PLEASE NOTE THAT MELISSA IS NOT ACCEPTING ANY NEW CLIENTS FOR 2023; IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED TO HER WAITLIST FOR 2024, PLEASE EMAIL OR CALL OUR OFFICE.
Melissa Aguto is an experienced mental health clinician, and Registered Occupational Therapist with the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario (COTO). She received her Honours Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology at Western University in 2006, and completed her Master of Science (Occupational Therapy) at McMaster University in 2008.
Melissa has worked in a variety of settings, including hospitals, private clinics, and universities. Recently, Melissa worked in the Specialized Mental Health department at Grand River Hospital’s Freeport campus, working with adults and seniors who have severe and persistent mental illnesses. Prior to that, Melissa was an accessibility consultant at Wilfrid Laurier University, helping students with disabilities access their courses through accommodation plans.
Currently, Melissa works in Child & Adolescent Outpatient Psychiatry at Grand River Hospital’s KW campus. Melissa helps young folks leaving the emergency department get connected to resources; does short-term counselling for youth transitioning between hospital and home; and consults with a multidisciplinary team on the complex cases that come through Outpatient Psychiatry.
Melissa provides a safe, inclusive space for diverse clientele, and is passionate about supporting people in their individual therapeutic journeys. She assists people through crisis situations and empowers them to discover and participate in meaningful daily activities.
Client populations seen: children, adolescents, and adults.
Areas of focus: anxiety, depression/anhedonia, ADHD, and sensory sensitivities.
PLEASE NOTE THAT MELISSA IS NOT ACCEPTING ANY NEW CLIENTS FOR 2023; IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED...
Read More
Andrew Beaver is a Registered Psychotherapist (RP) with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). Andrew’s education includes a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University.
Over the course of Andrew’s ten years working in the mental health field, he developed a passion for working with children, youth and young adults to recognize their own strengths and values and to reach their potential. This dedication developed into his specialization: supporting neurodivergent children (ages 9+), youth and adults and their families. With a deep understanding of difficulties faced by neurodivergent individuals, Andrew understands the importance of building onto a client’s existing strengths, providing new education and skills and working with parents, caregivers and/or other professionals to ensure that clients have the support they need to thrive. In addition to working with neurodivergent individuals, Andrew works with individuals struggling with self-regulation, anxiety, depression, and social/relationship issues. He also has a special interest in men’s issues.
Through a collaborative and process-oriented approach, Andrew offers a safe and non-judgemental space for clients to express themselves authentically, to feel understood and explore their thoughts, emotions, and experiences. He integrates evidence-based modalities such as ACT, DBT and CBT to help clients to understand themselves, develop confidence and psychological flexibility, improve emotional regulation and enhance social functioning.
Navigating challenges, including those related to neurodivergence or mental health issues, can be daunting. We don’t have to face them alone. Andrew’s focus is on empowering clients to harness their existing strengths and values, supporting them towards meaningful personal growth and creating a path towards a fulfilling life that’s aligned with what matters most to them.
Andrew Beaver is a Registered Psychotherapist (RP) with the College of Registered Psychotherapist...
Read More
Katie George is a skilled clinician with nearly 20 years of experience as an Occupational Therapist. Having graduated with an Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences and a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from Western University, she began her career working in an Augmentative Communication Clinic, supporting children, youth and adults with diverse physical abilities with their writing needs.
Katie later transitioned to a role at KidsAbility, supporting young children and their families, helping children realize their potential. Specialized training in Writing Skills, Sensory Processing, PECS, Autism, Therapeutic Listening, Solution-Focused Coaching and Neuro-Developmental Treatment are just a few areas that Katie has pursued.
Working with clients and their families to establish goals that are meaningful to them is at the heart of the work she does. Utilizing a family and client-centered approach, supports addressed include picky eating; self-care skill development; self-regulation; attention; social skills; executive functioning and school-readiness skills.
Katie looks forward to welcoming school-age and teen clients to her practice to address their goals in a collaborative, client-centered manner.
Katie George is a skilled clinician with nearly 20 years of experience as an Occupational Therapi...
Read More
Lori Hill is passionate about her role as an Occupational Therapist. As a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier and Western University, she began her career in a home care setting, followed by 26 years at KidsAbility in both the Early Years and School Years programs. At KidsAbility, Lori focused on the occupations (or daily activities) clients established as goals for themselves. She enjoyed this position, as well as mentoring new staff.
Lori has experience in numerous areas of occupations/daily living within a diverse population of abilities in clients 18 years of age and younger. Specific areas of daily living skills have included eating, dressing, toileting, hygiene, as well as fine motor skills, play, attention to tasks, transitions, and self-regulation. She utilizes a sensory processing framework to empower children and teens to increase independence in desired tasks.
Lori’s focus of attention is on the client’s and family’s goals and working together to create a joint therapy plan in order to move forward. She is very knowledgeable using a variety of strategies as well as community resources to assist in achieving her client’s goals.
She looks forward to working with you and your family.
Lori Hill is passionate about her role as an Occupational Therapist. As a graduate of Wilfrid Lau...
Read More
Di-Anne Martin is a Registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OASWSSW) and a member of the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW). She holds a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Renison University College as well as a Master of Social Work degree, with honours, from Wilfrid Laurier University.
Di-Anne describes herself as a natural born helper and someone who is passionate about supporting and empowering others. Prior to starting her career in social work, she devoted her time to being a full-time foster parent and adoptive parent to five children with special needs. She brings forth a wealth of experience providing collaborative, strength-based and client-focused care to individuals, groups, couples, and families who are struggling with various issues impacting their social, emotional, and mental well-being.
Although Di-Anne’s specialty is supporting neurodiverse individuals and those struggling with anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation and self-harm, she also provides support with parenting and relationship issues, eating disorders, self-esteem, conflict resolution and gender affirming care. She has an eclectic, evidence-based and trauma-informed approach to treatment, utilizing a variety of modalities including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy and more. She also has a specific interest in working with couples.
Di-Anne believes we are all experts of our own lives and that each of us has the ability within to overcome our challenges. She is passionate about helping empower people to recognize their internal strengths and to build the courage and confidence needed to overcome their challenges. Di-Anne is committed to creating a space where people feel safe to be their authentic self and will provide support and encouragement throughout their therapeutic journey.
Di-Anne Martin is a Registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Socia...
Read More
Karen Onuska is an experienced Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) who is enthusiastic about working with families to support the communications needs of children and adolescents. Karen has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communicative Disorders and a Master of Science, Speech-Language Pathology, both from the University of Western Ontario.
Karen began her career over 30 years ago working within the Ontario school system supporting children experiencing speech and language difficulties. She then shifted to working with preschool children and their families at KidsAbility over 25 years ago. She has provided support to children with a variety of communication needs. More recently she has provided more focused support for: phonology/articulation, motor speech disorders, language delays/disorders, augmentative/alternative communication and social communication skills. As well, Karen has provided services to neurodiverse clients including children with autism spectrum disorder.
Karen has provided parent training programs including: the Hanen Programs “It Takes Two to Talk” and “More than Words”. She has completed PROMPT (PROMPTs for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets) training and participated in the Ontario Provincial research project and subsequent training for providing “Motor Speech Disorder” assessment and therapy.
Karen is passionate about involving families in the therapy process so they have the tools they need to support their child. Her goal of therapy is to create meaningful interactions for the child and to have fun!
At our practice, Karen is focusing on providing services for school-aged (4+) and adolescent clients.
Karen Onuska is an experienced Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) who is enthusiastic about workin...
Read More
Andreea Sindiescu is a registered Occupational Therapist with the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario. She completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of Guelph-Humber, and her Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto. Andreea’s professional experience has predominantly focused on the treatment of pediatric clients and in the creation of practical resources for family caregivers.
In her occupational therapy practice, Andreea welcomes clients of all ages and addresses a diverse range of needs. With pediatric clients, her commitment extends beyond individual therapy, actively collaborating with families to create practical strategies that will actually work. Andreea firmly believes in implementing client-centered principles to ensure the most effective outcomes. Some common goals clients may see Andreea for include self-regulation, sensory support, attention and executive functioning support, fine and gross motor development, social skill improvement, toileting, picky eating, the alleviation of symptoms related to anxiety, fears, and depression, and more.
Andreea Sindiescu is a registered Occupational Therapist with the College of Occupational Therapi...
Read More
Dr. Kathy Smolewska, C.Psych. is a registered Psychologist with the College of Psychologists of Ontario in the areas of Clinical Neuropsychology and Clinical Psychology. She provides a range of psychological, psycho-educational and neuropsychological assessment services to children, adolescents, adults, and seniors in Ontario. She also provides cognitive rehabilitation for adults using the Goal Management Training™ (GMT) program.
Dr. Smolewska obtained her master’s and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology at the University of Waterloo, as well as more focused training in neuropsychology through practica at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. She completed a Canadian Psychological Association (CPA)-accredited Pre-Doctoral Internship in Clinical Neuropsychology at Hamilton Health Sciences. She completed her Supervised Practice at Hamilton Health Sciences, working in the Acquired Brain Injury Program, Integrated Stroke Program, and Pediatric Neuropsychology Service.
Prior to starting her private practice, Dr. Smolewska held a position as a Neuropsychologist in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit at Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) where she was involved in assessment, treatment, and supervision. She was also involved in clinical supervision and consultation in the Neonatal Follow-Up Program at McMaster Children’s Hospital, and provided supervision within the Comprehensive Pediatric Epilepsy Program in the past. In addition, she was the Director of Training of the Neuropsychology Pre-doctoral Residency training program at HHS.
Dr. Smolewska is also a part-time Clinical Adjunct Faculty member with the Centre for Mental Health Research and Treatment at the University of Waterloo. She previously held a part-time Assistant Professor (Adjunct) position in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University.
Client Populations Seen: Children, Adolescents, Adults, and Older Adults.
Dr. Kathy Smolewska, C.Psych. is a registered Psychologist with the College of Psychologists of O...
Read More
Angelina Vaccaro is a Registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OASWSSW). Her education includes a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Social Work from McMaster University, as well as a Master of Social Work from York University. She is currently a doctoral candidate with York University’s School of Social Work, where her PhD thesis utilizes an arts-based, collaborative research approach of digital storytelling to explore and better understand strategies to make society more inclusive for individuals with autism and developmental disabilities.
Angelina is a passionate and dedicated social worker who specializes in working with neurodivergent children, youth and their families with a focus on the autism spectrum and ADHD, as well as those experiencing complex mental health challenges including anxiety disorders, depression, suicide ideation and self harm. Angelina firmly believes in collaborating closely with parents, caregivers, and other professionals involved in a child’s life. By working as a team, she ensures a holistic and comprehensive approach to treatment that maximizes progress. Angelina also works with adults who are neurodivergent.
Angelina’s therapeutic approach integrates evidence-based modalities to ensure the best outcomes for her clients, drawing on gender-affirming and trauma-informed CBT, DBT and EFT. Using these modalities, she collaborates with children, youth and their families to modify their unhelpful thoughts and behaviours, as well as work on improving emotional regulation, build self esteem, work on social and interpersonal skills, and promote healthier patterns of thinking and coping.
With a deep understanding of the challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals and those on the autism spectrum, Angelina adopts a strengths-based approach to therapy with the firm belief that every individual possesses inherent strengths and abilities that can be harnessed to overcome obstacles and achieve personal growth. By recognizing and building upon these strengths, Angelina creates a supportive and empowering therapeutic environment that encourages positive change and fosters resilience.
Angelina’s priority is to create a safe and non-judgmental space where children and young individuals feel heard, understood, and supported. Her ultimate goal is to empower her clients to thrive and lead fulfilling lives where they embrace their identities and flourish in a world that celebrates their individuality.
Angelina Vaccaro is a Registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Soc...
Read More
