Haley Syrja-McNally
Summary
Dedicated Registered Social Worker with 9 years of experience assessing and treating clients experiencing various emotional, mental and behavioral disorders and/or wellness concerns. Strong experience working in adult and pediatric inpatient, outpatient and community services. Successful at accurate assessment and working closely with high-risk patients. Adept at consultations for new patients and maintaining relationships with existing ones.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Clinical Counsellor
Northumberland Community Counselling Centre
01.2015 - 01.2016
- Provided clinical counselling, with focus on serving children who have experienced abuse/ were witness to domestic violence; survivors of gender-based violence; and male survivors of sexual abuse.
Psychotherapist
TELUS Health Virtual Care
03.2023 - Current
- Providing classic psychotherapy services virtually with TELUS Health for adults and pediatrics (10 and up and family coaching) for the full spectrum of biopsychosocial concerns.
- This role uses a range of therapeutic approaches for each client, typically including CBT, DBT, ERP, trauma-informed principals, addictions support, anger management and bereavement principals, to address client goals.
- Established a safe and supportive environment for clients, fostering open communication and trust during therapy sessions.
- Evaluated client progress regularly, adjusting treatment plans as necessary based on changing needs or circumstances.
- Provided crisis intervention services when needed, effectively addressing acute emotional distress and preventing harm to self or others.
- Collaborated with healthcare professionals in coordinating care for clients with co-occurring mental health and physical health concerns, ensuring a holistic approach to treatment.
Medical Social Worker
Scarborough Health Network
01.2015 - 03.2023
- Unit Social Worker for the Child/Adolescent Inpatient Mental Health Unit, in the context of acute care for issues of severe mental illness and crisis stabilization.
- Lead worker for acute concerns relating to child welfare concerns, domestic violence issues, sexual violence concerns, legal involvement, and housing breakdown.
- Improved client well-being by conducting comprehensive biopsychosocial and psychiatric crisis assessments and developing tailored intervention plans.
- Implemented evidence-based therapeutic interventions for clients struggling with mental health challenges or behavioral concerns.
- De-escalated stressful situations through individual and family crisis interventions.
- Educated clients and caregivers on available community resources, connecting them with essential services such as housing assistance, financial aid, or healthcare providers.
- Organized and conducted community tables for complex service issues.
Crisis Worker
Scarborough Health Network (formerly Rouge Valley Health System) (Cross-Site); Markham-Stouffville Hospital
03.2015 - 01.2016
- Performed psychiatric crisis assessments to provide support for patients in the Emergency Department and other units within the hospital.
- Strong ability to triage areas of concern and acuity to prioritize timeliness.
- Improved client well-being by conducting comprehensive assessments and developing tailored intervention plans.
- Excellent discharge planning and program navigation to hospital and community resources.
Mobile Crisis Intervention Worker
Canadian Mental Health Association- Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge
09.2014 - 08.2015
Seasonal Intake Worker
Durham Children's Aid Society
05.2012 - 08.2012
Program Social Worker, Adolescent Day Hospital
Scarborough Health Network
- Intensive outpatient program for adolescents experiencing moderate-severe mental illness in a short-term, high acuity program.
- Excellent client documentation for accurate, compliant and current records.
- Facilitated individual and group counselling in a developmentally-appropriate manner for each student in attendance.
- Participated in interdisciplinary team meetings to coordinate care for clients.
- Collaborated with schools to address students' social-emotional needs, working closely with teachers and administrators to create supportive learning environments through school transition meetings, IEP contributions and accommodation recommendations.
- Enhanced community outreach efforts for better service accessibility and increased program enrollment with regular board meetings and central intake meetings with the TDSB.
Registered Social Worker, Shoniker Clinic
Scarborough Health Network
- Outpatient intake and therapy services for children/adolescents with moderate-severe mental health issues.
- Individual treatment planning, and support for intakes.
- Provided short- and longer-term psychotherapy services. depending on presenting concerns.
- Assisted clients in developing and setting realistic goals to promote positive change.
- Extensive family support and conflict management.
- Provided emergency intervention to clients in crisis.
- Ran structured CBT-based group therapy programming.
Residential Worker
Community Living Toronto
06.2010 - 08.2010
Education
Master of Social Work -
York University
Toronto, Ontario06.2014
Bachelor of Social Work (with Honors) -
Toronto Metropolitan University
Toronto, Ontario04.2013
Skills
- Psychiatric Crisis Assessments
- Trauma-Informed Care
- Individual Therapy
Psychotherapist for Adults and Pediatrics
Acute Healthcare Social Worker for Emergency Department and Inpatient Units
- Group Therapy
- Treatment Planning
- Service Navigation
- Discharge Planning and Community Reintegration
- Client-Centered and Integrated Healthcare Model
Other
Registered with OCSWSSW in good standing
Professional Development
- Introduction to Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy, 2024 (current), Numinus Training
- Exposure and Response Preventions for Children and Adolescents, 2023, The Knowledge Tree Training Centre
- Trauma-Informed Practice, 2023, The Association for Psychological Therapies
- Exposure and Response Prevention Essentials, 2023, The Center for OCD and Anxiety
- CBT-Level 1, 2021, Beck Institute
- Bi-yearly/Yearly Trainings within Scarborough Health Network, 2015-2023, Scarborough Health Network
- Archer First Aid/CPR, 11/2014, CMHA-HKPR
- Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (NVCI) Training, 11/2014, Crisis Prevention Institute
- Applied Suicide Intervention Skills (ASIST) Training, 10/2014, LivingWorks
- Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies Trainings, 10/2012-02/2013, Toronto, Ontario
- Prideline Training (LGBTQ + Training), 01/2012, Distress Centre Durham
- Dementia Training, 11/2011, Alzheimer's Society of Durham
- Basic Training: Helpline, including Crisis Assessment Training, 09/2011, Distress Centre Durham
- Basic Non-Violent De-escalation Training, 06/2010, Community Living Toronto
Publications
Expanding the Circle: A Paradigm Shift for Organizations Serving Gender Creative Children in Supporting Transgender and Gender Creative Youth: Schools, Families and Communities in Action (Eds. Meyer, E. and Pullen-Sansfacon, A., 2018 [2014 publications and revised and republished]), Co-authored with Out and Proud, Community Development program of the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto
Timeline
Psychotherapist
TELUS Health Virtual Care
03.2023 - Current
Crisis Worker
Scarborough Health Network (formerly Rouge Valley Health System) (Cross-Site); Markham-Stouffville Hospital
03.2015 - 01.2016
Clinical Counsellor
Northumberland Community Counselling Centre
01.2015 - 01.2016
Medical Social Worker
Scarborough Health Network
01.2015 - 03.2023
Mobile Crisis Intervention Worker
Canadian Mental Health Association- Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge
09.2014 - 08.2015
Seasonal Intake Worker
Durham Children's Aid Society
05.2012 - 08.2012
Residential Worker
Community Living Toronto
06.2010 - 08.2010
Program Social Worker, Adolescent Day Hospital
Scarborough Health Network
Registered Social Worker, Shoniker Clinic
Scarborough Health Network
Master of Social Work -
York University
Bachelor of Social Work (with Honors) -
Toronto Metropolitan University
Similar Profiles
Leah CobierskiLeah Cobierski
Advanced Foot Care Nurse at Community Health Centers NorthumberlandAdvanced Foot Care Nurse at Community Health Centers Northumberland
Bobby-Jo PrestonBobby-Jo Preston
Manager of Transportation at Community Care NorthumberlandManager of Transportation at Community Care Northumberland
Fariha HassanFariha Hassan
Counsellor/Therapist at Counselling Family CentreCounsellor/Therapist at Counselling Family Centre