Search Homelessness Services Association of BC

Service providers often work with upset, angry, and confused clients. HSABC’s Managing Hostile Interactions workshop helps participants gain the skills necessary to work with difficult clients. Participants learn proven strategies to decrease stressful situations and increase the possibilities of working more effectively with challenging clients. Participants learn through skill-building exercises, self-reflection, and group discussion. As a participant you will: define hostility and examine its forms and dynamics, identify factors that increase potential of hostility occurring, develop skills for managing reactions to hostility, explore techniques to effectively confront and set limits on hostile behaviours, examine methods for defusing hostility, enhance personal safety in potentially violent situations, and develop strategies for effective team responding.

Instructor: Mario Govorchin​

Mario Govorchin is a dynamic, energetic and entertaining speaker and trainer. Much of his training work with organizations focuses on leadership, team development, change management, workplace harassment prevention, communication and conflict resolution. He is well-regarded in his work as an interventionist for organizations experiencing high internal conflict. Mario has particular strengths in individual performance and behavioural coaching and in mediating complex multi-party disputes.

Mario has significant experience working with individuals and teams in a coaching context; helping them to see and understand collective and individual behaviours and processes in new ways. He has worked with numerous organizations in a coaching capacity to support succession management, team and company performance enhancement and cohesion, and individual performance and behaviour modification.

Mario is very well-known and recognized for his comprehensive training in the areas of high anger, crisis and violence management for corporate, government and non-profit organizations. He is an acknowledged expert in the area of workplace violence prevention.

Participants in this HSABC training class explore the overlap between trauma, mental health and addiction. Schizophrenia, depression and the many faces of anxiety will be covered, as well as effective strategies for engagement and interventions. Group participants will have an opportunity to examine common barriers to services and possible solutions. This training looks through a Trauma informed lens at Mental Health and Addiction.

Instructor: Katherine Aubrey

Katherine Aubrey has over 20 years of experience working with people who have faced trauma, addictions, homelessness and/or mental illness. Her varied, front-line work experience ranges from in-reach prison work, group therapy, parole supervision and addictions and mental health counseling. She also has experience working with both victims and perpetrators of violence. Some of her past and current employers include Correctional Service Canada, Long-term Inmates Now in the Community, Aurora Centre/Residential Addictions Treatment for Women, KlaHowEya, Metis Nation and numerous non-profit organizations. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology and Psychology and a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with specialization in Mental Health Counseling. She also completed a Cross-Cultural Facilitation Skills Intensive for Diversity Trainers in Berkley, California.

The Self-Care and Effective Workplace Boundaries training covers the importance and purpose of these aspects in your current role. Some of the challenges that influence the effectiveness or appropriateness of a given boundary will be explored. Specific boundary issues like personal disclosure, client-staff relationships, dual relationships, gift-giving/receiving, physical contact and conflicts of interest are discussed in depth. Participants will also have an opportunity to examine their current self-care practices. Strategies to bolster the effectiveness of their self-care routines will also be covered.

“New addition to this training as of Sept. 2019″This training now includes a segment on Workplace Bulling and Workplace Harassment. This includes harassment between Staff, Management, Clients.

Instructor: Katherine Aubrey

Katherine Aubrey has over 20 years of experience working with people who have faced trauma, addictions, homelessness and/or mental illness. Her varied, front-line work experience ranges from in-reach prison work, group therapy, parole supervision and addictions and mental health counseling. She also has experience working with both victims and perpetrators of violence. Some of her past and current employers include Correctional Service Canada, Long-term Inmates Now in the Community, Aurora Centre/Residential Addictions Treatment for Women, KlaHowEya, Metis Nation and numerous non-profit organizations. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology and Psychology and a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with specialization in Mental Health Counseling. She also completed a Cross-Cultural Facilitation Skills Intensive for Diversity Trainers in Berkley, California.