Iris Torchalla

Experience

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  Center for Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery, Oncology unit

  Aug 1991 - Dec 1993

  Nurse

  Oncology nursing

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  Municipal General Hospital, Department for Internal Medicine

  Jan 1994 - Sept 1995

  Nurse

  Nursing, internal medicine

• 

  Drug Rehabilitation Clinic Tuebingen/Reutlingen

  Apr 1999 - Sept 1999

  Intern, Psychology
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  Tuebingen University Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

  Apr 2002 - Jul 2008

  I was involved in the design and implementation of smoking cessation intervention trials, provided counselling and treatment for dependent smokers, taught training seminars for health professionals, and presented at several workshops and conferences. In my dissertation, I explored smoker subgroups who were at differential risk for postintervention relapse. In a subsequent project, I was involved in the development of a smoking cessation therapy manual tailored to meet the needs of these at-risk groups, which was evaluated in a randomized controlled trial. Show less

  • Clinician Scientist and Postdoctoral Fellow

    Feb 2007 - Jul 2008

  • Intern, Clinical Psychology

    Apr 2007 - Sept 2007

  • Intern, Clinical Psychology

    Oct 2006 - Mar 2007

  • Clinician Scientist and PhD Student

    Apr 2002 - Jan 2007
• 

  Outpatient Clinic of the Tuebingen Academy for Behaviour Therapy

  Nov 2003 - Aug 2008

  Clinical Psychologist Trainee

  Providing individual psychotherapy sessions under supervision

• 

  British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health

  Sept 2008 - Aug 2010

  Postdoctoral Research Fellow

  I studied women's mental health, tobacco dependence, and the intersections of trauma experiences, substance use, mental health, and gender.

• 

  ITAG Investigating Tobacco and Gender, University of British Columbia

  Sept 2009 - Aug 2013

  Postdoctoral Research Fellow

  Examining sex and gender related factors that affect smoking motivation, tobacco dependence, and cessation.

• 

  Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences

  Jul 2010 - now

  My research with CHÉOS focuses on trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder. My activities at CHÉOS involved the investigation of trauma, mental health, and substance use among vulnerable urban populations, including homeless people and individuals with concurrent disorders. My research program aimed at developing and improving interventions for individuals with concurrent disorders.

  • Scientist

    Jul 2010 - now

  • Postdoctoral Researcher

    Jul 2010 - May 2014
• 

  North Shore Stress & Anxiety Clinic

  Jun 2013 - now

  Clinical Psychologist

  Providing assessment and treatment (cognitive-behavioural therapy) for individuals who struggle with traumatic experiences, stress and grief, anxiety, mood issues and other emotional problems.

• 

  OrionHealth Rehabilitation & Assessment Centres

  Nov 2013 - May 2018

  My activities as a psychologist with the Resilience over Psychological Trauma (RoPT) Program included the assessment and treatment of individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder. The treatment involved a trauma-focused, exposure-based cognitive-behavioural intervention. I was also the practice lead for the RoPT program and responsible for staff training and supervision and program development.

  • Practice Lead - Resilience over Psychological Trauma (RoPT) program

    Sept 2017 - May 2018

  • Psychologist

    Nov 2013 - May 2018
• 

  West Coast Resiliency Centre

  Mar 2019 - now

  Director

  I provide assessment and treatment for individuals suffering from trauma- and stress-related mental health conditions. Clients work directly with a team of a psychologist and an occupational therapist to receive comprehensive treatment through individualized outpatient programs.