Courses
Interdisciplinary courses—developed by a physiotherapist and a registered clinical counsellor/social worker—offering practical, psychology‑informed skills for anyone supporting physical health, recovery or performance.
Price:
1 day course: $469
2 day course: $949
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A practical introduction to mental health and psychologically informed care for physical health professionals.
This 1‑day course introduces foundational psychological and mental health concepts that apply to any setting where physical health, movement, or recovery is the focus. You’ll learn core ideas that help you understand the human factors influencing recovery.
Designed for clinicians who want to begin integrating mental health and awareness and psychology into their physical health practice, this course offers clear, usable concepts you can bring into practice right away.
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A deeper, more hands‑on exploration of psychologically informed care for physical health professionals.
This 2‑day course includes all the foundational content from the 1‑day training, with extended time dedicated to practicing and applying the skills. Through guided exercises, case discussions, and structured practice, you’ll develop greater confidence using psychological concepts in real‑world clinical interactions.
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Understand definitions of mental health.
Recognize the mental health continuum.
Identify general connections between mental and physical health.
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Gain introductory awareness of the following models and theories:
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Transdiagnostic Model
Biopsychosocial Model
Functional Contextualism
Predictive Processing
Polyvagal Theory
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Learn basic characteristics of the following conditions:
Depression
Anxiety
Trauma
Recognize how these conditions may appear in a physical health setting.
Identify activity-related behaviours that may impede physical health recovery.
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Develop strategies to self-assess your mental health.
Deepen your ability to effectively build a therapeutic alliance with your client. -
Understand the physical health clinician’s scope in mental health.
Gain introductory understanding of trauma-informed care (TIC).
Explore how TIC principles relate to common clinical presentations:Anxiety
Depression
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Learn basic approaches to asking about mental health and referring clients.
Understand general principles of suicide risk awareness and emergency referral. -
Recognize basic psychological components:
Thoughts
Emotions
Behaviours
Physiology
Consider the role of language in clincial interactions.
Practice introductory skills for discussing thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
Adjust assessments and treatments with basic psychological awareness.
Curriculum
Our Instructors
Madison King is a Registered Social Worker and Registered Clinical Counsellor whose career has been shaped by her commitment to trauma-informed, relationship-centred care. She began her work in the field over a decade ago supporting children, youth, and families in community and wilderness-based programs.
After completing her Master’s in Social Work at the University of British Columbia, she went on to provide clinical services across public, private, and tele-health settings, developing expertise in trauma, grief and loss, workplace disability, and family systems. Her practice integrates a wide range of therapeutic modalities—including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Emotion-Focused Therapy—while maintaining a systemic and attachment-based perspective.
She has delivered counselling to individuals and families navigating complex challenges such as disaster-related displacement, adoption and post-adoption adjustment, and first responder occupational stress. In addition to her clinical work, Madison has led mental health workshops for the Ministry of Child and Family Development, school boards, and health organizations, and provides consultation and supervision to other clinicians.
Since then, Madison has expanded her practice through Pacific Solstice Group and maintains a private practice in Squamish. She is registered with the BC College of Social Workers and with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors.
Recognizing the importance of bridging mental and physical health, Madison developed this introductory course alongside William Bateman to help clinicians begin integrating psychologically informed care into their work. Her goal is to support meaningful, lasting change by equipping both clients and practitioners with tools to cultivate resilience and authentic connection.
Madison King, MSW, RSW, RCC
William Bateman, PT, MScPT, BScKin
William Bateman is a physiotherapist whose clinical journey has been shaped by the intersection of physical health and mental health. He began his career over a decade ago in private practice. After opening and operating a clinic focused on treating rock climbing injuries, he developed a keen interest in persistent tendon pain. This led to a broader focus on chronic pain, prompting a move to Vancouver Coastal Health in 2019, where he helped design and implement BC’s first low-barrier, non-pharmacological pain management program for individuals experiencing concurrent mental health, substance use, and chronic pain disorders in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
Working alongside family doctors, psychiatrists, counsellors, occupational therapists, and recreation therapists, William learned to adapt his physiotherapy interventions to clients with complex psychological presentations—including depression, anxiety, PTSD, psychosis, and substance use disorders. This interdisciplinary environment, combined with formal training in trauma-informed care, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Cognitive Functional Therapy, reshaped his approach to physical rehabilitation.
Since then, William has led VCH’s interdisciplinary PSS+ program, facilitating complex hospital discharges. He is a Clinical Instructor in UBC’s Physical Therapy Department, has served on the executive committee of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association’s Pain Science Division, and maintains a part-time private practice in Squamish.
Recognizing the gap in mental health literacy among physical health clinicians, William developed this introductory course alongside Madison King to help practitioners begin integrating psychologically informed care into their work. His goal is to offer practical tools or navigating the intersection of physical and mental health.