The Ontario Regional Online Community (ROC) is now in its fourth year, having formed as the first ROC within ISSTD in 2020. Stretching across the large province of Ontario, Canada, we consistently connect 30+ members, seeking to increase the presence of ISSTD in Ontario in order to further dialogue, knowledge, research, and training on the etiology, evaluation, and effective treatment of trauma and dissociation.
Our group continues to hold well-attended monthly online meetings that serve as rich sharing spaces for resources, training, news, research, and support for one another in the work. Clinical discussion has included a wide variety of issues in the contemporary dissociative disorders field, supporting both seasoned and newer therapists in our collective clinical development. In addition to our monthly meetings, members participate in the ways that they are able, according to need, interest and availability, on our community listserv.
The Ontario ROC Executive was involved, alongside the leadership of the Conference Committee and ISSTD staff, in shaping content and speakers for our second ISSTD Regional Conference, which took place in Toronto on Sept 21-22, 2023. Our conference, Contemporary issues and Interventions in the Treatment of Trauma and Dissociation, brought speakers on integrative therapy approaches, decolonizing trauma practice, and online group trauma therapy, hosting presenters D. Michael Coy, Alana Tappin and Cassandra Harmsen, Kristina Cordeiro, Marlee Salisbury, George Radosavljevic, & Rebecca Tzalazidis. This was also a first opportunity for some members of our community to meet one another in person, which was a rich and connective experience.
We are proud to provide a Canadian community space for clinicians in this work. New members are always welcome within our ROC community. If you are in the province of Ontario, Canada and are interested in joining us, please reach out to Mackenzie Kinmond, Ontario ROC Secretary, at therapy@mackenziekinmond.com.