Accepting New Clients
Zoë Raffard
Clinic Director | Occupational Therapist
Zoe did a Masters in Occupational Therapy and a Diploma in Infant Development/Supported Child Care at UBC. She has been practicing in pediatrics for over 18 years. Her area of focus was studying children with autism, developmental coordination disorder (DCD), ADHD, and other areas of neurodivergence. She has pursued additional training in sensory-processing, mental health, motor development, and trauma. Zoe has worked as the school OT at preschools and private schools. She is now delivering educational programs to schools and organizations to promote inclusion.
Zoe has done extensive training in several of the ‘self-regulation’ programs (ALERT, Zones, Interoception, Ready Set Regulate, etc). From this she has developed a NDA sensory-based emotional-regulation program for the team at Play 2 Learn 4 Life. Where children can discover their preferred sensory tools from am extension collection at the clinic. Like in a science experiment, we support children/youth to discover their ‘just-right’ needs. Zoe has taken several courses on Executive Functioning and her team uses the Sarah Ward approach (ex. Get ready, Do, Done). Zoe has done training in the SOS (Sequential-Oral-Sensory) method for feeding to help picky eaters. She can do oral-motor assessments, feedingtherapy/consultations, and hasrun groups. She has done the CO-OP course to promote motor skill development, and loves how the ‘Goal-Plan-Do-Check’ process also builds self-esteem. Zoe has taken the Handwriting Without Tears and Printing like a Pro courses. Yet it is often through games and hand skills that she sees kids grasp the art of drawing & forming letters. Zoe completed the Circles of Security program as a parent to learn more about attachment, and applies this compassionate approach to connect with her clients.
Most importantly Zoe believes that therapy needs to be fun in order to be functional. She acts as facilitator her help her clients achieve their own goals; whether it is to ride a bike, tie shoelaces, or sleep through the night. Zoe is not afraid to tackle the task of toileting. She has recently partnered with a pelvic floor physio to provide complementary strategies for constipation and bowel with-holding. She builds interoception awareness and uses strategies from polyvagal theory. This approach promotes the rest-and-digest parasympathetic system while calming the fight-or-flight sympathetic response.
Building community is very important to Zoe, she founded this company 16 years ago to create a safe place for families and clinicians to work collaboratively. Over the years Zoe assisted with therapeutic horse-back riding lessons, been a Girl Guide leader, chaired a mental health non-profit, answered calls at crisis lines and volunteered at women's shelters. Recently, Zoe was a XC ski coach, snowboard instructor and kayak-guide in adapted recreation programs. Currently, Zoe is on the snowschool team at Silver Star Mountain Resort. She is available to teach snowboarding to youth who need a more individualized lesson. Zoe is a member of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT), and the College of Health Care Professionals of British Columbia (CHCPBC). She is on the Registered Autism Service Provider (RASP) list.
Zoe works Monday-Friday from 9:00-2:30 on school days. She now offers in-person home-based sessions to families in the Greater Vernon area. She is available for virtual sessions on weekdays for youth or parent coaching. Zoe will have in-person availability in Vancouver 1/month for assessments, consultations, and education. Please contact her for her up to date schedule. Zoe can travel throughout BC to offer education and inservice programs.
Talia van der Vyver
Occupational Therapist
Talia completed her Master of Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto, following a Bachelor in Psychology from Queens. Her clinical experience spans a wide range of pediatric settings, and she brings a deep understanding for how to support families with mental health and developmental needs of children and youth.
Talia has supported children and youth with a variety of needs throughout her career and brings a strengths-based and collaborative approach to practice. She enjoys working closely with families and kids to tailor treatment to their unique needs. Talia has received additional training in the Motivational Interviewing approach and developing strengths-based goals. She is familiar with assisting with grants and applications such as: DTC, JFE, CKNW, Variety Fund, Burn fund, car seat loan program, and MEPP. Prior to OT, Talia worked as a research coordinator at Queen’s University.
Talia is a member of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) and the College of Health Care Professionals of British Columbia (CHCPBC). She is on the RASP list under supervision of Tricia Lang. Talia speaks English and Afrikaans. When she's not working, Talia enjoys spending time with her dog, swimming, hiking, kayaking or paddle boarding, and getting cozy with a book or cross-stitch project.
Talia is accepting new client referrals for in-person sessions in the clinic all day on Fridays and evenings on Wednesdays. Please reach out to admin to be added to her caseload.
Kate Thomas
Occupational Therapist
Kate completed her Master of Occupational Therapy at the University of British Columbia and brings a strong background in mental health to her work with children, youth, and families. She is passionate about supporting young people as they build confidence, resilience, and skills that help them participate in the activities that matter most in their everyday lives.
Kate has spent her career as an OT supporting neurodivergent children and adolescents, including autistic youth and those with ADHD, as well as youth navigating anxiety, depression, and eating disorders.
She practices through a neurodiversity-affirming lens and values supporting children and youth in ways that honour their unique strengths, interests, and ways of experiencing the world.
Kate takes a strengths-based, collaborative, and family-centred approach to therapy. She values working alongside children, youth, and their families to understand each child’s strengths and goals, and to develop meaningful strategies that support participation at home, school, and in the community. Her goal is to create a warm and supportive space where children and youth feel safe, respected, and empowered as they grow and celebrate progress along the way.
Kate is committed to ongoing learning and regularly pursues continuing education in pediatric mental health and neurodiversity-affirming practice. Her research on sensory processing patterns as they relate to developmental coordination disorder (DCD), ADHD, and autism, was presented at the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists Conference and the Paediatric Update Symposium in 2023.
She is a member of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) and the College of Health Care Professionals of British Columbia (CHCPBC), and is on the Registry of Autism Service Providers (RASP).
When she’s not working, you’ll likely find Kate swimming, reading a good book, or catching a beautiful sunset.
Kate works Thursdays and Fridays. She currently has an opening on Thursdays at 12pm. Please reach out to our clinic to be added to her waitlist, or to inquire about virtual OT appointments.
Ellen Au
Occupational Therapist
Ellen is dedicated to her clients and has invested in the education necessary to provide the appropriate interventions to help clients and their families reach their goals. She completed her Masters in Occupational Therapy at the University of Sydney, Australia. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Health Sciences with a minor in early learning from Simon Fraser University, and a Rehabilitation Assistant Diploma. Ellen has a passion for continued learning about the Occupational Therapy field and is always reading about new evidence based client-centred therapies that she can implement to help her clients succeed.
Ellen has almost a decade of experience working with children and teens in various settings and with multidisciplinary teams. Over the years she has helped children with many different diagnoses and varying levels of learning disabilities. A few of her previous jobs include leading play therapy sessions at a respite hospital in Australia, running groups for early intervention school readiness at a private clinic, and doing 1:1 sessions. Ellen is constantly pulling from her experience to adapt or modify for new, innovative interventions. Her favourite part of the job is celebrating the small but big wins as a client works towards their goal.
When she’s not working, you will find Ellen playing Ultimate Frisbee or out with her run club. She is an active individual and enjoys spending time outdoors and experiencing nature. She also loves to hang out with friends, enjoys pastries and coffee, and traveling to new places to experience different cultures and food.
Ellen is a member of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT), and the College of Health Care Professionals of British Columbia (CHCPBC). She is on the Registry of Autism Service Providers (RASP) list.
Ellen works in the clinic on Sundays and Mondays. She currently has an openings on Mondays at 11am and 1pm. Please contact admin to request to be added to her waitlist.
Marta Canaan
Occupational Therapist
Marta graduated from Florida International University with a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy. While studying OT, she worked with children with special needs in summer and day camps, and as a home care attendant for a child with cerebral palsy. She has extensive experience in OT working with children who have Autism, Cerebral Palsy, ADHD, LD, developmental delays, among others. She worked in a therapeutic preschool program and co-owned a multi-disciplinary pediatric therapy practice in Brooklyn. There she provided private OT treatment sessions and assessments, NYC Early Intervention services, and related OT services for children in the public school system. When Marta first moved to Canada, she worked student support worker for the Vancouver School Board providing support and accommodations for children with disabilities before getting her Canadian OT licence.
Marta has taken courses over the years to provide instruction with the Handwriting Without Tears program, Brain Gym, Social Thinking curriculum, Therapeutic Listening, Astronaut Training Protocol, sensory diets, and Sarah Ward's executive functioning approach. She is an iLs trained practitioner and uses the CO-OP approach for children with DCD. Marta speaks Spanish fluently and knows basic sign language. Marta tries to help children develop ways to cope with sensory differences, learn self-regulation strategies, and acquire desired functional skills through evidence-based play-based interventions. She believes in empowering each and every client to be their best self while also appreciating their unique strengths and passions.
Marta is a member of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT), and the College of Health Care Professionals of British Columbia (CHCPBC). She is on the Registered Autism Service Provider (RASP) list.
Marta works Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. She currently has an opening on Tuesday at 2pm. Please reach out to our clinic to be added to her waitlist.
Available Therapy Assistants
Klarissa Khong
Our TAs can work with OT clients under supervisions of one of our clinicians.
You must speak to your OT to get approval for seeing a therapy assistant, to ensure appropriate fit. Klarissa & Emily both have experience with young children, school-aged kids, and adolescents. They have worked in both clinic, home and recreation settings. They are also both students and are studying Kinesiology, before applying to OT programs.
Klarissa works in the clinic on Saturdays and can do nearby home/community visits after-school/evenings on weekdays. If your child could use support attending a leisure/recreation activity or learning transit routes, this is a great way to get hands-on, real-time support.
Emily currently works in the clinic Sundays and Mondays. She may have other weekday availability once she knows her school schedule. Contact admin to find her up to date availability.
& Emily Lee
Join our waitlist…..
Angie Garces
Occupational Therapist
Angie is an occupational therapist who completed her Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) at the University of British Columbia. During the MOT program, she did her research on the mental health of parents of children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), and their concerns on how DCD impacts their child's mental health. She had the opportunity to present these findings at the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists and DCD-14 conferences. Angie also holds her bachelor’s degree in Child and Youth Care and her diploma in Early Childhood Education.
Before completing her Master of Occupational Therapy, Angie worked one-on-one and in group settings with children who had varied needs as an Early Childhood Educator. It is here that she learned the importance of family-centered care and adapting the environment to meet a child's occupational needs. Through this experience, she became passionate about working as an occupational therapist who could support and guide families in accomplishing their meaningful goals. In her practice, Angie strives to create a safe and collaborative environment where children and families feel welcomed in the therapeutic process.
Angie completed the Cognitive Orientation to Daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) training on how to use the CO-OP approach with children who have motor challenges. She is a member of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) and the College of Health Care Professionals of British Columbia (CHCPBC). She is on the Registry of Autism Service Providers (RASP) list.
Angie works in the clinic on Thursday & Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings. Her caseload is currently full, please contact admin to request to be added to her waitlist.
Justin Singh
Occupational Therapist
Justin completed his Master of Occupational Therapy at the University of British Columbia, following a Bachelor of Human Kinetics with a minor in Psychology. His clinical experience spans a wide range of pediatric settings, and he brings a deep passion for supporting the mental health and developmental needs of children and youth.
Justin has worked extensively in adaptive sports, including sledge hockey, wheelchair basketball, and soccer, supporting children with autism, ADHD, Down syndrome, and spinal cord injuries. He has also gained experience through clinical placements working with children with cerebral palsy, developmental coordination disorder, and traumatic brain injuries. Justin is dedicated to creating play-based, goal-driven therapy sessions that are meaningful, functional, and tailored to each child’s unique interests and strengths.
He has received additional training in the Cognitive Orientation to Daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) approach and is committed to using evidence-based, collaborative strategies that empower both children and their families. Justin is fluent in Punjabi and values culturally responsive care in his practice.
Justin is a member of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) and the College of Health Care Professionals of British Columbia (CHCPBC). He is on the RASP list under supervision of Tricia Lang. Justin is not taking clients at this time
Alex Walcott
Occupational Therapist
Alex completed her Masters in Occupational Therapy at Western Michigan University and then moved to Vancouver to study counselling. She is a fully licensed OT in both Canada and the United States and is also a member of BC's Registry of Autism Service Providers (RASP) list. Alex specializes in neurodiverse-affirming mental health for all ages. Alex has additional training in child-led, relational therapy (known as DIR-Floortime) through the International Council on Development and Learning as well as trauma-informed care for vulnerable populations. Alex is no longer accepting new client referrals.