- Date: October 13th & 14th, 2026
- Time: 9:30am - 12:30pm
About this Workshop
This 6-hour professional development workshop is designed for those who are providing direct support to individuals and families who have (or are likely to have) experienced various forms of violence and trauma. Trauma-informed approaches not only improve client outcomes, but also provide essential tools in preventing burn-out and vicarious trauma amongst service providers.
Through a blend of theory, guided discussions, and practical, scenario-based exercises, this interactive workshop will deepen participants’ understanding of trauma and build their capacity to offer compassionate, effective support. The content is specifically tailored to reflect the unique roles, challenges, and responsibilities of OCASI member organizations.
Key Objectives:
- a deeper and more nuanced understanding of trauma and violence, and how these inform social- and health-outcomes for immigrant populations
- developed greater awareness and understanding of trauma responses, and improved capacity to effectively support clients with trauma histories
- gained practical strategies to apply trauma-informed principles within their own workplace and roles, to support the well-being of both clients and themselves
About the facilitator
Kathryn Mettler (BA, MSW, PhD) has over two decades of professional experience in community-based social- and health-care services. Kathryn has held senior leadership positions in the areas of child and youth care, homelessness and supportive housing, and mental health and addictions services. She has also worked internationally addressing social service issues within the fields of family and domestic violence, and culturally competent care. While originally from Canada, Kathryn has lived experience in three different countries/continents, and has supported refugee settlement programs in Toronto and Ottawa.
Kathryn is most passionate about trauma-informed approaches to service delivery and supervision. She completed her doctoral degree with research into practices to prevent vicarious trauma amongst mental health professionals. For the past decade Kathryn has been a professor within the Faculty of Social and Community Services at Humber College and has been providing professional development workshops for service providers across North America. Kathryn is committed to anti-oppressive practices, grounded in humanistic philosophies that recognize the inherent dignity of all persons.
Registration deadline: October 9th, 2026
If you have any questions, please contact Caley Cross (she/her) at: mhp@ocasi.org