Meet the Team dedicated to helping your child Ascend to their full Potential

As the Clinical Director and an Occupational Therapist, Teanna is passionate about a collaborative team approach to pediatric care. She brings specialized training in areas such as picky eating, sensory processing, self-care, mental health, and emotional regulation, dedicated to empowering children and families in their daily lives.

Alex is a dedicated Registered Psychologist with a Master's of Science in Child & Developmental Psychology and 15 years of invaluable experience in the special needs field. Passionate about empowering children and families, she utilizes a dynamic play-based therapy approach, skillfully integrating Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Emotion-Focused Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy to support emotional well-being, facilitate positive behavioural change, and provide comprehensive assessments and consultations.

Alyssa is a Speech Language Pathologist who creates a supportive, playful, and family-centered environment to build a child's communication confidence. With experience in both Canada and the US, she supports a wide range of needs, including speech sounds, language delays, and social communication. Her approach is fun, functional, and grounded in trust, with advanced training in AAC, PECS, and the Hanen Program.

Amanda is a Speech-Language Pathologist who is committed to helping every individual have their voice heard. She has a special interest in fluency and alternative communication (AAC), and loves incorporating play-based therapy into her work. When she's not helping clients, you can find her volunteering with a therapeutic riding program in Cochrane.

A Registered Psychologist with 12 years of experience, Andrea specializes in supporting children, adolescents, and their families. She has extensive experience with ASD, ADHD, ODD, trauma, and attachment disruptions. Andrea uses a holistic approach, offering various therapies and comprehensive psychological assessments to meet each family's unique needs. When she's not in the office, Andrea enjoys being outdoors with her husband and two dogs—camping, hiking, paddleboarding, and traveling.

Claire is an Occupational Therapist who brings a calm, collaborative, and strength-based approach to her practice. Her work is built on a rich foundation as a former preschool teacher with a Master's in Educational Leadership. She combines her knowledge of pedagogy with OT skills to help children learn through fun, engaging play. Outside of work, Claire enjoys hiking with her spouse and two dogs or relaxing at home with a cup of tea and a good book.

Danielle is a calm and creative Occupational Therapist who masterfully employs a play-based approach to therapy. She specializes in enhancing fine and gross motor skills, fostering independence in self-care, and supporting children with emotional regulation and sensory processing needs, making therapy an engaging and effective experience.

With a passion for making therapy fun and meaningful, Emma brings a collaborative, play-based approach to her role as an Occupational Therapist. Since graduating in 2008, she has supported children with a variety of developmental needs and has a unique background in humanitarian work. Outside the clinic, Emma loves the mountains and can be found camping in the summer or backcountry splitboarding in the winter.

Erin is a pediatric Occupational Therapist with a vibrant passion for play-based therapy. She utilizes highly creative and engaging methods to help children build crucial independence in fine motor skills, self-care routines, social interactions, and emotional regulation, ensuring therapy is both fun and profoundly impactful.

With a calm and fun-loving personality, Kara is an Occupational Therapist dedicated to supporting children's development in social skills, emotional regulation, self-care, and sensory processing. She embraces a family-centered approach, ensuring that strategies are integrated seamlessly into the child's home life for lasting positive change.

Katherine is a dedicated Behavioural Consultant with over seven years of experience empowering the disAbility community. Holding an MSW from the University of Calgary, she champions a strengths-based approach, skillfully integrating Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) principles, augmented communication, and effective emotion regulation strategies to support children and families in fostering positive behaviours and connections.

McKenna is a highly skilled Speech-Language Pathologist with a Master's of Speech Pathology, specializing in literacy development for children. Certified in programs like Sounds-Write and Read It Again, she brings expertise to early literacy, supporting late talkers, and assisting minimally verbal children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Her focused training also includes social and emotional learning and pediatric feeding screening, providing a well-rounded approach to communication.

Minny is a creative and dedicated Occupational Therapist who prioritizes fun, meaningful, and empowering therapy for children and families. She firmly believes that play is a child's most important occupation and form of learning. Minny has a strong foundation in early childhood education, which is integrated into her work through play-based strategies and a strength-based approach. Outside of work, Minny enjoys making art, baking, and connecting with nature.

Zoe discovered her passion for pediatrics in Occupational Therapy school and has dedicated her career to working with children and their families. Her approach is play-based and family-centered, focusing on coaching families to support their child's growth and engagement in daily activities. Outside of work, Zoe enjoys running, reading, and exploring Alberta’s beautiful hiking trails with friends and family.

As Ascend’s Clinical Manager and Aide Program Manager, Victoria utilizes her background in public healthcare administration to assist families and providers in navigating the services available to them to help families thrive. She understands firsthand the unique challenges parents of children with diverse needs face in our community and is passionate about providing the necessary tools and resources to parents to support every family member’s wellbeing. 

In her spare time, Victoria enjoys reading (fantasy fiction, of course), practicing pottery and catching up on whichever coming-of-age drama series is the current topic of conversation among the Aides.

As a clinic administrator, Scarlet supports the daily operations at Ascend. She brings experience in administration from the financial, education, and local government sectors.

Scarlet loves being part of a community-focused clinic and finds it incredibly rewarding to see the ways Ascend helps families grow, achieve their goals, and reach their full potential.

Outside of work, Scarlet enjoys travelling and spending quality time with friends and family. She also loves reading, painting, and watching her four favorite comfort shows on repeat.

As a Director and the dedicated IT Support for Ascend Pediatrics, Mike plays a key role in ensuring our daily operations run smoothly. He is focused on supporting the entire staff with the technology they need, empowering them to provide the best possible care. Mike loves being part of the Ascend team because of the shared passion for helping children and families thrive.