Our Clinic Directors
Clinic Director, Registered Psychologist
Dr. Iris Torchalla
Dr. Torchalla is a Clinical Psychologist registered with the College of Psychologists of British Columbia. She specializes in the treatment of individuals with trauma-related conditions, including persons with occupational stress injuries and work-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), individuals with complex PTSD resulting from accumulating trauma, and those with trauma and comorbid conditions (e.g., concurrent substance use, suicidality, dissociation, or other mental health concerns).
Originally from Germany, Dr. Torchalla completed a nursing education program and worked as a nurse for several years before studying psychology. She received her Ph.D. and clinical psychology training at the Eberhard Karls University and the University Psychiatric Hospital in Tübingen, Germany. She completed an accredited cognitive-behaviour therapy training program and attended additional professional development workshops in trauma-focused psychotherapies, acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and motivational interviewing. Until 2008, she worked as a clinician and researcher at the Tübingen University Psychiatric Hospital. Over the years, she developed her interest and expertise in studying and treating trauma-related problems, and sought advanced training in various evidence-based psychotherapies for PTSD involving exposure, cognitive and emotional processing, as well as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). After moving to Canada and prior to opening the West Coast Resiliency Centre, she worked at the Vancouver Pain Clinic, where she led a multidisciplinary treatment program for individuals with work-related trauma. She also held research affiliations with the British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health and the Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences (CHÉOS) in Vancouver, and has been working in private practice. Dr. Torchalla has published more than four dozen articles and book chapters on trauma, mental health and addiction. She has presented her research at national and international conferences, has held seminars and lectures on trauma and substance use, and has trained clinicians in evidence-based treatment for PTSD. Dr. Torchalla believes in her clients’ resilience and ability to overcome challenging life conditions, and finds her work as a psychologist meaningful and gratifying. Outside of her work, she loves travelling, hiking, kayaking, camping, and spending time with her family and friends.
Click here to download Dr. Iris Torchalla’s CV.
Clinic director, REgistered occupational therapist
John Killoran
John Killoran holds a Masters degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Medicine. He is a registered Occupational Therapist with the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia (COTBC), a Clinical Instructor at the University of British Columbia’s School of Occupational Therapy, a member of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) and the CAOT Mental Health and Substance Use Network. He has focused his career on treating trauma-related conditions including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), acute stress disorder and adjustment disorder. He also has experience treating other mental health related conditions including mood disorders, substance-use disorders and chronic pain. John has completed additional professional development courses in prolonged exposure through the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety, acceptance and commitment therapy for trauma, motivational interviewing, mindfulness-based intervention, relaxation skills training, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT). In previous years, John has worked as an OT Clinical Advisor in the WorkSafeBC Mental Health Claims Unit and helped to establish the role of Occupational Therapists in mental health within WorkSafeBC. He has also worked within a multidisciplinary PTSD treatment program and the mental health program at OrionHealth to provide treatment for individuals with work-related mental health conditions. John strongly believes in evidence based, individualized treatment which assists clients to restore their function and lives. In his time away from work, he enjoys hiking, camping, kayaking and spending time with friends and family.