Strengthening CASC/ACSS: Empowering Research in Spirituality
We’ve got something we think will be useful for people working in spiritual care—whether you're deep into research already, just starting to think about it, or feeling like it’s something you should probably know more about but aren’t sure where to begin. “Strengthening CASC/ACSS: Empowering Research in Spirituality” is a one-day online event coming up Friday, October 3, from 10am to 4pm ET.
Why You Need To Attend this Event
Research is becoming a bigger part of our work in spiritual care. It’s now built into CASC competencies. More workplaces are asking us to document what we do and show how it helps. And more of us are being asked to supervise, teach, or lead in ways that involve engaging with research. That can feel overwhelming—or disconnected from the work we actually do.
So this event is a chance to pause, get our bearings, and talk together about what research in spiritual care can look like—when it’s grounded in practice, not just theory.
What to Expect
This is a space for learning and conversation that’s practical and real. You’ll hear from people working across Canada—in hospitals, hospices, classrooms, and communities—who’ve taken different approaches to research. Some have done formal studies. Others have focused on charting, quality improvement, or student supervision. A few are building research into community-based projects or trauma-informed care.
There’ll be short presentations, breakout discussions, and some time to ask questions or reflect together.
Topics include:
How to read and apply research without getting lost in the weeds
What counts as research in spiritual care
How to get started if you’re new to this
How research connects with trauma-informed supervision, forgiveness work, end-of-life care, documentation, and more
What the CASC/ACSS research competencies actually mean in practice
Who This Is For
If you're a spiritual care provider, psychospiritual therapist, student, educator, or supervisor—especially if you're part of CASC/ACSS or working toward certification—this is for you. But even if you’re outside of CASC/ACSS and just want to build more confidence in this area, we’d love to have you.
Details & Registration
Fully Online Conference
Friday, October 3, 2025
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Eastern TimeTickets: $75 regular | $25 student | $100 small group (1 login) | $250 large group (15+ people)
Certificate of completion provided
Register Here
If you have questions about the event or need help figuring out if it’s a good fit, feel free to reach out!
Meet the Speakers
Heather Vanderstelt RP, SCP
Heather Vanderstelt is a Certified Spiritual Care Practitioner and Supervisor-Educator in CPE (CASC/ACSS) and a Registered Psychotherapist (CRPO) employed at St. Joseph’s Health Care, London. Heather works in the outpatient context supporting a number of specialized outpatient clinics. She is Ordained within the Presbyterian Church in Canada, and has a passion for research related to clinical practice. Heather also presently serves as the Research Chair for CASC/ACSS’s Professional Practice Commission.
Thomas St. James O'Connor ThD, CSE CASC/ACSS
Thomas St. James O'Connor, ThD, CSE CASC/ACSS is Professor Emeritus at Martin Luther University at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario. He is semi-retired and continues to supervise students in their clinical placements. He teaches in the PhD program at Martin Luther and is the author and co-author of numerous books, chapters and articles in peer-reviewed publications. His current areas of study and publication are in spiritual and theological reflection, spiritually integrated psychotherapy and the evolution of spiritual care and psychotherapy in Canada.
Contact: toconnor11@gmail.com
Angela Schmidt RP, CSE
Angela Schmidt, DMin, is the Associate Professor in Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy at Knox College located on the campus of the University of Toronto. She is the Director of the Master of Psychospiritual Studies degree and Director of Experiential Learning. Angela is a Registered Psychotherapist, RP, a Certified Supervisor-Educator with the Canadian Association of Spiritual Care/association Canadienne de soins spirituels (CASC/ACSS) and a Certified Spiritual Care Practitioner (CASC/ACSS). Her area of interest and research is in Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy and in facilitating partnerships for the expansion of spiritual care.
Contact: angela.schmidt@utoronto.ca
Simon Lasair
Simon Lasair is the CASC/ACSS Director, Educational Development. In addition to possessing extensive frontline spiritual care experience, he has also functioned in leadership and research roles throughout his career. His new book, Spirituality and Holistic Spiritual Health: Expanding Chaplaincy’s Theoretical Frame articulates a comprehensive and clinically efficacious understanding of spirituality and spiritual health, linking clinical practice to measurable client outcomes.
Contact: slasair@spiritualcare.ca
Vivian Stang
Vivian Stang is a Spiritual Care Practitioner at The Ottawa Hospital and Clinician Investigator at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. She is a Supervisor-Educator with CASC/ACSS and Clinical Supervisor with the CRPO. She has a Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Studies from Saint Paul University, Ottawa.
Contact: vstang@toh.ca
Kelly Collins
Kelly Collins completed CPE training in 2012 and has practiced in hospice and hospital contexts. She has had roles as Practice Leader, Certified Spiritual Care Educator and Director, Spiritual Health, Mission, and Ethics in various health systems. Kelly recently completed her PhD in Human Relationships (Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy) at Martin Luther University College. She has had a small private psychotherapy practice, Brave Space Therapy and Supervision since 2020 and now works as a psychotherapist full-time, specializing in trauma, trauma-informed supervision, couples counselling, and EMDR. She is currently sessional faculty at Knox College in Toronto.
Contact: kelly@bravespacetherapy.ca
Jaeun Joanne Macen BSc., PhD, CSCP
Jaeun is a CASC certified spiritual care practitioner and registered counselling therapist with Association of Counselling Therapists of Alberta. Jaeun has a doctorate in biochemistry, followed by more than a decade of study and practice as a Buddhist nun in East Asia. Jaeun has worked in health care for 14 years, in both acute care and palliative home care contexts. Jaeun has a passion for contemplative, compassion-focussed approaches to health and wellness and enjoys finding creative ways to weave both mystical and scientific perspectives into her work.
Desmond Buhagar
Desmond Buhagar, SJ, is a Roman Catholic priest and member of the Society of Jesus in Canada. He holds registrations in Psychotherapy and Marriage and Family Therapy (RMFT) with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). He is a Certified Psychospiritual Therapist (PT) and Psychospiritual Therapy Educator-Supervisor (PTE) with the Canadian Association of Spiritual Care (CASC/ACSS). He is an Associate Professor of Psychotherapy and Spiritual Care Education at Regis St. Michael’s College at the University of Toronto, and operates a private practice in psychotherapy alongside his teaching and research activities.
Contact: desmond.buhagar@utoronto.ca
