Qualifications and Areas of Practice

Inviting change is the hardest yet most important part of this journey you are on. With over 25 years of coaching experience, Alyson thrives on supporting clients to work and more effectively thrive through their specific challenges and stressors to achieve the goals they’ve set for themselves.

Alyson is a highly experienced Life and Wellness Educator/Coach and Certified Yoga Therapist who has been able to effectively bring focus and vitality to the work she does with individuals, couples, parents and groups. For over 25 years, Alyson has continued to combine her extensive training, expertise and practice to guide people on program building increased confidence and mastery over their lives.

Alyson works with adults and specializes in behavioral techniques as well as a variety of Mindfulness-Based Models, including:

• Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
• Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
• Mindfulness-Based Eating (MB-Eat)
• Mindfulness-Based Parenting (MB-Parenting)
• Yoga Therapy (combining mindful movement and MBCT)

Alyson has developed the expertise over her long coaching career utilizing these evidence-based models to help both individuals and groups learn techniques that can effectively alter their thoughts and behavioral patterns. She understands that people become stuck within their own “mind traps”, internal critical voices and repeated daily routines. Alyson coaches each client to take positive steps to shift the way they think about their past and guide them towards the future goals they’ve always dreamt of. Alyson guides clients through the blocks that most clients have when learning the practice of mindfulness breathing, grounding techniques and focus exercises on their path to becoming less anxious and more able to remain in the present.

Alyson has witnessed the amazing transformation in clients’ lives even over an 8-week period, as they gain greater life balance and decreased worry, anxiety and distress. In order to ensure success for positive change, she assigns homework/home practice at the end individual or group session.

Alyson fully understands the joys and the challenges of parenting since she’s a mom who has raised two children to adulthood. She offers guidance and parenting techniques for parents who need support as they feels confident that these lived experiences strengthen her coaching skills with the individuals with whom she coaches and groups she leads.

Communities:

• Adults going through a separation or divorce process
• Parent(s) challenged by life stage transitions, crises
• Parents with young children
• Individuals from a variety of religious backgrounds
• Traditional couples
• LBGTQ+ individuals and couples
• Vegetarian and Vegan allied

Alyson is also highly experienced in providing life and wellness coaching to individuals, couples, parents and groups who experience a variety of challenges including:

• Anger and Stress Management
• Body Image Issues
• Career Coaching
• Child and Adolescent Support
• Chronic Illness and Pain Management
• Depression
• Disordered Eating
• Family Conflict
• Grief and Bereavement
• Job loss
• Life Transitions
• Mind Racing
• Parenting
• Peer Relationships
• Relationship Issues
• School Issues
• Self Esteem
• Sleep or Insomnia
• Weight Concerns
• Women’s Issues

Academic Background

Alyson earned both her Masters of Social Work from University of Toronto and Bachelors of Social Work from York University, where she is a Registered Therapist. Alyson also earned her Bachelors of Arts in Psychology. In addition to these degrees, Alyson earned her diploma where she specializes in working with Assaulted Women and Children. Alyson is a Certified Yoga Teacher/Therapist (CYT) as well as a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist (CHyp). Alyson now integrates all her training and experience in her International Life and Wellness Coaching practice.

Theoretical Orientation

Life is a delicate balancing act – sometimes we need a little guidance and support to maintain it. Alyson understands that so many folx feel they are alone in achieving a sustainable work/life/love balance. Alyson completely honors the uniqueness of each client and hence curates an individualized program to encourage growth, increased empowerment and sustained resilience within their coaching program.

Alyson embraces positive change through evidence-based practices, including:

• Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
• Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
• Mindfulness-Based Eating
• Mindfulness-Based Parenting
• Mindful Yoga Therapy
• Clinical Hypnotherapy

“Sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up.” -Brene Brown

Other Professional Training

• Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Advanced professional trainings with pioneering masters in MBSR & MBCT MB-Eat, MB-Parenting:
• Jon Kabat Zinn
• Zindel Segal
• Thich Nhat Hanh
• Certified Yoga Teacher (CYT): Alyson has created an integrative Yoga therapy group and individual model utilizing evidence-based practices of yoga, pranayama, MBSR and Mindful Movement.
• Certified in Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for children/teens, adults and groups (supervised practice over 4 years)
• Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist (CHyp) with individuals of all ages
• Has also had extensive experience coaching individuals, children/teens, families, and groups
• Extensive training and experience with evidence-based practice of Mindful Eating 
• Coordinated large group programs for women and children exposed to domestic violence