Zoe Raffard
Clinic Director | Occupational Therapist
Zoe received her Masters in Occupational Therapy and Diploma in Infant Development/Supported Child Care from UBC. Her area of focus was studying children with autism, developmental coordination disorder (DCD), ADHD, and other areas of neurodiversity. She has pursued additional training in sensory-processing and mental health. 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.
Building community is something that is very important to Zoe. Over the years she has assisted children with therapeutic horse-back riding lessons, been a Girl Guide leader, and volunteered with mental health organizations, crisis lines and women's shelters. Recently, she was a snowboard instructor and kayak-guide in adapted recreation programs.
Zoe facilitates her clients and their family to engage with their environment through a natural, sensory-based experience based on their own interests (child-led). She uses a playful developmental approach to support learning of new motor skills. Therapy needs to be fun in order to be functional. Zoe grew up in Vancouver and experienced firsthand the wide variety of activities available year-round. As a mother of a young child herself, she is actively informed of local resources to help children and families better cope with our busy lives and ever changing environments.
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 in the clinic 10am - 6pm Monday/Tuesday and 10am-2:30pm Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Her caseload is currently full for ongoing treatment clients. She will have occasional availability for assessments, consultations, and education
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. Her caseload is currently full, she has a waitlist for in-person therapy.
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 in 2019 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 also registered with the Registry of Autism Service Providers (RASP).
Ellen works in the clinic on Sundays and Mondays. Her caseload is at capacity, so put in your request to be added to her 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 under supervision.
Angie works in the clinic on Thursday & Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings. Her caseload is currently full and she has a waitlist.
Alex Walcott
Occupational Therapist
Alex originally hails from Michigan and moved to Vancouver in 2021. She completed her MS in Occupational Therapy at Western Michigan University and has worked all over the United States in school, outpatient, early intervention and acute pediatric settings. Upon immigrating to Canada, Alex successfully completed the SEAS program to transfer her occupational therapy credentials. Alex is a longtime advocate of neuro-diverse children and youth and has obtained additional training in providing child-led, relational therapy (known as DIR-Floortime) through the International Council on Development and Learning and has received additional training in providing trauma-informed care to vulnerable populations. She also loves leading groups and has previously facilitated feeding, adaptive sport, social sibling, music and improv, and much more!
Alex is fully licensed through the College of Health Care Professionals of British Columbia (CHCPBC) and is on the Registry of Autism Service Providers (RASP) list.
Alex is accepting new client referrals for virtual sessions only at this time. She is able to supervise therapy assistants remotely if in-person therapy is required and appropriate.
Kate Thomas
Occupational Therapist
With an occupational therapy background supporting child and youth in mental health settings, Kate is passionate about creating a safe and welcoming environment for children to learn and play as they work towards their goals. She completed her Master of Occupational Therapy at the University of British Columbia, and continues to prioritize ongoing learning and evidence based interventions to support clients and families, celebrating all of the small wins along the way.
Throughout her career, Kate has supported children and teens from 0-17 with a variety of diagnoses and abilities, she enjoys getting to know each child and their unique strengths, and utilizing a family centred lens and collaborative approach to support children and families towards their goals.
Kate has studied sensory processing patterns as they relate to developmental coordination disorder, ADHD, and ASD and presented her research at the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists conference and Paediatric Update Symposium. She is a member of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) and the College of Health Care Professionals of British Columbia (CHCPBC). Kate is on the Registry of Autism Service Providers (RASP).
When she’s not working, you’ll find Kate swimming, biking, reading a good book, and catching sunsets.
Kate works Thursdays and Fridays. Her caseload is currently full, please reach out to our clinic to be added to her waitlist.
Justin Singh
Occupational Therapist (Taking Clients Sept 18th)
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 fully licensed through the College of Health Care Professionals of British Columbia (CHCPBC), is a member of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT).
Justin is accepting new client referrals for in-person sessions and currently works in the clinic on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays as of September 18. He may have some flexibility to accommodate additional days depending on availability.
Eunice Tan
Speech Language Pathologist
Through more than 15 years of working in public health and private practice, Eunice has developed extensive clinical skills specific to preschool and school-age children. She is especially interested in speech sound disorders and apraxia of speech, fluency (stuttering), social communication/Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).
In addition to her Master of Speech-Language Pathology degree from the University of Alberta, Eunice has also completed training in:
PROMPT (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets) Introduction Level - Intervention for children with moderate to severe speech sound disorders
More Than Words® - The Hanen Program® for parents of children with ASD or social communication difficulties
Licombe Program - Intervention for children who stutter
Delivering therapy through a play-based approach, Eunice firmly believes that children learn best through fun and play. A major part of her work is also educational, where she involves and trains parents to support their child at home. Family-centred care is fundamental in Eunice’s practice because she knows it takes a village to raise a child. She often partners with parents to collaborate with other family members, teachers, and other health professionals to provide coordinated care.
Eunice provides services in English and Chinese. She is fluent in Cantonese and speaks conversational Mandarin. Eunice is a Registered Speech-Language Pathologist (RSLP) licensed with the College of Health Care Professionals of British Columbia (CHCPBC). She is also a Clinical Educator who provides clinical supervision to SLP students from UBC. Eunice is awaiting her Registered Autism Service Provider (RASP) approval.
Eunice works at the clinic on Fridays. She is not accepting new clients at this time. She can supervise therapy assistants who work other days of the week. Priority for SLP clients come from current OT clients
Therapy Assistants
Klarissa Khong
Our TAs can work with OT, SLP and BC caseloads under supervisions of one of our clinicians. You must speak to your OT/SLP/BC to get approval for seeing a therapy assistant, to ensure appropriate fit. Klarissa & Mikhaila both have experience with young children, school-aged kids, and adolescents. They have worked in both clinic and recreation settings. They are also both students and are studying Kinesiology and Social Work respectively, before applying to OT & SLP 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.