Workshops and Seminars

Jan Miller & Associates have been contacted by corporations, school boards, hydro plants, public health units, and professional associations. Her seminars and workshops are custom designed to meet the needs of the group or individual who are facing the challenge of change.

Her talks have included:

The Many Faces of Paternalism
Paternalism affects us all – interpreters, members of the Deaf Community, and the agencies we are involved with. This presentation has been designed to help us identify our own paternalistic ways, help identify when others are being paternalistic towards us, develop an awareness of the affect paternalism, and recognize policies and behaviour that are driven by paternalism. When we can begin to recognize the many faces of paternalism we can create better/healthier-working relationships with each other and those we serve. This creates, encourages and supports more respect for each other, more trusting relationships, more independence for interpreters and members of the Deaf Community, clearer and more open communication, more cooperation within our working relationships, and fewer assumptions about each other. We then have more freedom to challenge behaviours, decisions, and policies.

Missing Links: How to be Successful with Hard to Serve Clients
In their work, most service providers have their share of clients who don’t fit into the current systems. These clients may have one or multiple disabilities. Many of them have had long-term frustrations and disappointments trying to be gainfully employed. This leads to discouraged clients and discouraged service providers. Our company will share some of our strategies and beliefs that have been effective in assisting “hard to serve” clients move towards gainful employment. These include: challenging beliefs and assumptions about what is possible, thinking outside the box, using positive communication strategies, and creating more options for hard to serve clients

Maintaining Health and Sanity in Times of Stress and Change
Our world is continuing to change at a pace that is stressful for many people. It often seems that as resources dwindle, demands increase. We are left dealing with our own stress while at the same time having to cope with the stress of our co-workers and clients. This seminar will look at how our beliefs affect our language, our expectations, our relationships, our energy, and our motivation. This is an experiential seminar that will help you to re-energize and motivate yourself. Watch and see the positive changes in your life and your workplace.

Team Building
Every organization has excellent people of high quality. What makes the difference in how people experience the workplace is leadership. Everyone in an organization can be a leader in some way. Bring your people together to support resolution of differences, re-building, and re-integration.

Caring for the Caregiver
A support workshop for those who care for others. We invite participants to a workshop of discovery and sharing designed to help you find out exactly who “Cares for the Caregiver.” We will look at myths, beliefs, and attitudes that support you in your role of caring for others and learn creative new ways to care for ourselves and each other. You will go home with a renewed commitment and energy.

Support, Survive, and Thrive Beyond the Diagnosis
Topics include: "Understanding and Changing the Beliefs that Make Us Crazy," "Labels: Uses and Abuses," "Managing the Crisis Times: Opportunities for Change and Regaining Hope," "Sucessfully Navigating the Health and Social Services Systems," and "Creating a Life Beyond the Illness."

‘Are You Just a Regular Guy? Or Would You Like to Become a Pro?’
Sensitivity training for the workplace

‘Canadian Eh? What to Do with those Winter Blahs!’
How to make the best of the winter months by changing the way you look at and feel about winter.

Other topics have included:
• Personal Power
• Healing Circle
• The Balancing Act (Is Your Life Working for You?)
• Turning Negatives into Positives
• Rapport Skills
• Tools of the Spirit
• Never too Late to Appreciate Yourself
• Power Communication in Health and Healing

“Very interesting views on changing negative thinking and changing a response to an event to change the outcome. Well presented and entertaining.” - N.G., Peterborough School Board