Hygge has exploded in popularity amidst growing division and distrust around the world, but the Danish word and its definition are more complicated than it seems. Discover the secret of Danish happiness in this accredited CPE/CPD program for professionals featuring the Hot Docs documentary film Hygge as a case study. The film will be followed by an expert panel discussion which introduces realistic approaches to happiness and work/life balance for legal and business professionals

CPE/CPD INFORMATION

The overall objective of this course is to provide lawyers with a better understanding of happiness, and that it is not just a catchphrase but a fundamental part of our health – happiness can be defined as well-being and therefore a vital component of our health. The course will discuss realistic ways for legal and business professionals to improve their happiness and work/life balance. The program learning objectives are as follow:

• Gain better understanding that happiness is not just a catchphrase but a fundamental part of our health: The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Therefore, health and well-being are interconnected, with well-being influencing health and health influencing well-being;
• Gain a fundamental understanding of the importance of happiness for legal professionals: science is now interested in gaining a better understanding of the underlying social, health and other factors such as working conditions that may promote greater well-being, greater resilience and more optimal physical functioning;
• Gain a fundamental understanding of the importance of culture and cultural factors for happiness;
• Gain a fundamental understanding of the importance of leadership because leaders in organizations play a vital role in terms of creating a corporate culture where the physical/mental wellness of employees and their work/life balance are central values;
• Understand why some people are happier than others, why (causes) so many lawyers are suffering from anxiety, depression and burn out;
• Discuss the dark side of Hygge as a cultural practice that can lead to Xenophobia – what should be done to prevent that the way our personal or collective happiness is constructed to not arm others;
• Gain a fundamental understanding of the importance of mindfulness and meditation, emotional intelligence and resilience for happiness; and
• Discuss realistic ways for legal and business professionals to improve their happiness and work/life balance.

Post-Screening Discussion Subject Matter Experts:

Alison Crosthwait

CFA, RP, CTP, Dipl, Registered psychotherapist, Author, and Blogger.

A former capital markets trader, working for companies such as Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse, Alison came to the world of therapy through a personal journey, which led to both a career and life change. Throughout her adult life, inner work has been of increasing importance to Alison. She engages deeply in therapy, meditation, and somatic practices to continue her exploration and her healing. She feels strongly that all healing practitioners must continue to actively engage with their own journeys while they work with others on theirs. Alison believes that therapy is much more than a health care treatment option, it is a way of life which she explores each week in her blog writing about psychotherapy and change.

Michael Apollo, Registered Psychotherapist (RP)

Founder and President, A Mindful Society and Mindful Gateway.

Michael Apollo RP is President and Founder of Mindful Gateway and A Mindful Society. He is the Program Lead of the University of Toronto Mindfulness Meditation certificate programs at the School of Continuing Studies. Michael works with organizations developing, delivering and researching workplace mindfulness and mental health programs. He is a leader in integrating mindfulness into healthcare, education, the workplace, and government. He is a founding committee member of the Parliamentary Mindfulness Advisory Group. As a registered psychotherapist Michael is passionate about advancing access to mental health in the workplace. Michael has completed 34 international long-term meditation retreats with 10,000+ hours of meditation practice and is certified by the University California San Diego as a facilitator trainer of research-based mind-training programs (MBSR, MBCT).

Garrick Apollon

Lawyer, Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Law and MBA program at the University of Ottawa, Member of the Academy for Mindfulness and Contemplative Studies at the Brain and Mind Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Ottawa.

Garrick Apollon is a practicing corporate lawyer and the only legal scholar who is a Member of the Academy for Mindfulness and Contemplative Studies at the University of Ottawa. He believes in the promotion of the principles of wellness, work/life balance and mindfulness for lawyers and he is the mind behind the research and development of this course. Garrick is also a documentary filmmaker and a Fellow at Hot Docs for Continuing Professional Education.

Brenda Toner

Professor Emerita in the Department of Psychiatry and Institute of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto.

For the past 34 years, Brenda has been actively involved in the area of mental health and wellbeing. She has held many leadership positions including Head of Women’s Mental Health Program and Director of the Fellowship Program at U of T. During the past 12 years, she has participated in professional education training and teaching in Mindfulness-based approaches. Over the past 3 years, she has had the opportunity to give several workshops, invited presentations, and keynote addresses on Mindfulness at U of T. Brenda also taught Undergraduate and Graduate courses in the Psychology Department and OISE at U of T.