Director
Joddie Walker, MSc
the story
About me
I am a Registered Psychotherapist, who has been in private practice for 9 years. I recently have opened my own clinic, Hummingbird Therapy Clinic, to allow for the specialized treatment of first responders and their family members. I have always respected those on the front line and have sought to honour the work of first responders through my volunteerism and dedicated full-time work, to those impacted by trauma exposure.
Overview And Experience
Honored to be part of Badge of Life Canada
I hold a Masters of Science in Forensic Psychology and I am a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. I hold various certifications such as a Certified Trauma Specialist from the National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children, Diplomate status with the American Academy of Traumatic Stress, a National (USA) Credentialed Advanced Advocate and, a Certified First Responder Counselor. I have 30 years of experience with victims of domestic violence, child sexual abuse, sexual assault, adult survivors of child abuse, families of homicide. This work has allowed me to understand the unique stressors of first responder’s work. Nine of these thirty years has been providing treatment to first responders themselves.
My philosophy of treatment is the use of evidence-based and trauma-informed practices in a strength-based, multi-disciplinary approach. With vast experience working in the criminal justice system, I understand the secondary victimization that compounds the primary trauma and thus integrates a multi-system approach to her work to minimize such. Helping clients become empowered in their own healing, I am trained in TF-CBT, Eye Movement
Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), and Structured Intervention Trauma-Child and Adolescent (SIT-CAP). I specialize in trauma treatment, grief and loss, stress and anxiety issues for children, adolescents, and their parents. I have provided consultation and interventions for York Region’s Public Health Unit, Peer Support Group since 2014 and have conducted critical incident group debriefings for hundreds of front-line public health nurses and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.
I have had the privilege to volunteer on two CISM teams: York Region CISM and again in the USA. I have helped in varying capacities during 9/11, to civilians in the South Tower and to NYPD. Having seen the power and influence of peer support in the healing journey, I integrate such within my practice. I am belovedly considered the ‘rose between two thorns’ with Syd Gravel and Brad McKay as one of the mental health consultants for Peer and Trauma Support Services, Mood Disorders Society of Canada. I have conducted many of these joint trainings since 2014. In 2019, I traveled to the UK to co-facilitate this training for an incredible organization, Oscar Kilo. Oscar Kilo is dedicated to initiates that support law enforcement’s mental health.
Other trainings I conduct throughout the USA and Canada, include topics such as line of duty death, victimology issues, sexual offenders, secondary traumatic stress and multi-disciplinary team approach to child abuse response and treatment. During the pandemic, I continued to support the mental health of first responders and also developed a specialized training, Behind The Mask, Supporting our Mental Health (police, fire, corrections editions). I also authored, Poppy and the Pandemic, A child’s journey with covid related grief and anxiety.
My most valued possession in my office is a sign that says, Behind the Badge is a Beating Heart.
