Greater Toronto Area, Canada
Registered Occupational Therapist (OT Reg. Ont.) with focused clinical experience in adult and older adult rehabilitation in stroke, neurological, and mental health areas, across inpatient and community settings. I bring a year of paid provisional experience as an OT extern in a stroke and neuro rehabilitation unit, where I independently managed a caseload of referred clients recovering from CVA and complex neurological conditions. I collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to implement OT treatment plans using creative engagement strategies, and monitored progress to document and relay to team members. Through these referrals, I worked with a wide array of professionals, clients, tools, and treatment strategies; including, ADL retraining (dressing, hygiene, feeding, leisure, vocation), sensory and cognitive rehabilitation, as well as client and family education. Across placements in acute care, outpatient, community, inpatient, and consultative roles, I developed skills in standardized and functional assessments, group facilitation (including mental health groups), crisis management, and interdisciplinary collaboration, and program development. My clinical practice is informed by contributions to conferences, committees, and published research supporting evidence-based rehabilitation and health equity. While open to diverse adult practice settings, I am particularly interested in neurological rehabilitation and mental health services for adult and older adult populations. I am also motivated to pursue further training in psychotherapy through mentorship and continuing education.
Setting: Clinical Research Area: Health of Newcomers/ Immigrants, Health Access & Equity Population: General, Emphasis on marginalized populations and women's health Reporting to Dr. Setareh Ghahari • Supports research on health equity and newcomer populations, assisting with study design, participant recruitment, and data management. • Conducts manuscript editing, survey development, and dissemination of research findings via social media platforms. • Collaborates with professors, graduate students, and professionals to ensure evidence-based contributions to rehabilitation research.
Setting: Community Mental Health Area: Mental Health, Aged Intensive Treatment Program (AITP) Population: Older Adult Supervised by Ranee Flannery, OT • Supported community-based occupational therapy services for older adults with complex psychiatric, cognitive, medical, and psychosocial needs. • Contributed to intake, referral, and discharge processes, building system-level understanding of access pathways, risk escalation, and care coordination. • Conducted and supported comprehensive assessments (mental state, cognition, function, home environment) using standardized tools (MSE, risk assessments, MMSE, MoCA, RUDAS) to inform recovery-oriented, least-restrictive care. • Independent (supervised) facilitation of caseload with tailored intervention plans. Proactively engaged in multidisciplinary collaboration with nurses, social workers, psychiatrists, GPs, carers, and Aboriginal Mental Health Workers throughout the therapeutic process. • Practiced within trauma-informed, culturally safer, and rights-based frameworks aligned with Victoria’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Act (2022). • Led and contributed to an interprofessional in-service comparing Canadian and Australian mental health and OT practice models. Additional Training: • Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training (Crisis Prevention Institute, Australia) • Cross-training in Inpatient Older Adult and Adult Psychiatric Units
Setting: Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit (B3) Area: Stroke & Neuro Population: Adult, Older Adult Reported to Alan Doyle • Independently (provisionally) managed a caseload of referred clients recovering from CVA and complex neurological conditions within an inpatient stroke and neuro rehabilitation unit. • From OT referrals, developed and implemented individualized OT interventions including ADL retraining, upper extremity and cognitive rehabilitation, sensory integration, and psychosocial coping strategies. Active in supporting interprofessional co-treatments and problem-solving. • Utilized standardized assessment data (e.g., MoCA, MMSE, FIM, Barthel Index, Berg Balance Scale CAM, TUG, ACE-III, Geriatric Depression Scale), and facilitated functional assessments (e.g., transfers - including car transfers, lifts, balance training, cooking, laundry, community navigation) to inform goal-directed treatment implementation and monitor client progress. • Delivered the "Guide to Stroke Recovery" (Toronto Stroke Network) client-centered stroke education program for patients and families. • Completed electronic documentation using EPIC EHR systems
Setting: School-Based (Post-Secondary) Area: Learning Strategy, Executive Function Training Population: Young Adults Supervised by Jordana Bengall, OT Reg. (Ont.) • Delivered OT services within a post-secondary accessibility setting, supporting adult students with mental health and executive functioning challenges affecting academic performance. • Applied the CPPF and PEO models to assess occupational performance related to organization, time management, self-regulation, and academic engagement. • Provided individualized, strategy-based interventions using CBT- and DBT-informed approaches, and motivational interviewing. • Contributed to the evidence-based development of a Community of Practice focused on metacognitive strategy acquisition. • Collaborated within a consultation model alongside Learning Strategists and interdisciplinary team members to clarify scope, coordinate supports, and facilitate appropriate referrals. • Prepared professional documentation, integrated supervisory feedback, and independently accessed evidence to inform practice.
Setting: Inpatient Rehabilitation Area: Intensive, tertiary psychiatric care Population: Young Adults to Older Adults Supervised by Monique Jardine OT Reg. (Ont.) Funded by NOSMU, with gratitude. • Provided OT interventions for adults in a 16-bed tertiary inpatient psychiatric unit, with supervision from registered OTs. • Facilitated and developed group therapy sessions using DBT and CBT frameworks, including mindfulness and self-compassion programs. • Conducted functional assessments (shopping, cooking, navigation) and implemented skills acquisition interventions (coping strategies, vocational skills, self-advocacy, healthcare navigation). • Produced session plans, client reports, group resources, and documented interventions in alignment with professional standards. • Participated in interprofessional rounds and one-patient-one-plan meetings with clients, families, and the care team. • Supported community integration through meaningful activities and outings (e.g., Science North, volunteering, adult education). Additional Opportunities: • Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training • Shadowed Breanna May OT Reg. (Ont.) in the Forensic Inpatient Service for Adult Women (Hummingbird Lodge)