GILLIAN K MACPHERSON
Burlington,ON
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
Therapist
CASE Psychology
12.2022 - Current
- Adapted interventions as needed based on ongoing assessment of client progress throughout the course of treatment.
- Maintained case notes and documentation
- Implemented evidence-based interventions through cognitive-behavioral, emotion-focused and solution-focused therapy.
- Coached clients on effective coping strategies, empowering them to manage symptoms independently outside of therapy sessions.
- Built strong rapport with clients, fostering trust and open communication for effective therapy sessions.
- Continuously updated professional knowledge through ongoing training, and participation in industry conferences and workshops.
Chief Negotiator
D19 PSSP OSSTF
05.2020 - Current
- Negotiated collective bargaining agreements.
- Spearheaded negotiation of union contract as representative of the Bargaining Unit.
- Participated in labor-management meetings to discuss labor issues.
- Achieved successful negotiation outcomes by employing effective communication and active listening skills.
Clinical Investigator
Ministry of the Attorney General, Office of the Children's Lawyer
08.2012 - Current
- Provide services to families assigned through the Office of the Children's Lawyer
- Interview and parties, collaterals and children as an impartial third party
- Provide written report on identified custody access issues and subsequent recommendations to the requesting court (section 112)
- Act as Clinical Assist to OCL counsel in section 89(3.1) files including affidavit evidence articulating the views and preferences of the child/ren
- Maintain documentation including the maintenance of case notes, contact notes and collateral information
- Utilize consultation with clinical supervisor as needed.
School Social Worker
Peel District School Board
09.2009 - Current
- Work collaboratively with school personnel including attending In School Review Committee meetings
- Provide crisis intervention to students and their families related to tragic events
- Provide assessment, consultation, support and direct therapeutic counselling to students, their families and board personnel
- Address attendance related concerns including court, alternative programs and assessing underlying concerns (anxiety, mental health, self-esteem, social concerns, changes in family constellation, bereavement and other family issues)
- Facilitate camp referrals, accessing community services for financially disadvantaged students and their families and, advocate for students with their families or with other systems.
Peel Children's Aid Society Supervisor
Intake Department
11.2000 - 09.2009
- Signs of Safety Practice Leader - responsible for the learning and utilizing this collaborative, strengths-based, solution focused questioning approach
- Member of the Implementation Steering committee for Signs of Safety
- Provided support, mentoring, coaching, and ongoing supervision to staff
- Responsible for creating continuous learning opportunities, providing clinical supervision and helping with succession planning
- Provided consultation to front line staff regarding case direction, intervention and disposition using Eligibility Spectrum, CFSA, Risk Assessment Tool and a risk management/best practice approach
- Collaborated and problem solved with external community resources to improve working relationships and better meet the needs of children and families
- Responsible for communicating critical issues to senior management; policy and practice changes to front line staff and, advocating for resources.
Trainer
Differential Response Standards and Tools
01.2007 - 04.2007
- Responsible for 'Physician's Campaign' - working collaboratively with our physicians, a presentation
- Member of various internal and external committees
- Responsible for communicating critical issues to senior management; policy and practice changes to front line staff and, advocating for resources
- Member of various internal and external committees.
Intake Worker
Catholic Children's Aid Society
06.1998 - 11.2000
- Conducted investigations under the Child and Family Services Act where allegations of child abuse and neglect had been made using ORAM and abuse protocols
- Provided protection services and therapeutic intervention to children and their families including crisis intervention, parenting strategies, assessment and, appropriate community referrals
- Prepared comprehensive safety, risk and family assessments
- Determined risk and intervention as it related to the risk of a child including the removal of children from their home in accordance with the Child and Family Services Act
- Prepared court documents and appeared in court in accordance with the Child and Family Services Act
- Worked collaboratively with police, school, court systems and medical professionals including the Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect program.
Peel Children's Aid Society Family Services Worker
Peel Children's Aid Society
11.1997 - 06.1998
- Provided ongoing support and protection services to families
- Assessed ongoing risk to children and intervened as required under the Child and Family Services Act and in accordance with the family's needs
- Case management of varied cases including parent-teen conflict, abuse, physical discipline, substance abuse, mental health and issues of inadequate supervision
- Provided families with referrals, support and education
- Collaborated with community partners.
Family Therapist - Placement
Dellcrest Children's Mental Health Centre
09.1996 - 04.1997
- Provided outpatient therapy for emotionally and behaviourally troubled children and their families
- Conducted intake interviews, prepared comprehensive written assessments, and liaised with other social service providers
- Developed and facilitated an adolescent girls' group.
Hospital Social Worker - Placement
Hamilton General Hospital Trauma and ICU
09.1995 - 12.1995
- Provided counselling, education and support to patients and family members in the emergency department, burn trauma unit and intensive care unit around issues of death, suicide, abuse, addiction, and loss of physical and mental capabilities
- Worked on multidisciplinary team
- Utilized crisis intervention skills, liaised with internal and community agencies
- Advocated on behalf of clients, conducted assessments, and facilitated discharge planning.
Intake Worker - Placement
Toronto Children's Aid Society
05.1995 - 09.1995
- Duties of a child protection worker as described above.
Education
Adoption Studies Certificate -
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario07.2007
Master of Social Work -
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario06.1997
Bachelor of Social Work -
McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario06.1996
Bachelor of Arts, Sociology -
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario06.1994
Skills
- Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills
- Strong clinical skills
- Exceptional organizational and time management skills
- Superior crisis intervention and conflict management skills
- Excellent assessment analytical and problem-solving abilities
- Practice from an anti-oppressive framework
- Able to work independently
- Client-focused
Affiliations
- OCSWSSW
- OASW
References
Available Upon Request
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Children caught in the crossfire
Parental Gatekeeping
Challenging Clinical Assumptions
Critical Incident Response Training
Imbedding Critical Race Theory
Having Courageous Conversations
Legal issues in Social Work Intervention
Holistic Crisis Planning
Finding Calm in Class and at Home: A Journey of Mindfulness
Stomping Out Stigma
Suicide Intervention Prevention and Postvention
Calming the Storm -Trauma Informed Practice - Dr. K. McLeod
After the Storm – Dr. K. McLeod
Narrative Therapy – How Stories Shape Us
Understanding the Impact of Technology on our kids
Parenting and Treating Explosive Kids – Dr. Stuart Albion
Understanding Compassion Fatigue and Vicarious Trauma
The impact of Grief and Loss on Mental Health- Dr. Wolfelt
Single Session Consultation – Jim Duvall
Crisis Prevention and Intervention
Kids in Chaos – Dr. Gabor Mate
Girls on the Edge – understanding the new crisis for girls – Dr. Leonard Sax
Applied Suicidal Intervention Skills
Working with students with behavioural & emotional challenges – Michael Paget
Teen depression – the Disappearing Girl – Dr. Brennan
Playing at being bad - - the good behind the mask – Dr. Ungar
Lost at School – Ross Greene
Self-Regulation – Dr. Shanker and Ms. Bertrand
How stories shape us – Narrative therapy
Youth Suicidal Behaviour and deliberate self-harm – David Miller
Restorative Practices
Up and Down the Worry Hill: CBT for anxiety and OCD
School Refusal Behaviour – Dr. Kearney
Disruptive Behavioural Disorders –
Mindfulness – Dr. Saltzman
Holistic Crisis Planning
Tapping into the Possible – Dr. Nathalie Beaudoin
Investigations in the Workplace – Zaheer Lakhani – Feb 2021
Navigating the Divorce Act and related changes to the CLRA – Feb 2021
The Power of Mindsets Nurturing resilience in our students and ourselves – Dr. Robert Brooks – May 2021
The Ethics of Burnout webinar – Dr Nadine Siritsky – May 2021
Moral Injury and Grief in Social Work webinar– Charlene Richard – June 2021
Anti-Racism and Social Justice – Dr. Elaine Brown - Oct 2021
Access to Justice: Recognizing the rights of children under the UN convention -Nov 2021
Child Inclusive Mediation certificate -OAFM – November 2021
CBT 1 certificate Wilfred Laurier University - June 2022
Motivational Interviewing – July 2022
Emotion Focused School Support – Sept 2022
Emotion Focused Family Therapy Core – January 2023
Indigenous Canada - September 2023
Emotion Focused Family Therapy Advanced – November 2023
Timeline
Therapist
CASE Psychology
12.2022 - Current
Chief Negotiator
D19 PSSP OSSTF
05.2020 - Current
Clinical Investigator
Ministry of the Attorney General, Office of the Children's Lawyer
08.2012 - Current
School Social Worker
Peel District School Board
09.2009 - Current
Trainer
Differential Response Standards and Tools
01.2007 - 04.2007
Peel Children's Aid Society Supervisor
Intake Department
11.2000 - 09.2009
Intake Worker
Catholic Children's Aid Society
06.1998 - 11.2000
Peel Children's Aid Society Family Services Worker
Peel Children's Aid Society
11.1997 - 06.1998
Family Therapist - Placement
Dellcrest Children's Mental Health Centre
09.1996 - 04.1997
Hospital Social Worker - Placement
Hamilton General Hospital Trauma and ICU
09.1995 - 12.1995
Intake Worker - Placement
Toronto Children's Aid Society
05.1995 - 09.1995
Adoption Studies Certificate -
University of Toronto
Master of Social Work -
University of Toronto
Bachelor of Social Work -
McMaster University
Bachelor of Arts, Sociology -
University of Toronto
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