OSR PROGRAM FOUNDER
Dr. Gordon Davidson, R. Psych. June 8, 1952 - March 1, 2018
Dr. Davidson had an extensive background working with trauma. As well as treating hundreds affected by trauma, he conducted critical incident debriefings for over 25 years in many settings. He has trained first-responder groups in peer debriefing processes. He has conducted several hundred psycho-legal PTSD assessments for those involved in workplace traumas, police and military settings, as well for survivors of native residential schools. As a counsellor for members and former members of the military and RCMP, Dr. Davidson developed a sensitivity to the unique challenges and rewards involved in such work.
An innovator, Dr. Davidson introduced mindfulness and yoga methods to the BC Mental Health system in the mid 1970s. He was also an early user of biofeedback methods and has developed strategies using such technology for the treatment of PTSD.
In 2013, he started an outpatient treatment centre for PTSD, conducting individual and group treatment. In 2016, he started a 4-week residential program for those suffering with PTSD, the first of its kind in Canada. The results were very encouraging. As a natural result of this, has developed the Operational Stress Recovery Program, with a specific focus on police and military personnel.
A specialist in workplace stress issues since the 1980s, Dr. Davidson has consulted for provincial and municipal governments, hospitals, First Nations groups, professional partnerships, corporations and NGOs. He also started a consulting practice with labour lawyers to offer workshops on workplace bullying and harassment. He has been quoted extensively in the media on workplace issues, including the Vancouver Sun and Toronto Globe and Mail. Published in the Journal of Family Psychology and the Organizational Development Journal, Dr. Davidson has presented his research at provincial and national conferences and in Europe.
He has taught on trauma related topics for the Okanagan School of Massage and has taught in the Psychology, Social Work and Education departments at Okanagan University College, now UBC Okanagan.
He is called upon to testify in court as an expert witness in areas including parental fitness, custody and access, and trauma.
Dr. Davidson held a BA in Social Work (University of Montana) MA in Applied Behavioural Science (Whitworth) and a doctorate in Counselling Psychology (UBC).
Dr. Gordon Davidson's spirit keeps inspiring all the staff on a daily basis.
Dr. Davidson had an extensive background working with trauma. As well as treating hundreds affected by trauma, he conducted critical incident debriefings for over 25 years in many settings. He has trained first-responder groups in peer debriefing processes. He has conducted several hundred psycho-legal PTSD assessments for those involved in workplace traumas, police and military settings, as well for survivors of native residential schools. As a counsellor for members and former members of the military and RCMP, Dr. Davidson developed a sensitivity to the unique challenges and rewards involved in such work.
An innovator, Dr. Davidson introduced mindfulness and yoga methods to the BC Mental Health system in the mid 1970s. He was also an early user of biofeedback methods and has developed strategies using such technology for the treatment of PTSD.
In 2013, he started an outpatient treatment centre for PTSD, conducting individual and group treatment. In 2016, he started a 4-week residential program for those suffering with PTSD, the first of its kind in Canada. The results were very encouraging. As a natural result of this, has developed the Operational Stress Recovery Program, with a specific focus on police and military personnel.
A specialist in workplace stress issues since the 1980s, Dr. Davidson has consulted for provincial and municipal governments, hospitals, First Nations groups, professional partnerships, corporations and NGOs. He also started a consulting practice with labour lawyers to offer workshops on workplace bullying and harassment. He has been quoted extensively in the media on workplace issues, including the Vancouver Sun and Toronto Globe and Mail. Published in the Journal of Family Psychology and the Organizational Development Journal, Dr. Davidson has presented his research at provincial and national conferences and in Europe.
He has taught on trauma related topics for the Okanagan School of Massage and has taught in the Psychology, Social Work and Education departments at Okanagan University College, now UBC Okanagan.
He is called upon to testify in court as an expert witness in areas including parental fitness, custody and access, and trauma.
Dr. Davidson held a BA in Social Work (University of Montana) MA in Applied Behavioural Science (Whitworth) and a doctorate in Counselling Psychology (UBC).
Dr. Gordon Davidson's spirit keeps inspiring all the staff on a daily basis.
CLINICAL DIRECTOR - LEAD CLINICIAN
Dr. Tina Rochford, RN, BScN, MEd, PhD
Dr Tina Rochford holds a Diploma in Registered Nursing, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Master's Degree in Counselling Psychology and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership with a research focus on attachment. With over thirty years in the field of mental health, she has a wide range of experience as a clinician, educator and administrator. She maintains a private practice in Vernon, working with a broad spectrum of clients. Among her areas of expertise are Trauma Recovery, Anxiety and Depression, Stress Management, Work and Career Issues, Disordered Eating, Addiction Recovery and Parenting Issues. Dr Rochford works with individuals, couples and families. She is the recipient of numerous awards for academic and clinical excellence. She is a preferred provider for WorkSafe BC, ICBC, numerous EFAP programs, in addition to serving as a consultant to the legal system. In terms of trauma, Dr Rochford has conducted hundreds of group and individual critical incident debriefings and defusings. She has extensive experience in working with first responders-fire, police and military. She brings training and expertise in EMDR, Cognitive Processing, Mindfulness and Meditation and HeartMath-strategies which are evidenced-based and effective in addressing trauma. She is also very experienced in working with couples, utilizing approaches from the work of John Gottman and Sue Johnson (EFT). Dr Rochford brings a wealth of experience, sound skills, compassion and humour to the OSR program. She is honoured to be a part of the healing process, along with the other members of the team.
Dr. Tina Rochford, RN, BScN, MEd, PhD
Dr Tina Rochford holds a Diploma in Registered Nursing, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Master's Degree in Counselling Psychology and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership with a research focus on attachment. With over thirty years in the field of mental health, she has a wide range of experience as a clinician, educator and administrator. She maintains a private practice in Vernon, working with a broad spectrum of clients. Among her areas of expertise are Trauma Recovery, Anxiety and Depression, Stress Management, Work and Career Issues, Disordered Eating, Addiction Recovery and Parenting Issues. Dr Rochford works with individuals, couples and families. She is the recipient of numerous awards for academic and clinical excellence. She is a preferred provider for WorkSafe BC, ICBC, numerous EFAP programs, in addition to serving as a consultant to the legal system. In terms of trauma, Dr Rochford has conducted hundreds of group and individual critical incident debriefings and defusings. She has extensive experience in working with first responders-fire, police and military. She brings training and expertise in EMDR, Cognitive Processing, Mindfulness and Meditation and HeartMath-strategies which are evidenced-based and effective in addressing trauma. She is also very experienced in working with couples, utilizing approaches from the work of John Gottman and Sue Johnson (EFT). Dr Rochford brings a wealth of experience, sound skills, compassion and humour to the OSR program. She is honoured to be a part of the healing process, along with the other members of the team.
INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM
Program staff includes psychologists, registered clinical social workers and counsellors, a nurse, consulting psychiatrist and neuropsychologist, equine therapist, and a vocational rehabilitation specialist. The program will also provide training opportunities for students for local universities.
Dr. Gary Lea, R. Psych.
Dr. Lea has been in full time private practice as a clinical psychologist in the City of Kelowna since 1984. He was the first full-time clinical psychologist in Kelowna, incorporated as Okanagan Psychological Services Inc. many years ago. In 1984 he co-founded the Kelowna Professional Group which evolved into the Kelowna Psychologists Group several years ago. He has served as an expert witness on approximately 200 occasions in the Courts of British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. Dr. Lea believes in lifelong education, constantly reviewing materials of potential benefit to his clients, and attending multiple workshops each year.
After 30 + years of practice in a group setting, Dr. Lea now provides services from his home office two days per week, 9 am - 5 pm, primarily to regular and civilian RCMP members and VAC clients, as well as a smaller number of private pay clients. His office is located in the Glenmore area of Kelowna. RCMP and VAC Health Identification Cards are accepted.
Dr. Bill Tomm
Dr. Bill Tomm received his medical degree from the University of Calgary in 1978, interned in New Zealand and returned to the University of Calgary, to complete his Fellowship in Psychiatry in 1983. After coming to BC in 1986, he led the development of the Department of Psychiatry at the Cranbrook Regional Hospital and for a number of years was the Thompson, Okanagan and Kootenays area Psychiatric Program Consultant, for the BC Provincial Mental Health Services. He has been in private practice in Vernon since 2002, and has a long-standing interest in psychotherapy and more recently Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. He has been a psychiatric resource to the Operational Stress Recovery Program since it’s early beginnings in 2014.
Dr. Bill Tomm received his medical degree from the University of Calgary in 1978, interned in New Zealand and returned to the University of Calgary, to complete his Fellowship in Psychiatry in 1983. After coming to BC in 1986, he led the development of the Department of Psychiatry at the Cranbrook Regional Hospital and for a number of years was the Thompson, Okanagan and Kootenays area Psychiatric Program Consultant, for the BC Provincial Mental Health Services. He has been in private practice in Vernon since 2002, and has a long-standing interest in psychotherapy and more recently Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. He has been a psychiatric resource to the Operational Stress Recovery Program since it’s early beginnings in 2014.
Ivan Trofimoff, R. Psych.
Ivan is a registered psychologist in BC, Quebec and Mexico and Formerly registered in New Zealand. He is a member of the Canadian Psychological Society and of the Mexican Association of Sexology.
Ivan has a Masters (M.A.) of Clinical Sexology from the University of Quebec in Montreal, a Master (M.A.) of Clinical Psychology from the Institute of Couples Therapy in Mexico City, and a Bachelor (B.A.) of Clinical Psychology from the Iberoamericana University in Mexico City. He completed postgraduate diplomas in Advanced Methods of Psychotherapy, Symbology and Dreams, Mythology, Ancient and Comparative Religions.
He works with individuals and couples suffering from a variety of difficulties such as PTSD, trauma, anxiety, depression, insomnia, anger, grief/loss, life transitions, retirement, cross-cultural psychology and current or retired members of the Armed Forces, Police Forces and First Responders.
As a Psychologist he uses an array of counselling techniques that he adapts to the particular needs of his clients such as Positive Psychology, Psychodynamic, Systemic, Humanistic, Forensic Psychology, Jungian, Solution Focused and CBT.
As a Sexologist, sex therapist and sex educator he has helped clients with issues such as sexual satisfaction, sexual fears, sexual dysfunctions, desire problems, variations of desire in couples, gender, masculinity, sexual identity, multicultural couples, positive sexuality, sexual abuse and sexual offending.
He has been practicing with clients from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds, including indigenous populations such as First Nations, Inuit, and Maori. He has taught university courses and given various lectures and conferences. He has experience talking in professional, corporate and public forums, has worked in Forensic Psychology since 2004, and in private practice since 1994.
Ivan is a registered psychologist in BC, Quebec and Mexico and Formerly registered in New Zealand. He is a member of the Canadian Psychological Society and of the Mexican Association of Sexology.
Ivan has a Masters (M.A.) of Clinical Sexology from the University of Quebec in Montreal, a Master (M.A.) of Clinical Psychology from the Institute of Couples Therapy in Mexico City, and a Bachelor (B.A.) of Clinical Psychology from the Iberoamericana University in Mexico City. He completed postgraduate diplomas in Advanced Methods of Psychotherapy, Symbology and Dreams, Mythology, Ancient and Comparative Religions.
He works with individuals and couples suffering from a variety of difficulties such as PTSD, trauma, anxiety, depression, insomnia, anger, grief/loss, life transitions, retirement, cross-cultural psychology and current or retired members of the Armed Forces, Police Forces and First Responders.
As a Psychologist he uses an array of counselling techniques that he adapts to the particular needs of his clients such as Positive Psychology, Psychodynamic, Systemic, Humanistic, Forensic Psychology, Jungian, Solution Focused and CBT.
As a Sexologist, sex therapist and sex educator he has helped clients with issues such as sexual satisfaction, sexual fears, sexual dysfunctions, desire problems, variations of desire in couples, gender, masculinity, sexual identity, multicultural couples, positive sexuality, sexual abuse and sexual offending.
He has been practicing with clients from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds, including indigenous populations such as First Nations, Inuit, and Maori. He has taught university courses and given various lectures and conferences. He has experience talking in professional, corporate and public forums, has worked in Forensic Psychology since 2004, and in private practice since 1994.
Adrienne Davidson, Executive Assistant
Adrienne Davidson is an executive assistant at Operational Stress Recovery Program. She serves as the Director’s right-hand to ensure smooth operations while the program is in session, and also works behind the scenes with administrative duties. She is currently in her fourth year of her Business Degree with a specialty in Human Resource Management and in the process of applying to Master’s programs in Social Work so she can continue working for our program in a professional capacity. Adrienne worked as a psychometrician for
Dr. G. Davidson for 5 years in his private practice, working to help individuals who had been injured at work find safe and meaningful employment.
Adrienne is married with a three-year-old son and the family shares time between their Vernon home and their Shuswap cabin. Adrienne spent her life competing and coaching in slalom waterskiing and downhill alpine racing, where she learned the importance of psychology in sport.
Adrienne’s father, Dr. G. Davidson, the founder of the program, was a huge inspiration in her life and being a part of the OSR Program is important to her in honouring his memory and his legacy of giving back. Adrienne’s mother, Dr. Tina Rochford, has taken over his role as Clinical Director and acts as a mentor to Adrienne in the family business.
Adrienne Davidson is an executive assistant at Operational Stress Recovery Program. She serves as the Director’s right-hand to ensure smooth operations while the program is in session, and also works behind the scenes with administrative duties. She is currently in her fourth year of her Business Degree with a specialty in Human Resource Management and in the process of applying to Master’s programs in Social Work so she can continue working for our program in a professional capacity. Adrienne worked as a psychometrician for
Dr. G. Davidson for 5 years in his private practice, working to help individuals who had been injured at work find safe and meaningful employment.
Adrienne is married with a three-year-old son and the family shares time between their Vernon home and their Shuswap cabin. Adrienne spent her life competing and coaching in slalom waterskiing and downhill alpine racing, where she learned the importance of psychology in sport.
Adrienne’s father, Dr. G. Davidson, the founder of the program, was a huge inspiration in her life and being a part of the OSR Program is important to her in honouring his memory and his legacy of giving back. Adrienne’s mother, Dr. Tina Rochford, has taken over his role as Clinical Director and acts as a mentor to Adrienne in the family business.
Liz Rezanson BCYC, MACP, RCC, RSW
Liz holds a Masters of Counselling Psychology Degree, is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors and is also registered with the British Columbia College of Social Workers. Liz has trained in Mind-Body Attunement Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance Commitment Therapy, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy), and Emotion Focused Couples Counseling. Liz has established a successful practice in Vernon Mind Body Counselling and Chronic Pain Therapy, where she specializes in attachment based and somatic therapies for trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression and chronic pain. Liz helps people with deep unhappiness, relationship difficulties, family issues, traumatic experiences, and many other physical and emotional symptoms.
Liz regards her work with the OSR program as a great privilege and appreciates the opportunity to walk alongside her clients in the program, working in partnership with them to support them in their journey.
Liz holds a Masters of Counselling Psychology Degree, is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors and is also registered with the British Columbia College of Social Workers. Liz has trained in Mind-Body Attunement Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance Commitment Therapy, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy), and Emotion Focused Couples Counseling. Liz has established a successful practice in Vernon Mind Body Counselling and Chronic Pain Therapy, where she specializes in attachment based and somatic therapies for trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression and chronic pain. Liz helps people with deep unhappiness, relationship difficulties, family issues, traumatic experiences, and many other physical and emotional symptoms.
Liz regards her work with the OSR program as a great privilege and appreciates the opportunity to walk alongside her clients in the program, working in partnership with them to support them in their journey.
Hilary Davies
Hilary Davies is a HeartMath® Certified Trainer, and is passionate about the work. Trained by the HeartMath Institute based in California, Hilary teaches self-regulation through bio-feedback, working with the breath and sharing the science that is based on over 26 years of research utilizing HeartMath techniques and technologies.
In 2006, after a series of traumatic health issues, Hilary began to focus on retraining, completing her Certified Education Assistant program. She created pilot projects for the school system and began working as a behavioral interventionist, working one on one and as a group facilitator. The work ultimately led her to explore the science of HeartMath.
Through education, studies, a diverse range of clients and her personal experience, Hilary continues to see the power of the brain-body connection. HeartMath reveals our capacity to heal from both physical and mental trauma, and provides the science that demonstrates how different patterns of heart activity accompany different emotional states. Hilary’s passion is to help others who suffer from trauma, depression, anxiety, and PTSD, who may find themselves lost in the bureaucracy of our health care system, ultimately losing hope for a better life. Bio-feedback shows clients, in real time, how their bodies are affected by their environment, thoughts, emotions, and the physical stress of chronic pain.
Working at the Operational Stress Recovery (OSR) clinic in Vernon with Veterans, is an incredible opportunity to see the changes that can be made during such an immersive four-week program. Hilary is always humbled and grateful to be a part of the OSR Program, and continues to educate herself in the therapies of working with trauma.
Hilary volunteers in the mental health department of a non-profit in Kelowna on her days off, fully appreciating the commitment and long hours it takes, from an amazing team, to help create a healthy future for families in need.
“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change”
-Max Planck , Physicist, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1918
Hilary Davies is a HeartMath® Certified Trainer, and is passionate about the work. Trained by the HeartMath Institute based in California, Hilary teaches self-regulation through bio-feedback, working with the breath and sharing the science that is based on over 26 years of research utilizing HeartMath techniques and technologies.
In 2006, after a series of traumatic health issues, Hilary began to focus on retraining, completing her Certified Education Assistant program. She created pilot projects for the school system and began working as a behavioral interventionist, working one on one and as a group facilitator. The work ultimately led her to explore the science of HeartMath.
Through education, studies, a diverse range of clients and her personal experience, Hilary continues to see the power of the brain-body connection. HeartMath reveals our capacity to heal from both physical and mental trauma, and provides the science that demonstrates how different patterns of heart activity accompany different emotional states. Hilary’s passion is to help others who suffer from trauma, depression, anxiety, and PTSD, who may find themselves lost in the bureaucracy of our health care system, ultimately losing hope for a better life. Bio-feedback shows clients, in real time, how their bodies are affected by their environment, thoughts, emotions, and the physical stress of chronic pain.
Working at the Operational Stress Recovery (OSR) clinic in Vernon with Veterans, is an incredible opportunity to see the changes that can be made during such an immersive four-week program. Hilary is always humbled and grateful to be a part of the OSR Program, and continues to educate herself in the therapies of working with trauma.
Hilary volunteers in the mental health department of a non-profit in Kelowna on her days off, fully appreciating the commitment and long hours it takes, from an amazing team, to help create a healthy future for families in need.
“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change”
-Max Planck , Physicist, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1918
Jodi Krahn MCC
Jodi Krahn holds a Masters of Counselling Degree, and is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the British Columbia Counselling Association as well as a trauma sensitive yoga teacher. Jodi is also trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy, TIR (Trauma Incident Reduction), EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), Emotionally Focused Couples Counselling, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Somatic Psychotherapy.
Jodi has worked in several non-profit family counselling agencies, a treatment center for eating disorders, and has run a private practice in both Armstrong and Vernon BC for the last 9 years. Jodi also volunteers with the DPS (Disaster Pyscho-Social Services) in British Columbia where she supports individuals, communities and first-responders in coping with various natural disasters.
Jodi works from an attached based, mind/body connection, emotionally focused lens as she works with individuals, couples, families and groups including the adolescent population. She loves to use her creativity in her approach in order to meet the client(s) exactly where they are at. Having recovered her own childhood trauma and a significant eating disorder, Jodi understands post-traumatic resilience first hand and brings this sensitivity to the therapeutic process.
Jodi Krahn holds a Masters of Counselling Degree, and is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the British Columbia Counselling Association as well as a trauma sensitive yoga teacher. Jodi is also trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy, TIR (Trauma Incident Reduction), EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), Emotionally Focused Couples Counselling, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Somatic Psychotherapy.
Jodi has worked in several non-profit family counselling agencies, a treatment center for eating disorders, and has run a private practice in both Armstrong and Vernon BC for the last 9 years. Jodi also volunteers with the DPS (Disaster Pyscho-Social Services) in British Columbia where she supports individuals, communities and first-responders in coping with various natural disasters.
Jodi works from an attached based, mind/body connection, emotionally focused lens as she works with individuals, couples, families and groups including the adolescent population. She loves to use her creativity in her approach in order to meet the client(s) exactly where they are at. Having recovered her own childhood trauma and a significant eating disorder, Jodi understands post-traumatic resilience first hand and brings this sensitivity to the therapeutic process.
MEN'S PROGRAMS (includes above staff)
Mr. Dirk J. Terpstracoherencehotspot.com/
Dirk is an internationally recognized Intuitive Speaker, Coach and HeartMath® Certified Trainer. Through his work, Dirk has helped many individuals and organizations. He is also the founder of Coherence Hotspot, and former CEO with a Fortune 500 Company.
As a HeartMath® Certified Trainer, Dirk works with individuals and organizations throughout Canada and teaches the science based Resilience Advantage Training Program. This program helps to strengthen stress resilience and promotes optimal well-being, and enables us to live healthier, more productive and more fulfilling lives while building a brighter future.
Since 1991, the Institute of HeartMath® has been conducting scientific research into the effects of the electromagnetic heart field on the brain and body. Their research has found that a ‘coherent’ heart rhythm has many benefits for the body and mind, including more energy, ease, ability to think more clearly, and increased communication skills.
As the Veterans Administration (VA) expands the number and scope of specialized mental health programs to improve veterans’ access to care and services and treatment outcomes, innovative and promising interventions such as HeartMath’s heart-rate-variability coherence biofeedback (HRVCB) training can prove highly beneficial in ameliorating PTSD.
HRVCB training can be a significant addition to existing PTSD treatments: It can deliver benefits to veterans effectively, safely and perhaps most important, quickly. HRVCB has provided immediate relief in many cases. Heart-rate-variability coherence biofeedback (HRVCB), which has been used successfully in a variety of other clinical settings involving stress and anxiety, provides tools to achieve autonomic balancing, emotional restructuring and psychophysiological coherence.
More info: DirkTerpstra.com/heartmath
Mr. Chris B. Rush, BA, MA, Registered Clinical Counsellor
After spending a decade as a police officer, Chris entered university in 1975 as a mature student, where he combined the knowledge and skills acquired from the harsh realities of police work with degrees from the University of Manitoba in education and counselling psychology. As a a school counsellor he specialized in dealing with youth who had been exposed to trauma. He has taught at the university level and also operated a private family counselling practice. Chris has extensive training in alcohol and drug prevention, child abuse prevention programs and family therapy. He has completed several years of research on self-esteem and resiliency building and has developed practical programs for use with children, teens and adults.
Mr. Rush established the Resiliency Institute Corporation and Developing Capable People (Canada). He is the author of the widely used Developing Capable People program (Canadian Edition). Chris has provided keynote addresses on resilience in Canada, the USA, Europe and Asia. He is the founding president of the Canadian Council for Self-Esteem and has served as a board member on the International Council for Self-Esteem. He has acted as a consultant to Health Canada, public and private education systems, drug and alcohol prevention agencies, community organizations, First Nations communities and professional groups and businesses.
Chris is a Registered Clinical Counsellor, Certified EQ-i (Emotional Intelligence) coach and holds a Master's Degree from San Diego State University.
Mr. Rush brings his valuable background as a police officer, counsellor, and resilience trainer to the operational stress program.
Mr. Dirk J. Terpstracoherencehotspot.com/
Dirk is an internationally recognized Intuitive Speaker, Coach and HeartMath® Certified Trainer. Through his work, Dirk has helped many individuals and organizations. He is also the founder of Coherence Hotspot, and former CEO with a Fortune 500 Company.
As a HeartMath® Certified Trainer, Dirk works with individuals and organizations throughout Canada and teaches the science based Resilience Advantage Training Program. This program helps to strengthen stress resilience and promotes optimal well-being, and enables us to live healthier, more productive and more fulfilling lives while building a brighter future.
Since 1991, the Institute of HeartMath® has been conducting scientific research into the effects of the electromagnetic heart field on the brain and body. Their research has found that a ‘coherent’ heart rhythm has many benefits for the body and mind, including more energy, ease, ability to think more clearly, and increased communication skills.
As the Veterans Administration (VA) expands the number and scope of specialized mental health programs to improve veterans’ access to care and services and treatment outcomes, innovative and promising interventions such as HeartMath’s heart-rate-variability coherence biofeedback (HRVCB) training can prove highly beneficial in ameliorating PTSD.
HRVCB training can be a significant addition to existing PTSD treatments: It can deliver benefits to veterans effectively, safely and perhaps most important, quickly. HRVCB has provided immediate relief in many cases. Heart-rate-variability coherence biofeedback (HRVCB), which has been used successfully in a variety of other clinical settings involving stress and anxiety, provides tools to achieve autonomic balancing, emotional restructuring and psychophysiological coherence.
More info: DirkTerpstra.com/heartmath
Mr. Chris B. Rush, BA, MA, Registered Clinical Counsellor
After spending a decade as a police officer, Chris entered university in 1975 as a mature student, where he combined the knowledge and skills acquired from the harsh realities of police work with degrees from the University of Manitoba in education and counselling psychology. As a a school counsellor he specialized in dealing with youth who had been exposed to trauma. He has taught at the university level and also operated a private family counselling practice. Chris has extensive training in alcohol and drug prevention, child abuse prevention programs and family therapy. He has completed several years of research on self-esteem and resiliency building and has developed practical programs for use with children, teens and adults.
Mr. Rush established the Resiliency Institute Corporation and Developing Capable People (Canada). He is the author of the widely used Developing Capable People program (Canadian Edition). Chris has provided keynote addresses on resilience in Canada, the USA, Europe and Asia. He is the founding president of the Canadian Council for Self-Esteem and has served as a board member on the International Council for Self-Esteem. He has acted as a consultant to Health Canada, public and private education systems, drug and alcohol prevention agencies, community organizations, First Nations communities and professional groups and businesses.
Chris is a Registered Clinical Counsellor, Certified EQ-i (Emotional Intelligence) coach and holds a Master's Degree from San Diego State University.
Mr. Rush brings his valuable background as a police officer, counsellor, and resilience trainer to the operational stress program.