Session Descriptions

Conference Concierge Booth opens

Our team is available to help with site navigation, technical issues, or conference-related questions. The main Zoom Webinar room for all conference sessions will open at 8:45 am.

9:00 am – 10:30 am

The Wisdom of Dependence, followed by a panel discussion

Gordon Neufeld

It is in our nature to depend, not only as children but as adults as well. Yet, the fear of dependence continues to dominate, both in regards to ourselves and our children. Received wisdom for generations has called upon us to strive for independence for ourselves, while pushing for independence in our children and students. In so doing, we not only have become stuck and dysfunctional, but we have thwarted Nature in its attempts to take care of us. It seems rather ironic that we cannot invite or embrace dependence until we ourselves can depend upon the trustworthiness of Nature to do its work. A belief in the wisdom of Nature starts with an appreciation of the wisdom of dependence. This appreciation in turn has the power to transform our interactions with our loved ones.

10:30 am – 11:00 am Break 1

11:00 am – 12:30 pm

The Wisdom of Gathering to Eat, followed by a panel discussion

Deborah MacNamara

It is in our nature to eat together. It turns out that it is also in our best interests for a whole host of reasons that science has only lately uncovered. Unfortunately, as food became an industry, and eating an independent activity, the natural relational context that converts food into true nurturance – for both the body and the self – has been lost. Deborah will inspire us to take back this territory in order to recover the natural power of food in both our own lives, and the lives of our loved ones. 

12:30 pm – 1:00 pm Break 2

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

The Wisdom of Story, followed by a panel discussion

Tamara Strijack

It is in our nature to be engaged by stories from the earliest ages to our eldest years. Unfortunately stories have been hijacked by professional story tellers who we think can do so much better than we can, through books, film, theatre and the media. Participation in stories has become an independent activity, governed by personal interests. What if stories were meant to serve a natural purpose that could only be realized when the context was right and the conditions were conducive? Tamara will inspire us to take back the story in order to harness its natural power in our own lives and the lives of our loved ones. 

2:30 pm – 3:00 pm Break 3

3:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Dialogue on Trauma and Parenting

Gordon Neufeld, Gabor Maté, Tamara Strijack, Daniel Maté

Given that the theme of the conference was inspired by Gabor Mate’s special on The Wisdom of Trauma which went viral in the therapy community, we thought the conference would not be complete without having a chance to dialogue with him and his son Daniel, about the interface of this material with parenting. Gabor’s most recent book – the Myth of Normal – was written together with his son Daniel, and will also be fodder for discussion.