Category Archives: Workplace Culture
Compassion Begins with Curiosity
Lessons Learned from 25+ Years in the Field
In this opening keynote for CARE4YOU 2026, Françoise Mathieu shares her lessons learned from working alongside helping professionals from across the world.
June 2026
Rethinking Addiction
A Conversation on Stigma, Fear, and Hope
In this CARE4YOU 2026 session, psychiatrist, addiction medicine specialist, and author Dr. Nzinga Harrison invites us to challenge what we think we know about addiction.
June 2026
Can I Say Something?
How Psychological Safety Can Transform Our Workplaces
In this keynote presentation for CARE4YOU 2023, Françoise Mathieu explores the essential role of leadership in managing burnout - no matter where you sit on the organizational hierarchy.
June 2025
One Care
How Caring for Geckos, Gorillas, Yourself, and Each Other is Interconnected
In this CARE4YOU 2025 session, Sabrina Brando shares stories from her journey in wildlife care and conservation, as well as insights from her research on self-care practices among zoo and aquarium professionals.
June 2025
Navigating Perfectionism, Stigma, and Shame
A Lawyer-Therapist’s Perspective on Staying Well in Trauma-Exposed Work
In this CARE4YOU 2025 session, Doron Gold shares his lawyer-therapist perspective on how high-stress work impacts our well-being and offers strategies to stay well.
June 2025
Cultivating Moral Courage
CARE4YOU 2025 Closing Address
In this closing address for CARE4YOU 2025, Françoise Mathieu explores how to meet difficult situations with moral courage, act with integrity, and keep making decisions that align with our values, day by day, one decision at a time.
June 2025
“I Finally Got to Meet My Team”
Navigating the Push & Pull of "Normal"
In this discussion, John Borthwick and Sarah Stewart share their experiences of navigating a return to "in-person" and their 1% commitment towards better well-being.
May 2023
The “Great Resignation”
Strategies to Process Loss In the Shifting Landscape of Work
Headlines have been dominated with stories about staffing shortages in healthcare and many other professions. In this discussion, Françoise Mathieu and Diana Tikasz discuss the shifting landscape of work and processing the grief of what was lost during the pandemic.
September 2022
Repair in the Workplace
Moving Away from Blaming and Shaming
Staff shortages, exhausted people, and unaddressed conflict are just a few of the complex challenges facing organizations. In this discussion, Françoise Mathieu, Diana TIkasz, and Dr. Jennifer Russel explore the importance of repair work and why it needs to happen before workplaces can move forward.
July 2022
“You Don’t Have to Be the Boss to Be a Leader”
A Discussion on Psychological Safety
This panel discussion explores the concept of psychological safety with an emphasis on the unique challenges faced by middle managers in the reopening workplace.
June 2022
“Feeling Stressed? Here’s Our EAP Flyer!”
Navigating the Pros and Cons of Employee Assistance Programs
Employee Assistance Programs – does your organization have one? Have you used it? In this discussion, Françoise Mathieu, Diana Tikasz. and Dr. Jennifer Russel, this session explores the benefits and challenges of EAP programs.
June 2022
When Depletion Becomes the Norm
Managing Our Energy
The workforce is changing in significant ways. and economists are heralding “the great resignation." In this discussion, Françoise Mathieu, Diana Tikasz. and Dr. Jennifer Russel explore depletion, shifting energy levels, and strategies to rest and refuel.
November 2021
Good vs. Punitive Messaging
A Conversation About Post-Traumatic Growth with Sarah Stewart
Sarah Stewart is a certified Mental Health First Aid educator and TEND Associate. In this conversation, she shares her lessons learned about post-traumatic growth during difficult times, her perspective on punitive messaging in the workplace, and strategies to cope.
July 2021
Understanding Post-Traumatic Growth
Avoiding Blaming and Toxic Positivity
Post-traumatic growth describes the phenomenon of positive change that people can experience in the wake of a negative experience or trauma. In this discussion, Françoise Mathieu, Diana Tikasz. and Dr. Jennifer Russel explore strategies to foster positive growth within ourselves and our teams.
July 2021
How Are You Doing?
Caring For Ourselves and Each Other During Unsettled Times
In this opening keynote for CARE4YOU 2021, Françoise shares lessons learned during the pandemic, and how we can continue to care for ourselves as the pandemic recedes.
June 2021
What is the Story I’m Telling Myself?
Reflection Exercise on Imposter Syndrome
Diana Tikasz explores a series of reflection questions regarding impostor syndrome and the impact of negative inner dialogue.
May 2021
Faking It
Recognizing Imposter Syndrome
At what point in your career did you move from "faking it" to "making it?" In this discussion, Françoise Mathieu, Diana Tikasz. and Dr. Jennifer Russel discuss the phenomenon of imposter syndrome and how it manifests early in a helping professional's career.
May 2021
Unemployed, Burned Out Manager, & Languishing Students
Faking It Q&A
In this discussion, Françoise Mathieu, Diana Tikasz. and Dr. Jennifer Russel answer questions about the impact of working-from-home on imposter syndrome, managers who may not recognize their own burnout, and how online learning has impacted college students.
May 2021
The Great Reset
A Conversation About Workplace Mental Health with Mary Ann Baynton
Mary Ann Baynton is the Director of Strategy and Collaboration for Canada Life’s Workplace Strategies for Mental Health. In this conversation, she shares her lessons learned about creating a psychologically safe workplace and strategies to cultivate authentic leadership.
March 2021
Hot Walk & Talk
Understanding the Role of the Listener
Diana Tikasz explores the steps of the Hot Walk & Talk with an emphasis on the role of the listener.
February 2021
It’s Not Taboo to Care
A Conversation About Peer Support and Mental Health
LCol (retired) Stéphane Grenier is a former Canadian military officer, and founder and lead innovator at Mental Health Innovations (MHI). In this conversation, he shares his lessons learned about supporting mental health in the workplace and strategies for creating peer support programs.
February 2021
It Takes a (Physically Distant) Village
Creating your Professional Community of Support
The pandemic changed the way that we connect with friends, family, and colleagues. In this discussion, Françoise Mathieu, Diana Tikasz. and Dr. Jennifer Russel consider the importance of creating formal and informal peer support networks.
February 2021
Creating a Professional Community of Support
It Takes a (Physically Distant) Village Q&A
In this discussion, Françoise Mathieu, Diana Tikasz. and Dr. Jennifer Russel answer questions about discuss building support networks in the absence of strong leadership, vulnerability in the face of poor trust, and communities of support for remote work.
February 2021
Mental Health & “Scary Issues”
A Conversation About Stigma with Dr. Mike Condra
Dr. Mike Condra is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Queen’s University in Kingston, ON. In this conversation, he shares his lessons learned about reducing stigma in the helping professions and offers strategies for verbal de-escalation.
December 2020
Stigma & The Stiff Upper Lip
Self-Compassion and the "Carry On" Culture
Many of us work in a culture that maintains that we must stoically “carry on” or be perpetual heroes. In this discussion, Françoise Mathieu, Diana Tikasz. and Dr. Jennifer Russel consider the resentment and isolation that can arise from stigma in the helping professions.
December 2020
