Quantum1

Quantum Physics has resulted in the ground falling out from under us or perhaps it was never there to begin with? The discoveries of this new science are so disturbing, so perplexing that it is difficult to even grasp what it means. Read the full article.

tree-new

Joshua’s Tree is part of a growing global community of people committed to creating revolutionary change in the mental health landscape. Joshua’s Tree is committed to creating a new reality for individuals and families caught up in the turbulence of psychosis. Read more

So here is the good news for all my friends and colleagues that believe they have had more than their fair share of suffering and setbacks. Nassir Ghaemi in his 2011 book A First-Rate Madness; Uncovering the links between Leadership and Mental Illness put forward the following hypothesis. He wrote “of course, everyone suffers. But life’s pain can come harshly or gently, earlier or later. For the lucky, suffering is less frequent, less severe, and delayed until it can’t be avoided. The unlucky, who early in their lives, endure hardships and tragedies – or the challenge of mental illness—seem to become, not infrequently, our greatest leaders”(p. 56). He further wrote that German Psychiatrist Ernest Kretschmer was the first modern researcher who noted a link between insanity and genius. Kretschmer said “If we removed the insanity from these people we would convert their genius into merely ordinary talent. Insanity is not a ‘regrettable….accident’ but the ‘indispensable catalyst’ of genius (p. 17). So here is to embracing our inner madness.

Two Loops: How Systems Change from The Berkana Institute on Vimeo.

My Mission

To create a workforce that has the skill, knowledge, emotional and spiritual intelligence to navigate the turbulent waters of uncertainty and constant change . To create a work environment whose infrastructure is strong and flexible enough to keep everyone afloat during the process.

My Philosophy of Leadership

It is a Leader’s responsibility to engage in self reflection then hold up the mirror to others so they can see themselves and their impact on the collective whole more clearly. Creation is a participatory process and organizations are complex living systems. Everyone holds their version of the truth; but their truth is only a small piece of the greater truth. It is a leader’s responsibility to identify themes and patterns and choose what to pay attention to. Living systems have the capacity to withstand significant turbulence if everyone feels safe, valued and connected. Relationships are everything. A workforce is a community. Leaders must create the space and the time for people to connect in meaningful ways. In order to be effective a living system must have a strong sense of purpose, be clear about their identity and have a shared vision. These invisible force fields provide us with context and meaning. Vision and Identity are the organization’s life jackets; they keep everyone’s head above water when the waves start crashing in.

My Goal

To create leaders throughout the tributaries of any organization.
Wendy Dixon RN, MA, is a recipient of mental health services and a family member. She is a healthcare leader with a lifetime of academic and experiential knowledge managing psychosis in home, community, hospital, and the criminal justice system. She is a past board member of the Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan and the Schizophrenia Society of Canada.
In the early 1990’s Wendy became a therapeutic foster parent taking in youth with serious behavioral and emotional problems. In 1993 Wendy became a certified Teaching Parent at Radisson Receiving and Assessment Home William Roper Hull Child and Family Services, for children experiencing behavioral and emotional problems in Calgary Alberta. From 1994-1998 Wendy was the Coordinator of Community Development for the Canadian Mental Health Association in Calgary, Alberta, and in 1998, co-founded Brainstorm Fundamentals Inc. – a mental illness recovery company. Wendy is a past board member of the National Network of Mental Health, a consumer/survivor organization.
From 2005 to 2010, Wendy was the Unit Manager of a Neurological Rehabilitation Unit at Carewest in the Calgary Health Region. She concurrently received her Master’s Degree in Leadership Health Specialty from Royal Roads University in 2009. In 2010, she returned to her home province of Saskatchewan and is currently the Facility Manager of Golden Prairie Nursing Home in Indian Head, Saskatchewan. She is the founder of the Joshua’ Tree: the search for innovation in psychosis recovery.
Communicator, educator, facilitator with excellent oral and written skills. Ability to navigate students through initial skill acquisition to competent performance at the bedside in clinical experiences. A Registered Nurse and Healthcare Leader with extensive experience working with stakeholders across multiple domains i.e. acute care settings, long term care, the mental health system; consumers, families, healthcare providers, education system, justice system, non-government organizations and government representatives.  Ability to navigate large teams through dynamic changes processes in the healthcare industry. A strategic thinker with the ability to formulate and operationalize new initiatives and programs. Click here for my full resume.
Leadership and Verbal Abuse ii ABSTRACT Verbal abuse against nurses is a wide spread problem in Canada and around the world. Unfortunately, an increased awareness of the problem has done little to bring forth effective solutions. This action research project engaged Carewest managers and frontline nurses in a discussion about organizational and individual empowerment around the issue of verbally abusive clients. This research project utilized appreciative inquiry methodology, a blended focus group/learning circle inquiry process and an extensive literature review to obtain data. The data indicated that emotional intelligence, trust, and relationships, the ability to collaborate with leaders and colleagues, and the availability of education were important in empowering staff to provide care to verbally abusive clients. The recommendations from these findings include, but are not limited to, the creation of opportunities to dialogue such as a world café, the development of a community of practice, and the availability of educational opportunities for staff. Click here to read the complete Thesis.

A Health Care Leader with a lifetime of academic and experiential knowledge.

A strategic thinker with the ability to formulate and operationalize new initiatives and programs.

truehope_logo