2011 Alumni Magazine - Sault College

Child and Youth Worker graduate
takes on tough role
Victims of sexual abuse and assault are
often hesitant to share their personal stories
of anguish, and understandably so. After all,
to do so can lead to a frightful reliving of the
experience, and with admission of it often
comes a tidal wave of emotion that most are
more comfortable keeping in the dark.
When sexual abuse victims do decide
to share their experience, it takes a certain
kind of person to be on the listening end of
such a revealing conversation. Whether help
is sought soon after the crisis, or years after
the fact, opening up is the first part of the
healing process, and one that sexual assault
counsellor Anna Hagerty feels honoured to
be a part of.
“For me the most rewarding part is when
you have been able to support someone
through a process of healing and they identify
that their life has improved,” said Hagerty, a
1991 Sault College Child and Youth Worker
(CYW) graduate and registered social
worker. “I have experienced very powerful
moments in session doing this work, and I
feel honoured that people feel they can trust
me and share very difficult, painful aspects
of their life. In those moments, I believe that
I can make a difference.”
In Sault Ste. Marie, sexual abuse/
assault victims are directed to the Sault
Area Hospital’s Sexual Assault Care Centre
(SACC), where emergency services are
provided and, if necessary, counsellors like
Hagerty are available to speak to.
“People have many misconceptions
about who the clients at our centre may be,”
said Hagerty, whose clients have spanned
in age from three to 80. “Many think that
we are a service for women only. The
counselling component of our program
responds to anyone over the age of three,
right through the life span. While there are
periods of time in life and behaviours that
put a person more at risk, we cannot predict
who will be victimized.”
At the SACC, Hagerty works with as
many as 75 clients a year, of which 25 to 40
per cent are children. And since she spends five hours
each day in session, Hagerty often finds herself drawing
on techniques learned in the child and youth worker’s
counselling course which, coupled with the program’s
required field placements, is what she credits for building
a strong foundation for her career, one that has ranged
from youth worker with Algoma Child & Youth Services,
to Youthope for Schools – a school-based prevention
program – to working with young offenders through
Family Services.
“One aspect of the program that really helped me
prepare for the work world was the field placements,”
said Hagerty, who has also returned to Sault College as
a sessional instructor in the same program. “Each year
the responsibility and expectations at placement help
the student to build on the skills needed. This, combined
with the academics and skills development, allows
students to build competencies in specific course areas,
such as counselling skills, child development, human
sexuality and psychology.”
“I also draw on skills developed in the CYW program
counselling skills course. I believe that my work can
only be successful if I am able to engage individuals in a
counselling process.”
Photo courtesy of Jenn Floyd and Rebecca McIntosh
Self care
For most people, returning home after a stressful day
at work and venting to family or friends is com-mon,
but for those privy to personal, and often traumatic,
information – like Hagerty – sharing is simply not an
option due to confidentiality agreements. It is for this
reason that counsellors at the SACC have committed to
participating in debriefing sessions with co-workers, in
an effort to explore their feelings about the stories they
hear and to minimize
the impact on their
own mental health
and well being.
“Self-care is a
critical part of having
longevity in this
work,” said Hagerty, a
mother of two grown
daughters. “Laughter
“In those moments,
I believe that I can make
a difference.”
is incredibly healing and I am blessed with having a
lot of laughter in my life. I surround myself with good
friends and family. I enjoy celebrating little things. I am
mindful of the blessings that I have in my life.”
In addition to counselling, Hagerty also acts as an
educator on the issue, addressing other professionals
and visiting area high schools to create awareness about
growing trends like drug facilitated sexual assaults
(DFSA). One of Hagerty’s proudest professional
accomplishments to date is participating in the creation
of “The Game,” an interactive educational tool that is
designed to engage high school students in discussing
issues surrounding sexual assault.
“It was especially rewarding because we created the
concept as a team and then we were able to share it with
hundreds of high school students,” said Hagerty. “We
have been able to adapt ‘The Game’ and received funding
to have it professionally designed and then it was made
available to other sexual assault care centres in Ontario.
This achievement is a perfect example of what child and
youth workers are trained to do.”
By Liisa Allen
Anna Hagerty is honoured that
individuals trust her and share difficult
and often painful aspects of their life
18 Sault College Alumni 2011/2012 Sault College Alumni 2011/2012 19