APIN ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2025

Featuring Dr. Heather Watson and Julie Walsh

APIN’s Annual Conference 2025 was held on May 8^th at the Caboto Centre.  APIN feels fortunate to have had both Dr. Heather Watson and Julie Walsh as speakers!  Registrants enjoyed the two engaging and enlightening presentations, as well as the opportunity to network and connect.

The morning program included Dr. Heather Watson’s presentation titled “Triggered! Trauma Informed Care for Adolescents During Pregnancy”.  Dr Heather Watson is a psychosocial Obstetrician Gynecologist, with fellowship training in the interactions between psychiatric, social and reproductive health.  She has developed a shared-care obstetrical practice with perinatal psychiatry and midwifery, and loves her job.  She is also Director of PreClerkship for Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Max Rady College of Medicine at the University of Manitoba.  Here she indulges her love of teaching and finds the students to be inspiring educators in return.  Dr. Watson’s presentation addressed the following learning objectives:

1. Appreciate that trauma is both common and under-recognized
2. Clarify how trauma affects adolescents differently from older adults
3. Identify how trauma impacts teens during pregnancy
4. Recognize how trauma affects care providers
5. Develop strategies to minimize unintentional retraumatization in clinical settings

The afternoon programming was provided by Julie Walsh, who presented “Co-Creating a Safety State: Helping Coregulate and Create Stronger Relationships with Youth”.  Julie Walsh is a child and family therapist with over 15 years of experience. Specializing in trauma, attachment, regulation, and reunification, Julie has developed training programs, manuals, and workshops for government and non-profit agencies across Manitoba and Eastern Canada. She provides workshops focusing on Trauma, Attachment, Regulation, Caregiving, and the impact of Technology Use, equipping caregivers and professionals with information and practical tools to foster safety, connection, and resilience.  Julie Walsh’s presentation facilitated attendees in meeting the following learning objectives:

1. Define the concept of a Safety State
2. Understand the impact of trauma and stress on regulation
3. Identify dysregulation
4. Understand the role of coregulation
5. Provide strategies to enhance regulation

APIN is looking forward to planning its Annual Conference 2026 and hopes to see you there!