Social Worker
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Ontario
Benn Brisland is a Registered Social Worker for the Gender Identity Clinic at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Ontario Canada. He has been working in the field of mental health for 18 years and has a passion for working with transgender and non-binary individuals. He began his clinical career as a Child and Youth Worker (CYW) in therapeutic residential programs for youth experiencing mental health and behavioural challenges. Since 2013, Benn has worked at a large mental health teaching hospital in Toronto, Ontario. He spent 7 years working as a CYW on the Youth Concurrent Unit, which at the time was the only inpatient treatment addressing concurrent disorders in the province. Most recently he has been providing gender-affirming services to adult clients throughout the province of Ontario as a Social Worker in the Gender Identity Clinic. Benn has been a volunteer mental health counsellor at a residential summer camp in Washington State for 2SLGBTQ youth and families since 2004. It was there, in the forest, where he discovered a love for listening and holding space for a person’s intersection of identities, their stories, history and resilience.
Benn's credientials include: an Advanced Diploma in Child and Youth Work (CYW) from George Brown College and a Bachelors (BSW) and Masters of Social Work (MSW) from York University. He is a registered member in good standing of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW), the Newfoundland and Labrador College of Social Workers (NLCSW), and the Nova Scotia College os Social workers (NSCSW).
Benn's practice specialties include:
Trans-affirming care, including surgery assessments.
Supporting families of trans folks.
2SLGBTQIA
Neurodiversity especially those who are recently exploring this piece of their identity.
Addiction and Substance use – Practicing from a harm-reduction approach.
Mood disorders
Youth (12+)
Saturday, April 15, 2023
3:45 PM – 5:00 PM