St. Stephen's College Department of Psychotherapy & Spirituality

09/02/2026

In honour of Su***de Prevention Month, the Borderline Personality Disorder Society of British Columbia, a registered non-profit and charitable organization based in Victoria, British Columbia, is running a virtual event entitled, Held Not Hidden: Talking Openly about BPD and Su***de.

The panel includes:
Baylie McKnight, MSW, RSW, SEP
Kiki Fehling, PHD,
Stefan Vandenkooy,
Debbie DeMarco Bennett, MA,
Jae Janae,
Kelsey Packwood
Dylan Zambrano, MSW, RSW
Facilitated by Michelle VanderEnde of The Mindful Wildflower (http://www.mindfulwildflower.ca/).

• Date: Thursday 10th September 2026
• Time: 12pm - 1:30/2:00pm Pacific Daylight Time
• Format: Zoom Webinar, with opportunity for Q&A
• To register: Su***de Prevention Month https://suicide-prevention-month.raiselysite.com/

09/02/2026

The Association of Counselling Therapy of Alberta (ACTA) is actively supporting Counselling Therapists as Alberta moves toward regulation and remains a trusted partner throughout this process.

Member benefits include:
▪️ Free access to all professional development webinars maintaining their readiness for regulation
▪️ Certificates of Attendance included (valued at $900—more than the cost of membership)

Don’t miss our upcoming sessions—free for members or $125 - $175 per session for non-members.
Explore events and register here: acta-alberta.ca/upcoming-events

Not yet a member? Take advantage of our summer registration incentives! Join ACTA today to demonstrate your readiness for regulation and access meaningful professional development: acta-alberta.ca/intermediate-route

09/02/2026

September is Recovery Month 💜

Recovery is possible, and every person’s journey is unique.

For many, substance use can become a way of coping with deep distress—trauma, grief, adversity, or unresolved pain. Understanding what lies beneath the behaviour is an important part of meaningful recovery. Through clinical expertise and evidence-based interventions, Counselling Therapists support individuals in a safe, compassionate space to make sense of their experiences, build on their strengths, and take meaningful steps toward recovery.

Recovery is supported when people have access to appropriate mental health services and communities that respond with understanding rather than stigma. Compassion, connection, and timely access to services can help create the conditions where recovery can take root.

Albertans seeking counselling should be able to trust that the services they receive are safe, ethical, evidence-based, and provided by competent, accountable professionals. Regulation is critical to establishing these public protections.

As ACTA continues its work toward regulating Counselling Therapists in Alberta, we remain committed to safeguarding the public and advancing safe, accessible mental health counselling.

This month, we honour those with lived and living experience, their loved ones, and the dedicated professionals and communities who contribute to recovery.
Recovery is a journey. It deserves understanding, dignity, and meaningful support.

09/01/2026

Art Therapist and MPS alumna, Remi Moerkerk, has recently been recognized in an article written by Sennait Gherbeab in Vogue Italia.

Dalle rive del Tamigi alle passerelle dell'Haute Couture, l'acquerello sta conquistando artisti, terapeuti e creativi come nuovo rituale di benessere

08/13/2026

📢 We're proud to support an important community event!

On Saturday, August 29, St. Stephen's College is pleased to help promote the Youth Mental Health Seminar: a free, in-person gathering designed for young people aged 13–30 who are looking for practical tools and professional guidance to navigate mental health challenges.

🧠 Event Highlights:

🗓 When: August 29 | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

📍 Where: Fellowship Hall, Southgate Baptist Church (11107 51 Ave NW, Edmonton)

🎟 Cost: Free (registration required)

🎤 Featured Speakers:

Prof. Mobolaji Lawal – Consultant Psychiatrist, University of Alberta

MLA David Shepherd – Shadow Minister for Health and Emergency Services

As a college committed to theological education, pastoral care, and community well-being, this seminar aligns deeply with our values. We encourage our students, staff, and wider network to take part in this meaningful conversation about mental wellness.

📲 Register here: https://forms.gle/PnEsKtVCng4uJNGEA
📧 For more info: [email protected]
📞 Or call: +1 587-501-5149

Please help us spread the word—share this post with anyone who might benefit! 💚

08/05/2026

We are excited to share the publication of a new special issue of the Canadian Journal of Art Therapy (39:1), titled "Cocreating Belonging in the Healing Arts: Rivers Converging to Collectively Dream of Health and Peace." This special issue was inspired by the 2025 conference theme and collaboration between CATA, the Ontario Expressive Arts Association (OEATA) and the Winnipeg Expressive Arts Therapy Institute (WHEAT).

It can be accessed at the following link:
https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/ucat21/current

Featured artwork: Bohun, A. (2026). Floating: The Sensation of Calm, Grounded, Present, and Regulated. Canadian Journal of Art Therapy, 39(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.1080/26907240.2026.2674443
Abby Bohun Art Therapy

08/05/2026

This National Wellness Month, Let’s Advocate for Safe, Accountable Mental Health Services 🛡️🌱

When we think of wellness, we often think of physical health, mindfulness, or self-care practices. At ACTA, we believe true community wellness also depends on something foundational: safe, ethical, and professionally accountable mental health services.

Mental health is central to overall well-being. Whether navigating daily stress, life transitions, or grief and loss, access to competent, ethical, and evidence-based counselling matters.

This August, ACTA highlights a key wellness priority for Alberta: the formal regulation of Counselling Therapists under the Health Professions Act (HPA).

Regulation strengthens public trust and ensures Albertans can access services with confidence, knowing clinicians are held to consistent ethical standards, professional oversight, and clear accountability.

How we can support a healthier Alberta this month:

🌱Support professional standards: Make informed choices. Seek practitioners who are transparent about their training, scope of practice, and ethical standards.

🌱Practice meaningful self-care: Wellness is not one-size-fits-all. Choose supports and practices that reflect your needs and lived experience.

🌱Advocate for change: Support the formal regulation of counselling therapy in Alberta to strengthen public protection across the mental health system.

Wellness is both individual and collective. Together, we can work toward a safer, more accountable mental health landscape for all Albertans.

Are you a practitioner passionate about the future of the profession? Take advantage of our summer registration incentives! Join ACTA to support ethical practice, professional standards, and public protection in Alberta.

Learn more about registration here: acta-alberta.ca/intermediate-route

07/30/2026

🌿 International Day of Friendship 🌿

Healthy relationships are a cornerstone of emotional resilience. Being seen, understood, and accepted by others offers a vital buffer against life’s daily pressures. These natural circles of belonging are foundational to human well-being.

At the same time, even the strongest personal support systems have limits when facing deeper emotional distress, complex trauma, systemic challenges, or mental health crises. In these moments, professional clinical services can play an essential role.

Counselling Therapists understand the healing power of relationships. In the therapy room, the therapeutic relationship is intentional, objective, and grounded in specialized clinical expertise, providing a vital foundation for change. By integrating evidence-based approaches, Counselling Therapists help individuals and families navigate complex emotional experiences that extend beyond the scope of informal support.

To protect the public and honour this work, ACTA remains dedicated to the regulation of Counselling Therapists under the Health Professions Act. Rigorous professional standards help ensure that when Albertans reach beyond their personal circles for help, they are met with competent, ethical, and accountable clinical services.

Today, we celebrate the bonds that sustain us, and we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening access to high-quality mental health services for all Albertans. 💚

07/29/2026

UPDATE: Applications now closed. Thank you for the overwhelming interest!

🌟 Volunteers Needed for New Communications Committee 🌟

Are you interested in helping shape the vision and public voice of the Canadian Art Therapy Association?

We are looking for volunteers to join a new Communications Committee. In this role, you’ll join a collaborative team to brainstorm, create, and share ways to elevate Canadian art therapy for our members and communities across Canada.

Together, we’ll meet once a month to explore:
🔹 Strengthening the presence of Canadian art therapy alongside our international art therapy association family
🔹 Shifting our communications toward decolonial, approachable, and engaging visuals and words
🔹 Expanding recognition for art therapy within health and healing spaces across Canada and abroad
🔹 Other topics around visual communications and public voice of CATA

If you want to help or have questions, connect with Simon Caulfield Sriklad at [email protected].

Students welcome. This is not a board position.

07/29/2026

📢 ACTA has announced Board-approved registration improvements and temporary Summer 2026 incentives to help reduce barriers to registration and strengthen the counselling therapy profession's readiness for regulation in Alberta.

Until September 15, 2026:

✅ New applicants will have the $200 application fee waived.
✅ Former members can return with reinstatement fees waived.
✅ Workforce survey participants may be eligible for registration credits.

Whether you are a recent graduate, an experienced practitioner who has not yet registered, or a former member considering returning, this is an excellent opportunity to join ACTA and help strengthen the profession's voice in upcoming discussions on regulation, workforce planning, public protection, and access to mental health services in Alberta.

Sign up for the newsletter here: acta-alberta.ca/newsletter

Learn more about registration here: acta-alberta.ca/intermediate-route