Registration is Now Open
October 2–3, 2026
Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel
Join PACCP members from across Canada for two days of learning, fellowship, and professional growth.
Welcome to Halifax
Join PACCP members from across Canada in beautiful Halifax, Nova Scotia for two days of professional development, meaningful connection, and spiritual encouragement.
The PACCP National Conference brings together Christian counsellors, psychotherapists, students, supervisors, educators, and ministry leaders who are committed to integrating professional excellence with Christian faith and Biblical truth.
Whether you are in private practice, ministry, education, agency work, or still in training, this conference provides opportunities to learn from experienced practitioners, connect with colleagues from across the country, and engage in important conversations shaping the future of Christian counselling in Canada.
Conference Theme
Standing on the Rock: Creating Healthy Boundaries with Biblical Wisdom
In a world that constantly asks us to give more, do more, carry more, and be more, many counsellors, ministry leaders, and helping professionals find themselves asking: How do we serve others well without losing ourselves in the process?
Boundaries are not walls that separate us from others—they are the foundations that allow us to love well, serve faithfully, and remain healthy for the long journey of caring for people. When rooted in Scripture and guided by Biblical wisdom, healthy boundaries become an act of stewardship, compassion, humility, and obedience.
The 2026 PACCP National Conference invites us to return to the Rock—the unchanging truth and wisdom of God—as we explore the role of boundaries in counselling, ministry, leadership, relationships, and personal well-being.
Together we will wrestle with important questions:
- How do we care deeply without carrying responsibilities that are not ours to bear?
- How do we remain compassionate while maintaining ethical and professional boundaries?
- How do we prevent burnout, compassion fatigue, and over-functioning in helping professions?
- How do we balance service, family, ministry, and self-care in ways that honour God and sustain our calling?
- How do we integrate Biblical wisdom with contemporary clinical practice in an increasingly complex world?
Through keynote presentations, workshops, fellowship, and meaningful conversation, attendees will explore how healthy boundaries shape:
- Clinical and ethical practice
- Counsellor wellness and resilience
- Ministry and leadership roles
- Private practice and supervision
- Marriage and family relationships
- Trauma recovery and attachment work
- Faith integration in counselling
- Personal discipleship and spiritual health
Whether you are a seasoned clinician, a student beginning your professional journey, a supervisor, educator, ministry leader, or private practitioner, this conference offers an opportunity to step away from the demands of daily practice and invest in your own professional, spiritual, and personal growth.
Join colleagues from across Canada as we learn together, encourage one another, and strengthen our shared commitment to serving with both excellence and grace.
Come to Halifax this October to be refreshed, challenged, equipped, and reminded that the strongest foundations are built not on striving, but on standing firmly on the Rock.
Call for Proposals
PACCP members are warmly invited to share their knowledge, experience, and expertise by submitting a workshop proposal for the 2026 PACCP National Conference.
This year's theme, Standing on the Rock: Creating Healthy Boundaries with Biblical Wisdom, invites us to consider how Scripture and Christian faith inform the boundaries that sustain healthy counselling relationships, effective ministry, ethical practice, and personal well-being.
We welcome engaging, practical, and Biblically grounded presentations that will inspire, equip, and encourage conference attendees. Whether your expertise comes from clinical practice, supervision, ministry, education, research, leadership, or lived experience, your perspective may help strengthen and encourage colleagues across Canada.
Potential Workshop Topics
Presentations might explore topics such as:
- Clinical and ethical boundaries in counselling practice
- Self-care, resilience, and preventing compassion fatigue
- Boundaries in ministry, church leadership, and pastoral care
- Faith integration in clinical practice
- Trauma-informed approaches to boundaries and attachment
- Family systems, codependency, and relational health
- Boundaries in marriage, parenting, and caregiving
- Supervision, consultation, and professional accountability
- Digital boundaries and technology in counselling practice
- Working with difficult conversations, conflict, and reconciliation
- Maintaining healthy boundaries in private practice
- Navigating boundaries within multicultural or intergenerational contexts
- Biblical perspectives on rest, limits, stewardship, and vocation
- Internal Family Systems and faith integration
- Emerging issues facing Christian counsellors in Canada
These examples are intended to spark ideas rather than limit them. We encourage creativity and welcome submissions that thoughtfully explore the conference theme from fresh perspectives and unique areas of practice.
Our hope is that this conference reflects the collective wisdom, experience, and calling of the PACCP community as we learn from one another and grow together professionally and spiritually.
What Should a Proposal Include?
To help our Conference Committee review submissions fairly and efficiently, we ask presenters to include:
- Presentation title
- Presenter name, credentials, and contact information
- A brief professional biography (approximately 100–150 words)
- A session description suitable for publication in the conference program (approximately 100–200 words)
- Three to five learning objectives
- A brief outline of the presentation content
- Preferred session length
- A short description of how the presentation relates to the conference theme
- A description of how Christian faith, Biblical principles, or spiritual considerations are integrated into the presentation topic
Proposal Submission Deadline: August 15, 2026
Interested in presenting? We'd love to hear your ideas and discuss potential presentations with you.
Keynote Speakers
Kimberly June Miller, MTh, LMFT
Kimberly June Miller is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, speaker, retreat leader, and co-author of the bestselling book Boundaries for Your Soul. She specializes in the integration of psychology and spirituality and is passionate about helping individuals and leaders cultivate healthy inner lives that allow them to serve others with wisdom, sustainability, and grace.
Kim is the founder of Leading Wholeheartedly, a ministry dedicated to helping leaders tend to their inner lives so they can lead and serve from a place of health and wholeness. She maintains a private counseling practice, speaks nationally at conferences, and regularly presents at events hosted by the American Association of Christian Counselors.
Her academic background includes studies in religion at Davidson College, a Master of Theology from Regent College in Vancouver, and a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Azusa Pacific University. She is trained in Internal Family Systems, Imago Relationship Therapy, Gottman Method Couples Therapy, and Prepare/Enrich.
Ann-Marie Bowen, MA, LPC-S
Ann-Marie Bowen is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor with more than twenty-five years of counseling experience helping individuals pursue healing, growth, and deeper self-awareness. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Religion from Baylor University and a Master of Arts in Counseling from Dallas Baptist University.
Ann-Marie is a Certified Internal Family Systems Therapist, an Approved IFS Clinical Consultant, and is trained in EMDR therapy. Her work focuses on the integration of psychological healing and spirituality, with particular interests in trauma recovery, attachment wounds, family of origin issues, boundaries, and codependency.
She is passionate about helping others understand and heal the roots of their pain and struggles while guiding them toward greater wholeness, resilience, and connection with God and others. In addition to her clinical work, Ann-Marie enjoys teaching, speaking, and mentoring other therapists.
Together, Kimberly and Ann-Marie bring decades of experience in Christian counselling, trauma recovery, Internal Family Systems therapy, and faith integration, offering conference attendees a rich opportunity to explore healthy boundaries through both Biblical wisdom and contemporary clinical practice.
Their combined expertise will help attendees deepen their understanding of boundaries in counselling, ministry, relationships, leadership, and self-care while remaining firmly grounded in Scripture and Christian faith.
Registration Fees
| Registration Type | Fee | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| PACCP Member | $499 | Conference sessions, welcome reception, and one banquet ticket |
| Non-Member | $549 | Conference sessions, welcome reception, and one banquet ticket |
| Additional Banquet Ticket for Guest | $125 | One additional guest banquet ticket |
One banquet ticket is included with each conference registration.
Registration is open until September 27, 2026. We encourage you to register early to secure your place and take advantage of the discounted conference hotel rates.
Continuing Education Credits
This conference has been approved for 10 Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Session allocations will be announced once the conference program has been finalized.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation requests received on or before September 1, 2026 will receive a full refund less a $50 administrative fee.
Cancellation requests received between September 2 and September 15, 2026 will receive a 50% refund.
Unfortunately, refunds cannot be issued for cancellations received after September 15, 2026.
Conference registrations may be transferred to another individual at no additional charge until September 25, 2026. Please contact the Conference Director to arrange a registration transfer.
Conference Experience
Welcome Reception
Arrive early and join us for an evening of connection at our Welcome Reception on Thursday, October 1, 2026. Connect with attendees from across Canada in a relaxed and welcoming setting.
Conference Banquet
Immerse yourself in the spirit of Nova Scotia at our Conference Banquet on the evening of Friday, October 2, 2026, with live Scottish Celtic music by Corbies.
Optional Group Excursions
Subject to sufficient interest, optional group excursions to the Halifax Citadel & Harbour Hopper on Friday and Peggy’s Cove on Saturday following the conference will be offered at an additional cost.
More information, including pricing, will be shared with registered attendees closer to October.
Hotel Accommodations
PACCP has secured discounted room rates at two conveniently located downtown Halifax hotels, both just steps from the beautiful waterfront. To take advantage of these special rates—and to support PACCP in meeting our hotel commitments—we encourage you to book through our conference room blocks whenever possible. Your support helps strengthen our ability to negotiate excellent accommodations and rates for future conferences. Thank you!
The Barrington Hotel
Recommended for:
Thursday, October 1 and Saturday, October 3
Group Code: 2610ASSOCC
Booking Deadline: September 1, 2026
If you are arriving early or planning to extend your stay, PACCP has secured a discounted group rate at The Barrington Hotel from Tuesday, September 29 through Tuesday, October 6, 2026, excluding Friday, October 2.
Located in downtown Halifax and connected to the city's pedway system, The Barrington Hotel provides convenient access to restaurants, shopping, and waterfront attractions.
Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel
Official Conference Venue
Special Conference Rate Available:
Friday, October 2, 2026 only
Booking Deadline: September 3, 2026
PACCP has secured a special conference rate at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel for the evening of Friday, October 2 only.
As our conference sessions and banquet activities will take place at the Marriott, we strongly encourage attendees to take advantage of this opportunity to stay onsite and fully enjoy the conference experience, networking opportunities, and beautiful Halifax waterfront location.
Because the special conference rate is only available for October 2, attendees wishing to stay additional nights in Halifax are encouraged to book accommodations at The Barrington Hotel for the remainder of their visit.
Conference Subsidy Program
PACCP is pleased to offer a limited, one-time Conference Subsidy Program to assist members attending the 2026 National Conference in Halifax.
We recognize that the cost of travel, accommodations, and conference registration can present challenges for some members. This program is intended to provide partial financial assistance to those who may otherwise be unable to attend, helping make this valuable opportunity for learning, fellowship, and professional growth more accessible.
What's Covered?
Approved subsidies may be applied toward conference-related expenses such as:
- Conference registration
- Travel expenses
- Hotel accommodations
Subsidy funds are limited and approval cannot be guaranteed. Awards will be based on available funding and the information provided in each application.
Eligibility Guidelines
Applicants should:
- Be an active PACCP member in good standing.
- Plan to attend the Halifax National Conference in person.
- Demonstrate financial need or significant barriers to attending.
- Describe the professional, clinical, or vocational value of attending the conference.
- Submit a completed subsidy request by the stated deadline.
- Confirm their intention to attend if a subsidy is awarded.
Applications May Also Be Considered Based On
- Limited financial resources due to employment status, student status, or early-career practice.
- Geographic distance or higher-than-average travel expenses.
- Limited employer or organizational funding for professional development.
- Recent personal or professional hardship affecting financial capacity.
- A demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional development and ethical practice.
- Active participation in PACCP through committees, branches, volunteer service, or leadership.
- Representation from underserved, rural, or remote communities.
- Meaningful contributions to the PACCP community through mentorship, leadership, or service.
PACCP is committed to fostering access, connection, and excellence in Christian counselling. We hope this program enables more members from across Canada to gather in Halifax as we learn, grow, and encourage one another together.
Subsidy Application Deadline: September 24, 2026
Completed subsidy request forms must be submitted by September 24, 2026 to [email protected].
We Look Forward to Welcoming You to Halifax!
Whether you're joining us to learn, reconnect with colleagues, present a workshop, or simply be refreshed alongside fellow Christian counsellors, we look forward to sharing this special time together in beautiful Halifax this October.
Questions?
If you have any questions regarding the
2026 PACCP National Conference, we'd be happy to help.
Candace Maxymowich
PACCP National Conference Director
📧 [email protected]