Melisa is a dedicated registered Social Worker with over 8 years of invaluable experience specializing in supporting children and families in various community mental health settings. With the application of a trauma-informed lens, Melisa adopts a strengths-based and client-centered approach to empower individuals and families on their journey towards healing and growth. Melisa supports children and adolescents who are coping with various mental health experiences such as anxiety, depression, self-esteem and peer-related challenges.
Melisa is currently completing her certification in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C), bringing understanding and compassionate care to the perinatal population, drawing from her own lived experiences. Her commitment to providing holistic support extends to integrating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques and Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) tailored to the unique needs of each client.
Melisa’s every interaction is guided by empathy, respect, and a genuine desire to foster resilience and well-being.
Melisa is a dedicated registered Social Worker with over 8 years of invaluable experience special...
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Laura is a registered psychotherapist who has been working in children’s mental health for over 10
years at accredited children’s mental health centres and in private practice.
She supports families with children and teens who are struggling with issues like anxiety, sadness, feelings of anger, social struggles, attention and learning difficulties, family conflict, behaviour challenges at home and school, and parenting challenges and insecurities. She has specialized experience in supporting
mental health challenges related to learning disabilities and neurodiversity.
Laura explores how “big feelings” contribute to problems and challenging behaviors. She works with
children and teens to better understand their emotional experiences, tolerate their feelings, and use
coping strategies to regulate their emotions and behavior. Laura appreciates that it can be hard for
kids to engage in traditional therapies and she is playful and creative in adapting her strategy and
approach.
Laura recognizes that parents are a key factor in promoting children’s mental health. She knows how
intense, complicated, and emotionally vulnerable it is to be a parent. She approaches parenting with
compassion and without judgement. Laura works with parents to better understand their children’s
emotions and to respond in ways that promote coping and parent-child relationships. She supports
parents to explore their own experiences as parents and to manage their own stresses and triggers.
It’s her goal for parents to feel confident in their parenting approach and their relationship with their
child.
Laura is a registered psychotherapist who has been working in children’s mental health for over 1...
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Melissa is a registered social worker with 20 years of experience supporting the mental health and well-being of infants, children, youth, and families in a variety of community and education settings. She is passionate about helping clients navigate a range of life challenges and emotions such as anxiety, low mood/depression, behaviour concerns, and other parenting concerns.
With specialized training in infant and early childhood sleep and well-being, Melissa is also equipped to work with families to address sleep difficulties from a holistic perspective that centers connection and goes far beyond bedtime.
With a non-judgmental stance and a collaborative approach, Melissa strives to build a strong therapeutic relationship, in which clients feel their stories are heard and their concerns and goals are understood. She draws from a variety of evidence-informed treatment modalities and tools, such as Psychoeducation, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy. Her approach is tailored to the unique needs of each family and is always grounded in attachment theory.
In addition to her formal training, Melissa’s approach is inspired by the countless families she has had the privilege of learning from as well as her own lived experience as a parent of two young children.
- Please note that if your child attends the Catholic School Board we will look at matching you with an alternative associate due to potential professional conflict of interest.
Melissa is a registered social worker with 20 years of experience supporting the mental health an...
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Ejemen (Eje) Iyayi is a Registered Social Worker with over 11 years of experience working with children, youth, and families within a variety of community and hospital-based settings. She has worked on multi-disciplinary teams in in-patient and out-patient mental health services, has a certificate in mediation from the Justice Institute of British Columbia, and has done extensive group facilitation work with youth and caregivers.
Grounded in attachment theory, oriented towards trauma-informed care, and equipped with an anti-oppressive lens, Eje has an appreciation for the nuances in people’s life stories. As such, she incorporates a balance of compassion, collaboration, and creativity into her approach. Whether it be a young child, teenager, parent, or family unit, Eje is dedicated to seeking out strengths because she believes this to be both a launching pad for growth and a window into the possibilities of change.
With her warm, grounded, and genuine spirit, Eje works hard to foster - and remain accountable to - safety, trust, and authenticity at every point during her therapeutic work alongside clients.
Ejemen (Eje) Iyayi is a Registered Social Worker with over 11 years of experience working with ch...
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Ankita is a Registered Social Worker with 4 years of experience working with children, youth and families, in community mental health and education settings. Ankita has a strong understanding and knowledge of common social, emotional, and behavioural difficulties children, youth and their families struggle with. Ankita works closely with children, youth and families to help navigate life’s challenges, and to support them in recognizing their strengths and in reaching their desired goals.
Ankita understands that it can be difficult to share personal feelings and experiences. Ankita’s gentle and patient disposition makes her easy for children and youth to connect with. In recognizing the importance of building a relationship with clients, she creates a safe, therapeutic environment based on trust, support, positivity, and mutual respect.
Ankita is a Registered Social Worker with 4 years of experience working with children, youth and ...
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Julia Swaigen has 15 years of rewarding experience working with children, families and schools to address a wide range of difficulties. She is also currently parenting her own two children and understands, first hand, the complex challenges parents face. Her passion is to empower grown-ups to create the conditions necessary for children to reach their full potential.
Julia Swaigen has 15 years of rewarding experience working with children, families and schools to...
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Tin Wing (Lydia) Tam is a Registered Social Worker with over 6 years of experience working with toddlers, children, youth, parents, and families in community mental health and school settings. As a therapist who is passionate about providing child-centered play therapy, Tin Wing is looking forward to connecting with children and parents through play as well as including creative arts. She has experience integrating emotion focused therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, family therapy and trauma-focused therapy in her work.
Tin Wing draws on her experience in supporting individuals and families with a wide range of emotional, social, relational, and behavioural needs. Using a child-centered, relational approach, Tin Wing is willing to walk with individuals with emotional needs, social difficulties, behavioural challenges, school concerns, relationship issues, family conflicts, life changes, and grief and loss. She hopes to walk with children and families through their difficult moments with gentleness and thoughtfulness.
Tin Wing connects naturally with children and families, and she is a constant source of stability and empathy for them. She offers unconditional acceptance for feelings because she believes that feelings are neither right nor wrong. What matters is to embrace one’s feelings and emotions. With her warmth and insight, Tin Wing actively creates a safe and comfortable space for children and families in her practice.
Tin Wing (Lydia) Tam is a Registered Social Worker with over 6 years of experience working with t...
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