Alyssa-Ann Wanliss
Thorold
Summary
Permanent Resident of Canada with ten years of experience in supporting children and families affected by trauma and abuse. Served as a psychologist for eight years at the Children’s Authority in Trinidad and Tobago, delivering psychological assessments, therapeutic interventions, and crisis support. Proficient in evidence-based therapies such as CBT, DBT, and EMDR, with a strong focus on case management and legal report writing. Recognized for leadership in training interns and engaging with communities through NGO outreach, currently preparing for registration with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Psychologist
Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago
Port-of-Spain
09.2017 - Current
- Delivered over 3,000 hours of psychological assessments and 700 hours of psychotherapy for children, adolescents, and adults in child protection.
- Conducted forensic interviews and authored psychological reports for court proceedings.
- Developed trauma-informed treatment plans utilizing CBT, DBT, EMDR, and Sandtray Therapy.
- Led crisis interventions and psychological debriefings during acute cases to stabilize families.
- Supervised psychology interns, enhancing clinical skills and professional development.
- Represented Authority as panelist on Cyberbullying and Children’s Mental Health.
- Participated in discussions on Cyberbullying's impact on children, emphasizing prevention strategies.
- Featured in media interviews advocating for children's rights and raising public awareness on mental health.
Family Services Social Worker
National Family Services Division
Port-of-Spain
07.2014 - 07.2017
- Delivered over 1,400 hours of therapeutic counseling for children, adolescents, and families.
- Developed individualized treatment plans to address client needs effectively.
- Facilitated workshops and provided psychoeducation to enhance understanding.
- Conducted home and school visits to ensure continuity of care.
- Prepared comprehensive reports for court proceedings and collaborated with educational institutions.
- Engaged families through consistent communication and support initiatives.
- Implemented strategies that promoted family involvement in treatment processes.
Education
Associate Degree - Christian Ministry
Vision International University
California01.2021
Masters of Science - Counselling Psychology
University of the Southern Caribbean
St. Joseph, Trinidad01.2014
Bachelor of Science - Behavioural Sciences
Andrews University
Michigan, USA01.2010
Skills
- Trauma-informed care
- Child protection
- Clinical assessment
- Treatment planning
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
- Sandtray therapy
- Crisis intervention
- Suicide risk assessment
- Culturally sensitive practices
- Empathy and rapport building
- CPIMS (Child Protection Information Management System)
- Accurate documentation
- Case management
- Child protection compliance
- Psychoeducation
- Group facilitation
- Court report writing
- Legal collaboration
- Multidisciplinary teamwork
- Leadership and supervision
- Training and development
Affiliations
- Trinidad and Tobago Association of Psychologists (TTAP), 2407050-4
- The British Psychological Society (BPS), 570562
- American Psychological Association (APA), C2304552597
Residency
Permanent Resident of Canada
Awards
National Scholarship Recipient from the Ministry of Public Administration, Trinidad and Tobago.
Specialized Clinical Training
- 2025, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Trauma Institute & Child Trauma Institute (TICTI)
- 2025, International Credentialed Sandtray Therapist, International Association of Sandtray Therapy
- 2024, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) practitioner training course, The Academy of Modern Applied Psychology
- 2024, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Certification Training Course, Facilitator- Lane Pederson, PsyD, LP, C-DBT, PESI
Professional Development
- 2018, Youth Mental Health First Aid USA, National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare
- 2018, Treating Sexual Trauma and Treatment of PTSD, Greencross Centre of Traumatology
- 2017, Counter Human Trafficking Training & Training of Trainers
- 2017, Certified Maxwell Leadership, trainer, speaker and coach, Maxwell Leadership team
- 2013, Brief Solution-Focused Counseling, Nancy Carbonell, Ph.D, Licensed Psychologist, Andrews University
- 2013, Play therapy and Sand Tray Therapy, Nancy Carbonell, Ph.D, Licensed Psychologist, Andrews University
Accomplishments
National Scholarship Recipient of Trinidad and Tobago
Certification
2025 Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Trauma Institute & Child Trauma Institute (TICTI)
2025 International Credentialed Sandtray Therapist
International Association of Sandtray Therapy
Languages
English
First Language
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Psychologist
Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago
09.2017 - Current
Family Services Social Worker
National Family Services Division
07.2014 - 07.2017
Associate Degree - Christian Ministry
Vision International University
Masters of Science - Counselling Psychology
University of the Southern Caribbean
Bachelor of Science - Behavioural Sciences
Andrews University
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