Sarah Frank, Program Coordinator and Program Facilitator, BA

Sarah completed her Bachelor of Human Kinetics, but soon after starting a job as a camp counselor, she realized her passion was working with youth to develop pro-social skills. She was inspired to pursue an education in social services and holds a diploma in Social Services. Sarah has explored and developed her passion by running many after-school programs for youth in under-resourced communities; she continues working with children and youth through programming and facilitating various social-emotional programs.

Sarah is experienced in child and youth program planning, delivery, and evaluation. She believes that you must start by building a relationship based on trust, support, positivity, and mutual respect to work successfully with children and youth. Sarah does this effortlessly with children and youth of all ages, her favourite part of the work she does is watching the children grow in ability, skill, and confidence daily. Sarah works extremely hard to create an environment that allows children to develop real relationships with peers and feel understood and supported within our community.

Emily Rogers Nannarone, Clinical Supervisor, Social Worker, B.A., MSW, RSW, CASW

Emily has an Honors Bachelor of Arts Degree from Trent University and a Master’s of Social Work from Wilfred Laurier. She is also a Certified Trauma Counsellor and trained in Mental Health Counseling, Autism Support, Accommodation Planning, Workshop Facilitation, and Curriculum Development. She has spoken at several clinical conferences and has been a part of numerous panels, task forces, and committees. Emily has extensive experience providing support and services to individuals with mental health challenges, developmental disabilities, Autism/Asperger’s, learning disabilities, acquired brain injuries, and trauma survivors.

As a Clinical Supervisor, Emily is committed to helping children, youth, and families achieve their goals. She enjoys working with the team to create and provide the best service and programming possible. Her favourite part of her job is hearing parents' positive feedback and witness the growth in the team and students for herself. Emily is registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) and the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW).

Eve Kasakevich, Child, Youth and Family Therapist, Social Worker, MSW

Eve earned her Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Windsor and is in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW). Before pursuing her MSW, she completed a double major in Childhood Studies and Disability Studies from the University of Western Ontario. In her practice, Eve draws upon a range of therapeutic modalities, including CBT, DBT, solution-focused therapy, play therapy, art therapy, and a somatic approach. As a certified yoga instructor, she is passionate about integrating breath-work and mindfulness techniques into her sessions.

Eve specializes in supporting children and youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities, behavioural challenges, social anxiety, emotional regulation difficulties, and issues related to anxiety and depression. Her diverse experience has included working as an ABA Therapist, tutor, camp counselor, assistant educator and within hospital and rehabilitation settings.

With a wealth of knowledge and experience, Eve is eager to create positive, supportive relationships with her clients, empowering them to thrive in their daily lives and become the best versions of themselves.

Kezia is a Registered Social Worker with the OCSWSSW, and supporting people through life’s ups and downs is her passion. She received her Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from Renison University College, attached to UWaterloo, and she also has her Masters of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Toronto. She specializes in working with children and families, emphasizing the importance of child development and family system interventions. Coming from a clinical background of working with families within the foster care system and government-funded programs, she knows that families can look like everything and anything!

She utilizes aspects from a series of therapeutic modalities and theories, including Solution-Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Play Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy, and Attachment Theory. Still, her main focus is you and your needs, she believes therapy shouldn’t use a cookie-cutter approach – one size definitely does not fit all when it comes to your emotional and mental well-being. We are all so different, and we all need a listening ear sometimes and a little extra support other times. Kezia aims to adjust the therapeutic process to fit your needs; together, you can find realistic and specific strategies that work for you.

She is the kind of Social Worker who wants to work with you to develop emotional regulation skills, coping strategies, and stress-management methods that you can keep in your back pocket. Her goal is to help you feel capable of pushing through personal challenges years down the line. As the old proverb goes, teach a man to fish, and he eats for a lifetime – that is the same mentality she uses when working with any of her clients. She offers clinical support coming from Trauma-Informed, Strenghts-Based, and Anti-Oppressive approach – for the young to young at heart, we all could benefit from someone to talk to who will be there for as long as you need - thats what Kezia aims to provide! 

Je pouvais aussi vous-aidez en Francais si c’est plus accessible pour vous!"

Rachelle is a graduate from the Faculty of Social Work at The University of Toronto and holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) with a specialization in Health and Mental Health. Prior to this, she completed a double major in Psychology and Sociology at The University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. Starting her career at The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), she worked at the hospital in support of clients struggling with mental health and addiction. Rachelle is registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers and the Ontario Association of Social Workers. Rachelle has a strong background working with children, youth, and adults struggling with mental health, and is committed to creating a non-judgemental space in which they can feel safe, learn, and heal. 

As a BIPOC individual from A Chinese-Filipina heritage, Rachelle recognizes the importance of working from a strengths-based, anti-oppressive, and trauma-informed lens. A majority of Rachelle’s experience comes from working with marginalized and racialized children, youth and their families in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver where she worked as a Lead Youth Leader with at-risk youth and Lead Child-Minder with single parents and their children. This experience deepened her understanding of intergenerational trauma and resilience. In this role and past roles with The Vancouver, West Vancouver, and Coquitlam Schoolboard, and The University of British Columbia,

Rachelle has supported clients experiencing addiction, anxiety, depression, ADHD, ADD, ODD, schizophrenia, bipolar, and various learning disabilities. In addition, Rachelle has experience in individual and group counselling, utilizing a variety of evidence-based perspectives including art therapy, play therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, and motivational interviewing.

 Rachelle works from a holistic, solution-based approach in which she continuously works to understand her client including their intellectual, emotional, social artistic, and creative abilities. In this manner Rachelle is dedicated to working with her clients to develop their own strengths and tools to approach, navigate and overcome life’s transitions and difficulties, as well as standing alongside them in their accomplishments and what fulfills them.

Martina is a Registered Social Worker in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) and the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW) who has extensive experience working alongside children, youth and families using strength-based, client-centred, solution-oriented approaches. Prior to pursing her MSW at York University, Martina completed a BSW with a minor in Psychology to articulate her passion for promoting mental well-being among clients with diverse trauma concerns. Her education, stemming from critical theory, demonstrates her commitment to conceptualizing client experiences within the contexts of the intersectional, systematic barriers they exist within. Martina is equipped with several years of clinical experience in providing therapeutic interventions to youth experiencing complex mental health concerns, diverse physical, emotional and cognitive needs, addictions, and resource management barriers. She has worked within many intervention-based environments including ErinoakKids Centre for Treatment and Development, Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board and Peel Children's Aid, where she developed her passion for helping youth and their families manage complex socioeconomic, mental and emotional barriers.

In her practice, Martina places emphasis on coping mechanisms, emotional regulation techniques, and psycho-education that helps clients take leadership of their therapeutic journey. Martina values creating a non-judgemental, explorative safe space where her clients can tap into abundances of empowerment and resilience! She believes that therapy is an integrative, individualized experience that should reflect the client's goals. Her practice is supported by evidence-based modalities including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Play Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Motivational interviewing and Applied Behaviour Analysis. With an extensive background supporting neuro-divergent clients and their families, Martina’s core belief within practice is reflexivity. She acknowledges that therapy can be an uncomfortable experience for clients… thus, welcoming everyone with optimism, active listening, and being receptive to a vast repertoire of therapeutic modalities is what she relies on to foster a transformative experience. Martina celebrates each client’s unique progress and looks forward to curating a therapeutic journey that is fulfilling in every way imaginable!

Sarah Taylor Child, Youth and Family Therapist, Social Worker, MSW, RSW

Sarah Taylor is a Registered Social Worker with over 10 years of experience in mental health and social services. She obtained her Master of Social Work degree at the University of Windsor. Sarah has obtained certificates in Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Trauma Counselling, Mindfulness and Crisis Intervention.

Sarah has extensive experience in community, treatment centres and government settings, working with children, adolescents, adults and seniors. She has helped support clients with various matters, such as life transitions, relationship distress, low self-esteem, anger management, chronic pain, gender identity struggles, developmental disorders, mood and anxiety disorders and personality disorders.

As a proud member of the LGBTQIA2S+ community, Sarah is passionate about helping others accept and embrace their authentic selves. Known for her genuine, non-judgmental and compassionate style, Sarah’s priority is to create a safe space for her clients to express themselves and achieve their goals. You will often hear her say, “Be you, everyone else is taken!”.

Sarah’s therapeutic approach is client-centered, strengths-based and solution-focused. Her style is flexible; she pulls from a variety of therapeutic modalities to best foster growth in her clients. Sarah will typically utilize a mixture of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy techniques. Sarah works together with her clients to develop an individual therapy plan to ensure their unique needs are considered. 

Stephanie Blumenfeld, Child, Youth and Family Therapist, Social Worker, MSW, RSW

In her practice, Stephanie incorporates her innate empathy and unconditional positive regard into each session, promoting a non-judgmental space for clients to explore their experiences in order to gain insight. Stephanie believes that feeling heard, validated, and understood are essential ingredients for change. She values providing emotional regulation skills that are not only about managing difficult emotions but also about learning how to feel and be in your feelings by supporting clients to connect to themselves and their experience. Her approach to working with children, youth and families is an integrative approach, using a variety of evidence-based modalities such as, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Mindfulness and Narrative Therapy. 

Stephanie holds her Master of Social Work degree and Bachelor of Social Work degree from York University, as well as an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Gender and Women’s Studies from York University. She is a Registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers and the Ontario Association of Social Workers. Her education, rooted in critical theory, has provided her with an in-depth understanding of systemic issues which underlie her commitment to supporting children, youth, families and individuals facing a difficult time in their life. 

Stephanie’s experience stems from supporting at-risk youth in residential and emergency housing settings with 360 Kids where she provided youth with emotional support, motivation and worked with clients to reduce their risk of harm. She was a part of the team at TDSB, working with children and teens through issues related to self-regulation, anxiety, self-esteem, depression, and familial as well as peer conflicts. She worked with parents and their children to develop skills that promote child development and gain tools to cope with mental health distress. She has also worked at an Employee Assistance Program providing counseling for young adults and adults all over the globe who are experiencing a wide array of life changes and distress. 

Stephanie is looking forward to collaborating with you to create roadmaps to guide you through barriers and propel you onto a path of wellness, growth, and self-actualization.

Cynthia Di Sano, Program Facilitator, BA

Cynthia Di Sano holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a Research Specialist designation from Wilfrid Laurier University. Her studies focused on major subfields of psychology and mental health, alongside in-depth training in research methodologies. Through her academic experience, she has developed a passion for providing mental health and social support, as well as carrying out research projects. She completed an honours thesis that examined the effects of immigration on mental health and currently investigates morality, aggression, and prosocial behaviour in children as a Research Assistant, further deepening her understanding of child development and the importance of emotional regulation and empathy in social settings.

Cynthia has worked in various settings, including schools, community centers, and research groups, where she has gained valuable experience working with children and youth. These opportunities have allowed her to connect with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds and provide support tailored to their unique needs. Cynthia’s work as a Youth Worker at the YMCA of Three Rivers and as a Group Facilitator at Behaviour Matters has provided her with hands-on experience implementing behavioural interventions and programs aimed at fostering social and emotional growth in youth.

Cynthia is passionate about working with youth because she values building meaningful connections and supporting them in their growth. She finds great fulfillment in watching children and adolescents achieve their goals and continue to challenge themselves, setting new aspirations to work toward. Cynthia believes that fostering these connections is essential in helping young people recognize their potential and develop the confidence to face life's challenges head-on. 

Sadaf Kamranyrad, Program Facilitator, CYC

Sadaf Kamranyrad holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Child and Youth Care from Toronto Metropolitan University. Her academic journey emphasized key aspects of child development, social-emotional learning, and mental health, as well as the application of anti-oppressive and intersectional frameworks in practice. These studies have instilled in her a deep understanding of how oppression and systemic barriers affect individuals, equipping her to build relationships that foster safety, equity, and empowerment.  

Sadaf has experience group facilitation of social skills and emotional regulation skills and tailoring programs to meet the unique needs of children and youth. Her work has also involved leading student SEL workshops in schools, adapting activities to diverse audiences, and creating inclusive learning environments that celebrate individual strengths and identities. 

In addition Sadaf provides emotional and practical support to families navigating challenges related to cancer and loss through her volunteer work. This role highlights her ability to create safe and nurturing environments that foster meaningful connections and promote well-being for both children and caregivers.

Sadaf is passionate about fostering child-centered environments where young people feel valued, heard, and empowered. She believes that children should be active participants in their own care and strives to create opportunities for them to take the lead in their personal growth. Her commitment to relationship-based and flexible care ensures that each child she works with has the tools and support needed to thrive.