Our Workshop Facilitators
Ella Amir
Groups allow participants to reflect on their experiences as caregivers in the presence of others in similar situations. The power of groups cannot be under-estimated, and it is the trust and connections that make the experience significant and meaningful.
Natalie Boileau
Having worked in mental health for the last the last 15 years, both for those who live with mental health challenges and those who support their loved ones navigating the mental healthcare system, I continue to learn so much from my involvement in the many projects at AMI and the numerous roles I have within West-Central Mental Healthcare system as a family peer support coordinator. I aim to contribute to building a common understanding of the importance of family support and the utmost necessity to work with everyone involved in mental health while creating and co-facilitating spaces where one can feel a part of a community, while finding meaning and a sense of belonging. I also try to make time to practice self-care, which I often preach, by spending time in nature; walking, hiking, looking up at our infinite universe, and getting lost staring at a warm crackling fire.
Sylvie Bouchard
At AMI, I offer counseling, guidance and information to family members, partners, and friends who have a loved one suffering from Borderline Personality Disorder or who are struggling to regulate their emotions. This is done through workshops, groups, and one on one counselling.
I love walking, trees, bird watching, and dancing to joyful disco music!
Bill Byers
Bill has been running AMI’s Meditation workshop for five years now. Meditation is a powerful way of acknowledging the difficulties that arise in our lives and learning to work with them in a constructive way. Over the years we have built up a group of people who are committed to the practice of meditation and can be witnesses to the benefits that it has given them.
Bill is a retired professor at Concordia University and the author of a number of books on science and philosophy. He has been meditating daily for over forty years. This class is his way of passing on to others some of the benefits that meditation has brought to his life.
Joyce Cohen
Hi. I’m Joyce, a certified life coach, artist, writer, and long-time AMI-Quebec facilitator and board member. I offer a variety of art and writing workshops throughout the year. Write From Your Heart is an 8-week workshop that uses expressive writing as a tool for healing, support, and connection. Creative Expressions are workshops where we paint, draw, or create collages for self-discovery and personal empowerment.
Have fun, make friends, explore your creativity, and express yourself in a supportive group of like-minded people.
No experience is needed – it’s all about self-expression. I hope you’ll join us!
Jill Grumbache
Jill Grumbache is an artist and award-winning writer. She was a caregiver to her husband who suffered brain injury, affecting his personality and mental health, and to her sister with mental illness who eventually took her own life. She has over 35 years of experience in communications, founded Holistic Beneficial Journaling in 2012, holds a certificate as an Art Therapy Practitioner, and as a Journaling Facilitator.
Griffin Payne
Griffin (any pronouns) is a community development consultant who has been on all sides of the table as a person living with mental illness, as a caregiver, as a former frontline intervention worker, and now as a consultant who supports mental health organizations and provincial mental health projects. They have a Master‘s degree in Human Systems Intervention and 20+ years of experience with facilitation in the field of mental health, but Griffin’s real expertise in conflict comes from constant learning in the arena of daily life as a passionate person with strong opinions and big feelings about many things. When not working, Griffin is also a poet, performer, and community arts organizer, and can be found in very few other places, especially after 9pm.
Resident doctors from McGill University’s Psychiatry Postgraduate Program
Our Treatments for Mental Illness and Types of Mental Illness workshops are facilitated by resident doctors from McGill University’s Psychiatry Postgraduate Program.
Sarah Varichon
I’m a counsellor at AMI-Québec, where I support caregivers in navigating the ups and downs of their journeys so they can feel more heard, supported, and equipped along the way. With a background in somatic expressive arts therapy, movement practices, and caregiving, I love creating warm spaces for connection, reflection, and growth.
When I’m not at AMI, you’ll probably find me dancing flamenco, singing, taking photos, wandering in nature, or enjoying long tea-filled chats with friends.
Diana Verrall
Diana struggled with severe depression and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder for over 20 years. It was a long road back to health, but many people have been inspired by her recovery story. She has transformed from someone who had trouble getting out of bed into someone who runs marathons. Experience her openness and willingness to share her story for yourself at a My Story workshop!
Marc Griffin
Howdy, I am the Program Coordinator at AMI-Quebec. I oversee our support groups and workshops. Some programs are in person and some are online, so I do a lot of juggling.
I love basketball, yoga, obscure movies, and writing.
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