Mental Health Professionals Ottawa

It was our pleasure to have Raelene kick off our MHPO workshop season for 2021-2022 with her excellent presentation on Back-to-Work “Normal” Workshop.

Raelene shared with us the main challenges for those re-entering the workplace and methods to resolve them- from the lens of both our clients and ourselves. 

She identified a key theme- that the uncertainty created by the pandemic has activated a tremendous amount of anxiety and fear, including the fear of conflict with colleagues and superiors at the office. 

She reminded us of the power of compassion and how it connects us. She advised us all to be flexible, assume a collaborative approach, a “we versus me” first stance, assume that everyone is doing their best, be kind, practice empathy, and accentuate the positive perspective which was a powerful reminder of how we can influence ourselves and others to achieve a pleasant and effective work environment. She reminded us to see each person as one with their own individual personalities and personal issues as well as ways of being, and that when we see that we are all in this together, we do better.
Raelene covered concrete steps to reduce stress, including preparing oneself emotionally, spiritually, physically, and mentally,  limiting the amount of decision-making by strategizing ahead, and dealing with children and family members on a host of topics. 

I so appreciated Raelene’s presentation. She was well-prepared, knowledgeable, organized, and enthusiastic, and provided us with a wealth of ideas for assisting both our clients and ourselves in returning to the workplace. In addition to her own expertise, she was flexible and made space for us to ask questions throughout her talk, and engage in sharing our experiences, which allowed the audience to connect with her and each other. I will be putting this information to use in sessions with clients, and for myself. 

I highly recommend Raelene as a speaker. 

Marian Meade Vice-President Mental Health Professionals Ottawa