Executive Bulletin 2021 - Home Alone, Together: The Power of PSCA in a Pandemic
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Executive Bulletin 2021 – Home
Alone, Together: The Power of
PSCA in a Pandemic
BCPSCA AGM and Conference
Held virtually from our homes and offices
May 4, 2021
Message from the Editor
Thank you so much to the committee organizers for their vision, innovation, and virtual
expertise in bringing PSCA members a wonderful day of learning and connecting! From the
drop in breakout rooms to the lovely Carrie DeJong and the Oral Newsletter 2.0, the AGM and
the beloved Ode, the 1 day virtual conference was a super way to spend the day with our
colleagues.
With each of sitting in different spaces, I can only imagine the different sights and sounds that
surrounded us. Some of these things may have been distractions while others brought us into
the moment while others allowed us some momentary peace and joy.
The newsletter summarizes Carrie DeJong’s workshop, “Utilizing Nervous System Regulation
Tools to Help Students Thrive,” and the documents presented at the AGM, including the
election results. Please let any of the Board know if you have any questions or comments
regarding the AGM or the workshop information.
A final note, next year’s PSCA Conference and AGM will be hosted by Selkirk College and we
may have some help from our friends at Okanagan College so stay tuned for more information
and to hold the spot on your calendar. We’re hoping for a “ROAD TRIP” opportunity for
everyone!
In the meantime, happy reading and have a wonderful 2021-2022 academic year, after a really
restful summer. Stay well, keep positive and stay safe.
Warmly,
Tami O’Meara, Selkirk College
Vice-President of PSCA
PAGE | 1
Utilizing Nervous System Regulation Tools to Help Students Thrive
Carrie DeJong (MC), RCC
Submitted by: Sarah Lefebure, Okanagan College
Facilitator Introduction
Carrie DeJong, RCC has over 20 years’ experience working in trauma treatment programs,
residential addiction treatment, and private practice. https://www.carriedejong.com/
Workshop Description
In this two-hour workshop, Carrie, a “self-professed neuroscience geek,” talked about the
value of helping our clients understand how our nervous systems work. She pointed out
that human beings generally have more knowledge about the operating systems of their
phones or laptops than their own!
Carrie gave a primer on the triune model of the brain, highlighting how the brain stem
develops first, is responsible for survival and speaks in the language of sensation. Next
comes the limbic system, which houses emotional memories (how things felt without the
actual specifics) and speaks in the language of emotion. Last comes the cortex, which is
the final part of the brain to develop and speaks the language of thought. I found it
particularly helpful when Carrie called the brain stem and limbic system the “senior
partners who call the shots” in the brain, noting that the cortex “has a superiority
complex.” It was also helpful when she noted that “the last one to the party is the first one
out,” or as Dr. Paul MacLean has said “the limbic system, which rules emotion, can hijack
the higher mental functions when it needs to.”
Carrie invited us to consider all the stressors in a student’s life, past and present, that may
impact their ability think and learn well, given the way our brains are wired. She then
highlighted that efforts to help the brain stem and limbic system to settle help the cortex
to come online. Some examples of simple techniques to facilitate this include the simple
act of noticing the sensations in our bodies, feeling the support of the chair we’re sitting
on, and an orienting activity where you invite the client to simply look around the room
slowly, taking in their surroundings and registering the safety of this moment.
Carrie highlighted that when the cortex goes offline, people can have a shame response,
thinking that it reflects poorly on their intelligence or their ability to succeed. She noted
that helping students to understand how and why the thinking brain is sometimes
disabled when the body isn’t settled can help to reduce negative self-talk.
Carrie then shared an overview of polyvagal theory, which was developed by Stephen
Porges, and has been ‘translated’ to therapeutic interventions by Deb Dana. There are 3
circuits in polyvagal theory.
Carrie calls the social engagement circuit, which is characterized by parasympathetic
nervous system (PNS) and ventral vagal engagement, the Green Zone. It’s characterized by
self-regulation and co-regulation and a sense that “I have everything that I need for my
day.” A feeling of being one’s true self.
PAGE | 2
Mobilization, which Carrie calls the orange zone, involves the sympathetic nervous system
(SNS) and is “all gas pedal”, responding to threat. Note: those who are always in
mobilization may be trying to avoid shut down.
Immobilization, which Carrie calls the red zone, is characterized by engagement of the
dorsal vagus and PNS. It can look like collapse/shut down, and in this state hope and
safety feel unreachable. Note: there can be a healthy version of shut down if it’s used to
recharge. Know the difference between healthy and unhealthy shut down.
Carrie noted that none of these circuits are wrong – they are all necessary! It can be very
helpful for individuals to recognize which zone they’re in and to learn how they can return
to the green zone. For this, Carrie taught us about ‘ventral anchors’ which allow
individuals to “rappel down like a rock climber” into a mobilized state while staying
anchored in the green zone so that we can bring some of the feeling of connection to our
mobilized state. These anchors can be a safe person, something that brings the ventral
state alive in us, a safe place, or memories of times we’ve been in a ventral state.
Carrie noted that most of us are mobilized “a whole lot more” during the pandemic, and
that this might lead many of us to read even neutral signs as danger, because when we’re
mobilized, social engagement is sacrificed for safety. She invited us to reflect on the
impacts this reality is having for us and for our students.
Carrie shared that it can be helpful to recognize where someone is on the ‘ladder’ of
ventral vagal circuits. We tend to each have one of these circuits that’s our home base, and
it’s when we get stuck in one and can’t move out that it becomes a problem.
I found it helpful when Carrie described neuroception as the process of taking in cues of
comfort or danger without the involvement of the cortex (without our thinking brain). We
take in this information from inside our own bodies, from our environment, and from our
relationships with those around us. Our system is always ‘on’, scanning for these cues,
whether we know it or not. We have neuroceptive match when the NS responds
appropriately (we take steps to avoid danger and when there’s safety we can enjoy it) and
neuroceptive mismatch is the opposite (the inability to remove self from danger or set an
appropriate boundary, or to be unable to relax into a safe situation).
Another helpful insight was the phrase Story follows State. Whichever state/zone we’re in
will determine the story that unfolds in our thinking brain.
We are wired for connection, and for seeking safety through connection. Carrie invited us,
again, to consider the impacts for students of the isolation of the pandemic and how it
limits ways of fostering safety in the learning environment, particularly because “learning,
by its very nature, moves us into a mobilized state.”
We did an activity developed by Deb Dana that that involved reflecting on how we feel
and how the world seems in each of the 3 zones. I can see how useful this would be to
explore with clients to help them build awareness of their experience
Some valuable questions for clients: When do you feel most like yourself? When do you
feel like you’re doing something that’s most you? Who are you with? Where are you?
What sensations do you notice?
PAGE | 3
Carrie introduced the Vortex model that she developed, and her addition of Oblivion in
which the NS is overwhelmed and there’s a very high level of NS activation.
Carrie encouraged us to look at the stress management/coping tools our clients use. Is the
purpose to disconnect and numb? Or to get to a place of being able to re-engage with
others? What’s the impact afterward, how do they feel? Does the activity help your NS to
recharge, restore, refresh and engage? Get to know what happens in your NS so you can
skillfully respond. For instance, does scrolling on your phone put you in a trance state? Is
it a tool for avoidance of connection or responsibilities? Do you sit for hours in an
uncomfortable position while you scroll? If yes to these questions, then it’s likely not
nourishing our system but rather depriving it. Carrie also provided a list of tools for
activating social engagement, including singing, laughing, breathing exercises, etc.
This workshop provided a clear, concise overview of how understanding our nervous
systems, and those of our clients, can help to facilitate wellbeing, learning and connection.
I especially appreciated the beautiful photos in Carrie’s presentation. She explained that
she chose macrophotography because it “invites us to see thing we didn’t know were
there”, which she said is a good metaphor for the work of therapy.
Oral Newsletter Two Point Oh
Submitted by: Cliff Robinson, TRU
Our Oral Newsletter tradition was resurrected for the 2021 conference. As in the past, a
rep from each institution was invited to give an update on their past year. But this time,
there were two rules: each speaker had only 60 seconds for their update and they could
not use the words pandemic, Zoom, or work from home--and no cheating with synonyms.
It was an fast-paced, entertaining, and informative tour of institutions from A-Z (actually
BCIT to VIU).
PAGE | 4
AGM information and Reports
AGENDA
BC PSCA Annual General Meeting
Tuesday, May 4th, 2021
Virtual Meeting Via Zoom
1.0 Welcome and Territorial Acknowledgement (Erin Smith)
2.0 Approval of the Agenda (Erin Smith)
3.0 Approval of the AGM Minutes of May 4, 2020 (Erin Smith)
4.0 Business Arising from the Minutes of May 4, 2020 (Erin Smith)
4.1 Here2Talk (Erin Smith )
5.0 Reports
5.1 President (Erin Smith)
5.2 Membership Director (Bonnie Chi)
5.3 Treasurer (Cliff Robinson)
5.4 Conference Committee
6.0 New Business
6.1 New website (Bonnie Chi)
6.2 Proposed budget 2021-2022 (Cliff Robinson)
6.3 Nominations and Elections (Tami O’Meara)
6.4 Hosts for conferences 2022 and 2023 (Erin Smith)
6.5 Draw 4 names for prizes! (Bonnie Chi)
7.0 Adjournment (Erin Smith)
PAGE | 5BC Post Secondary Counsellors’ Association
Annual General Meeting, Online
President’s Report for 2020-2021
I am pleased to present my first report as President of the BC Post-Secondary Counsellors’
Association. It has been a year of firsts for everyone as we navigate the new landscape of
work presented by the COVID-19 Pandemic. There are many ways we could describe this
year - unprecedented, unique, or harrowing are a few words that come to mind. But when
it comes to describing PSCA over this past year, the word that stands out is connection. I
have not met with my fellow Executive Members or any PSCA members for more than a
year, yet our organization has continued to support the work of Post-Secondary
Counselling in important ways. Allow me to share some achievements over the past year:
New PSCA Website and Membership Registration System
It was a year ago exactly when the new PSCA website launched. It was the result of
months of work by our fantastic web designer Michelle Johnson and the PSCA
Membership Promotion Committee: June Saracuse (UVIC), Bonnie Chi (UFV) and Erin
Smith (Douglas College). During a year where online presence has been vital, our new
website has provided us a secure and stable platform for membership and information-
sharing. We thank everyone for their patience and understanding as we navigate the
inevitable bumps of implementing a new system.
Open Membership Meetings
PSCA members suggested the need for more opportunities for connection and
information sharing while we work remotely. We began hosting monthly open meetings
for members over Zoom in September 2020 and 7 meetings have been held so far. During
these meetings, member-selected topics are discussed as a group. On average 15-20
participants join each month and the discussions are rich and supportive. These meetings
will continue into the coming year.
Here2Talk Communication
Last Spring, the BC Provincial Government launched their Here2Talk single session
remote counselling service for all BC Post-Secondary Students. PSCA members have
PAGE | 6shared their thoughts and concerns about this service and we have entered into dialogue
with the project contact at the BC Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training.
Online Professional Development
We have embraced the option of online learning to support the professional development
of our members. Since there was no conference in Spring 2020, PSCA provided a subsidy
for PSCA members attending online training in the Thriving in Action program in July
2020.
The first online conference in PSCA history is happening May 4th, 2020 with both the
learning and social connection options that make our gatherings so special.
Lastly, I want to end with a large thank you to my fellow Executive and Members At Large
(many who also double as the conference committee) for all you have done this past year.
I also want to do a special shout out to our Treasurer for 7 years, Sarah Bell (Langara
College). She has kept things running quietly in the background this year and for that I am
very appreciative.
Respectfully submitted,
Erin Smith
President, BC PSCA
Treasurer’s Report for May 2021 AGM
**** Please see attached excel sheet for General Statement of Income Expenses
2020 – 2021 ****
Dear PSCA Colleagues,
At the May 2021 AGM, I will be presenting:
1. General Statement of Income & Expenses for 2020/21 (April 1, 2020 to Mar. 31, 2021)
2. Statement of Assets as of March 31, 2021
PAGE | 73. Proposed Budget for 2021/22 (April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022)
Comments Regarding the General Statement of Income & Expenses for 2020/21
Income: Membership registration income was $12,114.95 (a slight decrease from $12850
from the previous year). We received $99.75 in interest (see Statement of Assets).
Expenses: We paid $88 in fees for our now-cancelled teleconference service. In lieu of a
Regional Conference, six PSCA members applied for a $50 subsidy to attend the online
Thriving In Action training (TiA). We provided a $2000 grant for Healthy Minds|Healthy
Campuses. We paid $3325.25 for a website redesign plus $100/month in maintenance to
Michelle Johnson Graphic Design. We returned $4745 in refunds on the cancelled 2020
conference.
Note that PayPal fees are 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction (i.e., $3.20 for a $100 transaction),
and are not a stand-alone expense line.
Comments Regarding the Statement of Assets
We received a 2020 T3 statement (Statement of Trust Income Allocations & Designations)
in the amount of $85.50 ($86.33 last year) for our TD Mortgage fund investments. (T3 tax
slips are issued on investment income from non-registered account mutual funds.) We
also received $14.25 in interest from our chequing account. Total assets increased slightly
to $38,512.32.
Comments Regarding the Proposed Budget
Income: We anticipate that our membership will remain steady over the next year. The
2021 virtual conference was offered for free to members and conference costs will run close
to $1000.
Expenses:
For 2021, we propose reducing Board Expenses by half to $1500, and Regional Workshops
by one-third to $4000. We budgeted $2000 to support HMHC (no change). Web hosting
will cost $1250 plus a $550 software subscription (both yearly). We propose investing
$2500 in a Counsnet replacement.
We anticipate the return of a $1200 deposit for the 2020 conference; when received, this
will be applied to the 2022 conference deposit.
Respectfully submitted,
Cliff Robinson, TRU
April 28, 2021
PAGE | 8PSCA Election Results 2021-2022
Executive
Vice President (2021-2023) - Tami O’Meara
Treasurer (2021-2023) - Susan Butland (TRU) and Faye Shedletzky
Members At Large (2021-2023)
Capilano University – Saman Khan
Langara – Sarah Bell
Okanagan College – Sarah Lefebure
Royal Roads - *vacant
SFU – *vacant
UBCV – *vacant
Emily Carr – Johnny Liu
*If you know anyone who would like to be involved as a MAL or would like more
information, please contact Erin Smith at president@bcpsca.com
Membership Director’s Report
Submitted by: Bonnie Chi
**** Please see attached power point ****
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