Alyson Worrall
BIOGRAPHY
Alyson Worrall moved to Lethbridge from Ontario in 2007. Prior to becoming a registered psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists, she taught high school for many years. She has also taught at the University of Lethbridge in the Faculty of Education and in the graduate counselling programs.
She uses many of the traditional approaches in her practice, such as cognitive-behavioural therapy. She is also an EMDR Certified Therapist, and is trained in Somatic Experiencing, which focuses on the ways in which the body stores the effects of trauma. She also has training in group therapy and is a member of the American Group Psychotherapy Association
WORKSHOPS
Burnout and Butterflies: Dual-Process Model Strategies for COVID-Stressed Counsellors
Speakers: Alyson Worrall and Dawn McBride
As a result of the rise in mental health issues among the general population caused by the pandemic, counsellors have seen a large increase in demand for their services. This, in turn, has led to an increase in counsellor burnout and overwhelm as they try to help clients cope with anxiety and social isolation while they themselves are faced with similar issues caused by the pandemic.
The pandemic created a unique situation where both the counsellor and client come together subjected to similar physiological and emotional stressors. This applied workshop will address ways in which counsellors can decrease their own sense of overwhelm while continuing to assist clients. There is a very large experiential component to this workshop, including creating an origami butterfly.
Key Takeaways
- Describe the dual-process model, as it relates to managing two states of functioning.
- Participate in using expressive arts to name and describe the duality inherent in our counselling rooms – having overlapping experiences with clients in terms of exhaustion and feeling overwhelmed.
- Describe ways to create and debrief a dual processing model using storying, visual images, and other creative strategies.
- Articulate the immense value of integrating the somatic technique of pendulation to promote holding of multiple experiences without triggering activation and to prevent/manage burnout