISE’s Social Justice Education Department. She is a Child and Youth Worker with 17 years of experience in working with youth in Canada and internationally. With youth empowerment and engagement as the guiding premise, she worked in residential group homes, community development programs, elementary schools and international organizations. Her academic and professional passions are social and emotional skill development and democratic education. Nana is also a mother to a 10-year old boy for whom she wishes to become a caring, empathic and engaged citizen.

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, postdoctoral fellows and their partners are welcome. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event (examples might include sign language interpretation, mobility issues, or any other accommodations), please contact the Family Care Office and we will work with you to make appropriate arrangements

Date: Thursday, February 17, 2022
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

This presentation talks about different types of bullying, why it happens and what to do once it happens. First, we will make distinctions between bullying and peer disagreements. Next, we discuss behaviours, underlying emotions, common student responses, and practical suggestions for supporting our children as parents and caring adults. We will finish with when and how caregivers can approach school staff or community services to seek support. We will keep the discussion grounded in examples from real-life situations that took place over the presenter’s 17-year experience with children and youth. Audience participation is encouraged.

Recommended for parents whose children are 7 to 14 years of age.

Facilitator: Nana Gulic is an Education Doctorate student at OISE’s Social Justice Education Department. She is a Child and Youth Worker with 17 years of experience in working with youth in Canada and internationally. With youth empowerment and engagement as the guiding premise, she worked in residential group homes, community development programs, elementary schools and international organizations. Her academic and professional passions are social and emotional skill development and democratic education. Nana is also a mother to a 10-year old boy for whom she wishes to become a caring, empathic and engaged citizen.

Registration required. Current University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and their partners are welcome. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Date: Wednesday, June 16, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

“Happy ever after is not by chance. It’s by choice.” – Dr. John Gottman, PhD

Do you find yourself arguing with your partner about the same things and not getting anywhere?

Do you feel something’s missing from what could be a great partnership?

Sometimes, couples want to make changes to improve their relationship, but don’t necessarily feel that they need therapy. Add the stress and uncertainty of the current pandemic, and our relationships can’t help but be affected in some way. Pre-existing difficulties may be amplified or new stresses may arise. Either way, bringing intentionality to our interactions, particularly when we are vulnerable and stressed, can only be of benefit.

In this seminar, Sara will present a brief overview of key principles from the research of Dr. John Gottman that will not only help couples survive, but thrive in the pandemic and beyond. The strategies offered in this seminar are useful to all romantic partners, whatever the status or configuration of their relationships.

Participants will learn:

1. The four key behaviours that can spell disaster in relationships – and what to do instead.
2. Strategies for ‘repair,’ that help turn an interaction around before it goes completely off-track
3. Concrete tips for daily activities that can strengthen your connection

Participants are welcome to attend individually or with a partner.

Facilitator: Sara Marlowe, MSW, RSW provides psychotherapy to individuals, couples, families and groups in both private practice and the Mindfulness Clinic. She has trained as a facilitator in Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and is a certified teacher in Mindful Self-compassion (MSC). She facilitates mindfulness & compassion workshops and groups for all ages. She is the author of several mindfulness related children’s books including My New Best Friend, which introduces self-compassion to children and No Ordinary Apple: A Story about Eating Mindfully. She has been a regular instructor at Ryerson University in the School of Early Childhood Studies for over 13 years. She is the parent of two children and can be found online at www.mindfulfamilies.ca

Registration required. Current University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and their partners are welcome. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Date: Tuesday, May 18, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Making career decisions can be tough. In this session, we will explore holistic approaches to career development and planning that can you take your next steps.

Learn how to:

• Navigate caregiving responsibilities when making career decisions
• Develop a flexible career strategy that works for you and your family
• Explore and access career related resources offered by Career Exploration and Education (resume building, job shadowing, mock interviews and appointments)

Facilitator: Kelci Archibald (she/her) – Kelci is a Career Educator at Career Exploration and Education, St. George Campus, U of T. In her role, Kelci designs and delivers career education curriculum for undergraduate, professional and graduate students. Kelci’s work involves supporting students, individually and in groups, in building their future career stories. Kelci has an Honours B.A. in Theatre from Dalhousie University, a B.Ed. from OISE and a M.Ed. in Adult Education from OISE. Kelci lives in Hamilton with her husband, 4 year old son, and dog.

This session is only open to current U of T students.

If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Date: Thursday, May 6, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Growing up can be stressful particularly during the pre-teen and teen ages. A certain degree of healthy stress can be good for our lives. However, too much stress can cause many physical, emotional, cognitive and behavioural problems. With the COVID-19 pandemic, most of us are affected negatively by stress. This workshop will talk about stress in general, but also the effects on children’s mental health. We will explore different ways children react to stress and how different protective factors can help them build resillience. We will conclude the workshop with strategies that adults can use to help children cope with stress and come out of the COVID-19 crisis even stronger.

Recommended for parents whose children are tweens and teens (11+ years and older).

Facilitator: Nana Gulic is an Education Doctorate student at OISE’s Social Justice Education Department. She is a Child and Youth Worker with 16 years of experience in working with youth in Canada and internationally. With youth empowerment and engagement as the guiding premise, she worked in residential group homes, community development programs, elementary schools and international organizations. Her academic and professional passions are social and emotional skill development and democratic education. Nana is also a mother to a 9-year old boy for whom she wishes to become a caring, empathic and engaged citizen.

Registration required. Current University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and their partners are welcome. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Date: Tuesday, April 27, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

The challenges and uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic can be overwhelming: social isolation, worry over family and friends, concern for our own well-being, and changes to work and home routines. These added levels of stress are likely to put a strain on family relationships. This session describes some fundamental aspects of communication that apply to interactions within families. Participants will review communication strategies and skills that allow for healthy and open communication to enhance the quality of their relationships during these challenging times.

During this one-hour wellness session participants will:

• Discuss common issues related to family communication that may be heightened during the COVID-19 crisis
• Gain an overview of some effective strategies for improving communication in the family during this challenging time
• Develop self-expression and listening skills

Facilitator: Marla Warner is a speaker, consultant and coach who focuses on resilience, well-being, and supporting organizations and individuals to flourish.

Marla previously held the position of Stress Management Therapist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto for over 13 years and she is currently a program leader at Toronto’s Wellspring Cancer Support Centres.

Marla’s professional qualifications include a B.SC. in Kinesiology, she is a Certified Positive Psychology Coach, a Certified Wellness Coach, a practitioner in Applied Positive Psychology, and she and brings extensive background and experience in Applied Mindfulness practices. Marla has produced two Relaxation/Meditation CD’s available on iTunes.

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, postdoctoral fellows and their families are welcome.

If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.

Date: Tuesday, March 30, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm
Location: The webinar link will be shared with you via email prior to the session start time.

Grief is a natural response to loss. During the current global pandemic many people are experiencing a comprehensive spectrum of loss: the loss of loved ones, going to the office, social connections, a sense of normalcy, physical and financial security etc. This session will help participants understand grief and loss and equip them with strategies to respond to and cope with the particular losses brought about by the pandemic.

Objectives

• Understand what grief is within the context of COVID-19
•  Recognize how grief and loss manifest themselves
• Learn about healthy ways of coping with grief
• Recognize barriers to grieving
• Learn how to support a grieving person

Facilitator: Rensia Melles has over 20 years of experience in the EAP field. Early in her career she worked as a counsellor and has held progressive positions as a clinical supervisor, director of operations and senior consultant for global EAPs. Rensia is passionate about fostering workplace mental health. She also has a specialized interest in the impact of culture on mental health and relationships, as well as cross cultural adaptation and relocation. Currently she works as a workplace psychological health and safety advisor and facilitator. Rensia has a master’s degree in psychology from the University of Amsterdam and is a Canadian Mental Health Association certified Psychological Health and Safety Advisor.

Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and their partners are welcome. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.