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Feb
17
Wed
Presentation on Collaborative Family Law to CPA’s @ BDO Canada LLP
Feb 17 @ 11:30 am – 2:00 pm

Presentation on Collaborative Family Law to CPA’s as part of the CPA Institute lunch and learn series. (400-1632 Dickson Avenue).

Please let Simone Brunton know if you are interested in joining the presentation team. ([email protected]).

Feb
19
Fri
Annual Retreat @ Cove Lakeside Resort
Feb 19 – Feb 20 all-day

Annual Retreat at the Cove Lakeside Resort (4205 Gellatly Rd., West Kelowna, BC).

Please send your payment and registration to Anna Marie Rasmussen ([email protected]) by January 30.

Click the PDF brochure for full details and registration.

2016-retreat-brochure-thumbnail

Apr
1
Fri
Stephen H. Sulmeyer, J.D., Ph.D. Workshop @ Peggy Gunn Woodland Hall
Apr 1 @ 9:00 am – 4:30 pm

Stephen H. Sulmeyer Workshop
Sponsored by Collaborative Divorce Vancouver Society
Monday, April 1, 2016
VanDusen Gardens
Peggy Gunn Woodland Hall
5241 Oak Street
Vancouver, British Columbia

9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (registration at 8:30 a.m.)

STEPHEN H. SULMEYER, J.D., Ph.D. Perhaps the most bedeviling problem in collaborative cases is what to do when the parties are at loggerheads—particularly when the impasse is laced with anger and reactivity. It might be about division of scarce resources, a disagreement about who should end up with the house, an inability to agree to the terms of a parenting plan or the specifics of support—the variations seem endless. Many of us have spent countless hours in team meetings trying to understand the causes of a given impasse, and to figure out what to do and who should do it. Most of us want to find some easy remedy, some tool or skill we can master that will allow us cut through impasses easily. Yet our experience tells us that, given the complexities of content and of personality styles in the range of cases we see, there is no silver bullet for dealing with impasse.

Although not a silver bullet, this workshop suggests that how we as professionals frame or hold the entire concept of “impasse” has a great deal to do with the “problem” impasses present. I.e., this workshop looks at the ways professionals can unwittingly contribute to impasse by framing it as a problem that has to be fixed, rather than an opportunity that beckons to be explored. By consciously or unconsciously, explicitly or implicitly, viewing an impasse as a “problem,” we subtly communicate a message to the parties that there is something wrong with them and the positions they are taking, the beliefs they are holding, and the feelings they are feeling. The parties may get the message that we as professionals are more interested in the ego-satisfaction of a successful conclusion than we are in sitting with them in the extreme discomfort of not knowing how a resolution of any kind will be reached.

Using a combination of discussion, exercises and role-plays, we will examine the feelings, assumptions and self-judgments that come up for us when we find ourselves in a case that is stalled. We will look at our discomfort and reluctance to sit with not-knowing, with helplessness, and with the attacks of our own inner critics in the face of our inability to quickly solve problems as they arise. We will explore alternative ways of framing and understanding impasse and of being with the uncomfortable feelings and thoughts just mentioned, which require us to sit in the fire of our discomfort without getting
burned. We will discover that, by tolerating not-knowing and by seeing through the games our own minds play on us, we can penetrate the wall of separation we have placed between ourselves and the parties. And, finally, we will experience some of the ways in which sitting undefendedly with our clients in the vulnerability of their fear and pain can lead to our deciphering the hidden meaning of the impasse at hand, which in turn can lead to new options and new possibilities for resolution.

stephen-bio

Click to download the PDF registration form.

Apr
23
Sat
Rebooting Our Collaborative Skills (2 day workshop in Victoria) @ U-Vic Faculty Club
Apr 23 – Apr 24 all-day

Rebooting Our Collaborative Skills: Creating Harmony & Cohesion In The Process And In Our Professional Teams

Presented by:
LINDA SOLOMON, LPC, LCDC, LMFT
Thursday, April 23rd (Evening) and Friday, April 24, 2016
U-Vic Faculty Club – 3800 Finnerty Road
Victoria, British Columbia

ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP
This workshop will explore one area of collaborative practice that is often “left for last”, ignored or forgotten: Working with other collaborative professionals. How do you maintain or create harmony while working in conflict and with different professions? How do you disagree without being disagreeable? Harmony is like “fair” – we think we know what it means and we work to create that for our clients.

This workshop will give you a different lens and approach to harmony. We will look at the usual suspects: trust, resistance and honesty, and move forward to a new awareness on how we can positively improve our practice, for the clients and the team.

ABOUT THIS PRESENTER
CFSP Workshop Flyer April 2015 LINDA-SOLOMONLINDA SOLOMON is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She has been in private practice in Dallas, Texas for 30 years. Her work with individuals, couples and families has focused on relationship issues and addictive behaviors. She is actively involved in the collaborative team approach, working as a Neutral Mental Health Professional and was instrumental in the development of the role. She is also trained as a Mediator and a Parenting Coordinator.

Linda has presented training on coaching and collaborative practice nationally in locations such as Toronto, New York, Boston, Nova Scotia, Orlando, Minneapolis, Tampa, and Pittsburgh and
internationally in Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. She has presented at annual IACP Forums in Washington, Boston, Atlanta, San Antonio, Toronto and Vancouver on such diverse topics as The Role of the Neutral Mental Health Professional, Balancing Neutrality in the Process and A Comparison of the One Coach and Two Coach Team Approach. Linda was also part of the 2013 IACP Institute introductory training team with Malcolm McCollam and Scott Clarke.

Click the PDF link for more information and registration: CFSP Workshop Flyer April 2015

Apr
28
Thu
OCLF 2016 – Ninth Conference @ Crowne Plaza Hotel
Apr 28 – Apr 30 all-day

olcf 2016

April 28 – 30, 2016 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Kitchener, Ontario

Featured Speakers:

Nora Spinks, CEO of the Vanier Institute of the Family

Chris Bentley, Executive Director, Ryerson’s Legal Innovation Zone

Mark Yantzi, Restorative Opportunities Program, Corrections Services Canada

Berry Vrbanovic, Mayor, City of Kitchener

  • Network with Collaborative Colleagues from across Ontario & Canada
  • 22 Workshops to choose from
  • Thursday Evening Reception
  • Friday Evening Gala Dinner & Dance

Friday Morning Kick-off Speaker

CHRIS BENTLEY is no stranger to innovation. As Attorney General he worked with stakeholders in the family justice system to develop and implement “4 Pillars” of reform to provide families with more information, triage to needed services, options to litigation, and a more streamlined process for those who have to go to court. Chris left government to start the Law Practice Program at Ryerson, an innovative alternative to the traditional articling process for lawyers.

As Executive Director of Ryerson’s Legal Innovation Zone, Chris returned to family law reform with an open invitation for community collaboration. Family lawyers, mental health professionals, mediators, students and family law clients participated in 5 workshop sessions to develop creative, non-confrontational, client-focused, cost effective approaches for separating families. The results will be presented to Ontario’s current Attorney General this spring. Chris will share his passion for innovation with us using his recent interdisciplinary initiative as an example of a creative solution for families in transition.
Friday Noon Lunch Speaker

MARK YANTZI is a mediator in the Restorative Opportunities program of Correctional Services Canada. Restorative Justice has been recognized internationally as an innovative and healthy alternative to the retributive justice system. Mark grew up in an Amish community near Punkeydoodles Corners south west of New Hamburg. Early on in his career he recognized that Restorative Justice resonated with Amish pacifist principals and had the potential to innovate and reform our justice system.

Mark has been honoured for his unique and innovative contributions to the Kitchener-Waterloo community. He was a founder and Executive Director of Community Justice Initiatives Waterloo and served as a Regional and City Counsellor for over 22 years. He is a well-known expert in his field, with training in sexual misconduct and divorce mediation. He has written Sexual Offending and Restoration (Herald Press), as well as edited Three Paths to Healing (Pandora Press) and been a contributor to The Challenge of Forgiveness (from the Saint Paul University Research series).
Friday Evening Dinner Speaker

NORA SPINKS is CEO of the VANIER INSTITUTE OF THE FAMILY. The Institute monitors and reports on the changing face of Canada’s families. They continually seek and embrace new and innovative ways to reach out to researchers, educators, students, journalists, service providers, faith and labour leaders, policymakers and others with an interest in families and family life.

Throughout her 25-year career, Nora has worked with the research community to mobilize knowledge and connect those who study, serve and support Canada’s diverse families. With an accessible presentation style, she has not only informed but also engaged audiences at conferences, community and corporate events, on social media, through Vanier Institute publications, such as Transition magazine, and in the media through her many appearances on TV and radio. Nora will help us to better understand the changing face of Canadian families and provide us with some skills and strategies to support them through the work we do.

For conference schedules, registration forms, and workshop presenter information, click here to download the brochure

May
17
Tue
Spring Social and Meeting @ Tree Beer Institute
May 17 @ 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Kelowna Lawyer Social (Icon made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com )The Spring Social for the Okanagan Collaborative Family Law Group next Tuesday, May 17 from 4:30 to 7:30 at Tree Brewing Beer Institute (1346 Water Street, Kelowna). We are upstairs in the Hop Garden Patio.  Beer tasting, snacks and a brewery tour will be provided.

Please feel free to stop by whenever you can and feel free to bring a guest that may be interested in learning more about our group.  Please RSVP to Sherri Paynter ([email protected]).

Other local upcoming events:

  • June 8 to June 10 – Introductory interdisciplinary Training (https://collaborativefamilylaw.ca/members/events/)
  • June 16, 1:00pm to 6:00pm – Catherine Connor Training Workshop and social at the Hotel El Dorado (500 Cook Road, Kelowna).  Further details in an email to follow.
May
20
Fri
Training: Developing a Satisfying & Profitable Collaborative & Peacemaking Practice @ Phinney Ridge Community Center
May 20 – May 21 all-day

woody mostenCome Join Woody Mosten and Kevin Scudder for a two-day training: DEVELOPING A SATISFYING AND PROFITABLE COLLABORATIVE AND PEACEMAKING PRACTICE

The training will be held at the Phinney Ridge Community Center in Seattle on May 20 and May 21, 2016.

Three years ago Forrest “Woody” Mosten and Kevin Scudder came up with the idea of a training that met head-on that question being asked by so many Collaboratively-trained professionals:
Now that I am Collaboratively trained, how can I get more of this work, have a satisfying professional life and, most importantly, make a living that equals, or exceeds, what I am doing now?

Our first workshop was two years ago in Seattle, WA. Since then Woody has presented this workshop with other local trainers in Minneapolis, Tampa Bay, Chicago, Boston and Oregon to sold out crowds and to much acclaim: http://www.mostenmediation.com/training/index.html#building

We are excited to announce that we are coming back to where it all began, with a two-day training to be held here in Seattle, Washington. Now that you have been Collaboratively trained and have started generating collaborative and mediation work, or you are looking to generate more peacemaking work, come learn how to incorporate Mediation, Collaborative Practice, and Unbundled Services into your professional life and how, by taking easy-to-learn steps, you can create your own Satisfying and Profitable Collaborative and Peacemaking Practice.

Come join Forrest ‘Woody’ Mosten and Kevin Scudder in Seattle, WA on May 20 – 21, 2016 for their two-day workshop on: Developing a Satisfying and Profitable Collaborative and Peacemaking Practice.

This training is geared for professionals who have a desire to transition their practice from a traditional model to a more client-focused practice bulit on providing a wide spectrum of services.

Most professionals find that they are still making the vast majority of their income as a warrior in the adversarial system, as opposed to serving clients in the collaborative or mediation model. Many professionals who spent time and money to learn collaborative and mediation skills have difficulty believing they can have an economically viable practice using these models.
This training is designed to help you learn how to transition your practice from one steeped in the adversarial model to a client-focused / non-litigation model while not having a negative impact on your income. In this training we will provide you with ideas, resources, and share with you proven models for new ways to provide services that will help you gain personal satisfaction and increase the income you receive form your work.

Woody Mosten, Principal Trainer, is a world-renowned author, lecturer and trainer in Mediation, Collaborative Practice, Unbundled Legal Services and in Lawyers as Peacemakers. He brings his 40+ years of experience and innovation to help you on your path to transforming your practice. See more about Woody at: http://www.mostenmediation.com/bio.html?utm_source
Kevin Scudder is a Collaborative Attorney / Mediator located in Seattle, WA. You can find his writings as a featured blogger at , The World of Collaborative Practice, and as a commentator on a variety of social media sites.

If you have additional questions, please contact Kevin Scudder at [email protected]

CLE Credits will be applied for through WSBA.

http://www.eventbrite.com/e/developing-a-satisfying-and-profitable-collaborative-and-peacemaking-practice-tickets-9038286759?aff=ebrowse


http://www.CollaborativeProfessionalsofWashington.org

Collaborative Professionals of Washington, c/o Eastside Collaborative Law Center, 1407 – 116th Avenue NE, Suite 210, Bellevue, WA 98004

May
27
Fri
Sue Goldswain and John Boland Workshop @ Peggy Gunn Woodland Hall
May 27 @ 9:00 am – 4:30 pm

Sue Goldswain and John Boland Workshop
Sponsored by Collaborative Divorce Vancouver Society
Friday, May 27, 2016
VanDusen Gardens
Peggy Gunn Woodland Hall
5241 Oak Street
Vancouver, British Columbia

9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (registration at 8:30 a.m.)
From Infatuation to Divorce: Understanding Stages and Unconscious Patterns in Relationships 

Ever wonder how the couple in your Collaborative meetings went from romantic love to so much conflict? During this workshop we will explore the predictable stages of relationship from infatuation to irreconcilable conflict and divorce. Using Imago Relationship Theory we will begin to make sense of this transition and illustrate the unconscious patterns at play that not only our clients go through but also ourselves. By normalizing both infatuation and relationship conflict we will bring clarity to the unconscious patterns all of us go through in long-term relationships. As professionals, by consciously understanding these patterns, we can develop more empathy for all of our clients and gain insights into our own reactions and projections. This workshop was presented at the IACP Forum in Vancouver last year.  In this workshop, participants will:

  • Gain insight into the stages of relationship and how these stages impact themselves and their clients
  • Begin to understand Imago Relationship Theory, and how to shift unconscious relationship interactions to more intentional interactions
  • Recognize that long-term relationship conflict has components that are rooted in the couple’s childhood experiences
  • Briefly examine their own relationship histories and hopefully gain new awareness into their relationship patterns
  • Have more empathy and understanding for the struggles of both their clients and their clients’ ex-partners
  • Come to understand the typical dynamics of couples, including how they often have similar yearnings but opposite defensive patterns
  • Be challenged to recognize that long term intimate relationships are where we have an opportunity to finally grow up and behave in more mature loving ways.

BIOS
John Boland has been a psychotherapist for over 35 years, who now specializies in relationship therapy and divorce coaching. Dr. Sue Goldswain is a registered psychologist who has been an individual and couples therapist for 30 years.

Both Sue and John are advanced clinicians in Imago Relationship Therapy, fully accredited with Imago International, and certified Imago Workshop Presenters. As a married couple they are committed to helping others explore their relationships patterns for increased connection and commitment, as well as using Imago theory and practice in their own partnership to deal with their inevitable challenges.

Click to download the PDF registration form.

Jun
8
Wed
Introductory Interdisciplinary Training
Jun 8 – Jun 10 all-day

Introductory Interdisciplinary Training in the Collaborative Process

for financial specialists, coaches and lawyers who work with families in transition

 

BC Roadmap Trainer: Bev Churchill

Bev has worked with clients in the Collaborative Process for over fourteen years. Their training will be active, participatory, experience-based and team focused.

Schedule:

Wednesday, June 8, 2016 – 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Introduction to Collaborative Process
We will start the training with an introduction to the Process, outlining the general structure and flow, the role of each of the professionals, and the Participation Agreements that start the Process, and answer general questions about the Process.

Thursday, June 9, 2016 – 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Exploring Interests, Team Work with the Coach
Day two focuses on working with clients on developing and understanding their interests and values – taking the ‘conflict’ out of an adversarial model and into a team based, supported discussion.

Friday, June 10, 2016 – 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Creating Options, Team Work with the Financial Specialist
Day three focuses on exploring financial options with the team and bringing those options together to final agreement. We will also discuss how to get started in adding Collaborative Process to your practice.

Cost:

$925.00 /person plus GST**
Total: $971.25

Includes training manual, am and pm coffee breaks both days, lunch both days.
Space is limited.
Payment must be received on or before May 12, 2016.
Please make cheque payable to Churchill Law Corporation and mail cheque with registration form to:

#210 -347 Leon Avenue
Kelowna, BC V1Y 8C7

Cancellation policy: full refund if written notice is received prior to May 12, 2016; 50% refund if notice is received on or after May 12, 2016 and before June 1, 2016. No refunds after June 1, 2016,

* 16 CLE Credits Subject to LSBC approval
** GST number 894252857

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION FORM

 

For more information

Jun
16
Thu
Workshop: Starting the File Off on the Right Foot @ Hotel Eldorado
Jun 16 @ 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm

catherine-conner-divorce-lawyerCatherine Conner is coming to Kelowna to deliver a workshop titled Starting the File Off on the Right Foot.

Catherine Conner’s practice focuses on family law consensual dispute resolution, including mediation, collaborative practice and negotiated settlements.  She is a collaborative practice and mediation trainer with the Center for Understanding in Conflict. She authored Collaborative Family Law Practice Materials with Steven Neustadter and Margaret Anderson.  She was on the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals board of directors from 2008 through 2014 and was the President in 2013.

This workshop will be free for all members of the Okanagan Collaborative Family Law Group.

Details are as follows:

Hotel El Dorado
June 16th
1:00pm to 5:00pm workshop
5:00 to 6:00 cocktails and appetizers

Please RSVP to Simone Brunton ([email protected]).  We really hope everyone takes advantage of this great opportunity!