Alberta Therapy Co.

Meet Kelsey, a new addition to our Occupational Therapy team!

Kelsey has an extraordinary passion for helping kids exceed their potential. Since becoming an OT in 2021, Kelsey has been dedicated to making therapy both meaningful and fun for each child. Her favorite part of being an OT is witnessing the pride on a child’s—and their parent’s—face when they accomplish something they’ve been struggling with.

Kelsey approaches each session with compassion and patience, understanding that raising the future is hard, but therapy shouldn’t be. She takes a family-centered approach, focusing on meeting kids where they are and creating sustainable programs that fit into everyday life.

Kelsey provides support in areas such as daily living skills (dressing, hygiene routines, toilet training, sleep), self-regulation, fine and gross motor development, and mealtimes (self-feeding, selective eating, oral motor skills development). With experience in FSCD contracts, she especially enjoys working with neurodivergent populations.

Outside the clinic, Kelsey loves trail running, chasing after her toddler, or camping with her family. In the winter, you’ll find her hibernating with a chai latte.

Meet Erin Cromwell!

Erin is registered as a Canadian Certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. She holds a Bachelor of Education, a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology, and a Master of Science in Child and Youth Mental Health.

Drawing on her background as a teacher, Erin integrates psychoeducation into her counselling practice, viewing it as crucial for preventative care and fostering meaningful behavioural change. Erin works from a person-centred lens and employs a range of therapeutic approaches tailored to each client’s needs, with a primary focus on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT). Erin often incorporates play-based and strength-based interventions into her sessions.

Erin is dedicated to creating a safe and empathetic environment where clients can explore their challenges. She aims to empower her clients to build the skills necessary to cope with challenges or adversity they may be experiencing. Erin adopts a collaborative approach to help clients achieve their goals, emphasizing the expansion of existing strengths and understanding each individual’s unique life experiences.

Erin has extensive experience supporting children and youth with differences including ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, ODD, learning disabilities, behavioural difficulties, and social emotional difficulties. Erin primarily works with children, teens, and parents seeking individual counselling and behavioural support.


Meet Janelle Morrison, a valued member of our Speech Language Pathology team here at Alberta Therapy Co.
Janelle grew up in Saskatchewan, and graduated with a Bachelor of Education in 2001.

She moved to Edmonton in 2002 to complete her Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Alberta. Janelle has been working as a Speech-Language Pathologist since 2004, and has worked with children from ages 2-17 in a variety of settings during her career.

Outside of work, Janelle enjoys spending time with my daughter, checking out live music, going for walks, travelling, and yoga!

Ready to book a FREE 20 consultation? Tap the 🔗 in our bio!

Meet Stephanie Trussell! 

Stephanie is a certified, paediatric Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) with extensive experience working with children, families and school staff in a variety of settings, including home and school environments.

She loves the holistic nature and relationships these opportunities create and supporting children from an early age, alongside their families and school team is nourishing and exciting.


Meet Laura Franco Carmona, one of the newest members of our Speech Language Pathology team! 

Laura was born in Columbia, and despite living in Canada for 24 years, she is still fluent in Spanish! 

She has proudly called Edmonton home since beginning her university career at the University of Alberta where she completed a bachelors degree, as well as her masters degree in Speech Language Pathology. 

Laura is passionate about supporting clients of all ages including adults and children. She have experience working with adults with aphasia, children with complex communication needs, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), fluency (stuttering), and with preschool-aged children with speech and language delays.

In her spare time you can find Laura at spin classes or the gym, reading, or playing with her two fur babies.

Laura is excited to meet and support your family. She is currently accepting new clients and offers FREE phone consultations for anyone interested in seeking out her services.

Meet Sarah Peterson! Sarah is an Occupational Therapist here at Alberta Therapy Co. She grew up in the Northwest Territories and completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Masters of Science at the University of Alberta.

Sarah is a passionate Occupational Therapist, as well as dedicated to her work with a non-profit that supports children with complex needs; which ignited her passion for creating fun and play-based therapy sessions that are individual to each child and family.

Sarah’s clinical scope of practice includes assessment and intervention in sensory regulation, fine motor & handwriting, visual-motor development, and activities of daily living.

In her spare time you can find Sarah caring for her jungle of plants, exploring with her pup or watching Disney movies!

Sarah currently is booking appointments on Tuesday offer FREE consultations prior to booking!

Meet Lonneke, a talented member of our Speech Language Pathology team! 

Originally from the Netherlands, has made Sherwood Park/Edmonton her home since 2001. She is fluent in Dutch and holds both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Science degree from the University of Alberta. 

With extensive experience working with preschool, kindergarten, and early elementary-aged children, Lonneke specializes in complex communication needs, Childhood Apraxia of Speech, phonological delays, articulation delays, language delays and disorders, and a variety of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) tools.

Lonneke believes in a neurodiversity-affirming, play-based, and strengths-based approach. She creates goals that are specific, functional, and realistic for each child and family. By including families in goal setting and sessions, she ensures they have a strong understanding of the objectives and how to continue working on them at home.

In her spare time, Lonneke enjoys reading, spending time with family and friends, and snuggling with her cat.

👋 Meet Kenna Kruhlak, a compassionate Mental Health Therapist registered with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. 🧠

With a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from MacEwan University, Kenna has spent the last 4 years as a behavioral specialist, optimizing students’ experiences in the education system according to their needs. 📚

With a passion for helping people, Kenna believes in fostering an environment where clients can embark on their healing journey with her support and care.

🤝 She approaches therapy with a client-centered perspective, emphasizing empathy, understanding, and meeting individuals where they are without judgment.

In sessions with Kenna, you’ll find a warm and inviting space where you can be your authentic self. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, relationship issues, or simply feeling lost, Kenna listens attentively and offers empathetic support. She empowers clients to tap into their strengths and resources, collaboratively setting goals and developing strategies for living their best lives. 💪

Drawing from her training in Person-Centered Therapy, Kenna integrates tools from various approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), to tailor her methods to each client’s unique needs. She utilizes creative and compassionate techniques, such as play therapy with children, to help clients express themselves and process emotions. 🧸

Outside of her therapeutic work, Kenna enjoys traveling, cheering on the Oilers, and spending time with her two Shih-tzus. 🐾 🏒

🌟 With Kenna as your guide, you’ll find compassionate support and effective strategies to navigate life’s challenges and cultivate healing and growth.

Meet Lisa Curial! 

Lisa has been a Registered Psychologist in Alberta since 2014. She has worked all over the province supporting some of Alberta’s most complex and diverse students. First working with the Calgary Board of Education, Lisa travelled province-wide supporting students in rural communities as well as throughout Calgary. Following, she moved to a position with Edmonton Public Schools working with diverse children in Edmonton.

Lisa has worked with children with a wide range of differences and ages. She has extensive experience working with children with differences such as autism spectrum disorder, learning disabilities, behavioural difficulties, ADHD, ODD, gifted students and those with social/emotional difficulties. She has also worked with children who are non-verbal. She has particular interest in reading and completed her master’s thesis in reading disabilities.

Lisa has worked with the College of Alberta Psychologists as an oral examiner of future psychologists.

Lisa also has run workshops for parents looking for additional behavioural strategies for their children, is a regular guest blogger for local influencer Life of Dr. Mom, and has appeared on podcasts talking about topics such as childhood anxiety and common childhood behavioural challenges.

In her spare time, Lisa enjoys being with her husband and two small boys. As a family they enjoy being outdoors, skiing, and travelling.

Meet Viviana Nieto, our Emotional Behavioral Specialist (EBS) at Alberta Therapy Co. 

With extensive experience in specialized schools, Viviana excels in supporting children with high-risk behaviors and mental health challenges, including Autism, ADHD, ODD, and more. She collaborates closely with instructional and home teams to create personalized intervention plans based on thorough data collection and research-based strategies.

As a Behavioral Consultant, Viviana focuses on building strong connections with children and their families, emphasizing individualized support and innovative behavioral strategies. She believes in empowering parents as key partners in their child’s success, offering compassionate guidance and effective intervention plans tailored to unique needs.

Outside of work, Viviana enjoys time at the gym and cheering on her children at soccer and tennis practices. Her passion for supporting families shines through her commitment to creating positive outcomes and fostering connections.

Meet Katie Gruszecki, our compassionate and dedicated Registered Provisional Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists.  

Katie holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Education, and a Master of Counselling Psychology. She provides individual counseling to children, youth, and adults facing life challenges and mental health concerns, bringing a wealth of experience from her background as an elementary school teacher and mental health counselor.

Katie has worked extensively with individuals dealing with trauma, anxiety, depression, autism spectrum disorder, and behavioral concerns. For the past three years, she lived and worked in Indigenous communities in Northern Alberta, facilitating youth community engagement sessions and su***de prevention initiatives, and providing individual therapy during times of crisis.

Katie employs a variety of therapeutic approaches, including play therapy, narrative therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and solution-focused therapy, to meet each client’s unique needs. She also offers couples therapy using the Gottman approach. Outside of work, Katie enjoys exploring the outdoors with her French bulldog, Ivan, as well as cooking, yoga, and working out! 

We are thrilled to have Katie’s expertise and empathetic approach on our team! 🌟

Meet Colleen Cramer, our dedicated Occupational Therapist with a diverse background in both mental health therapy and occupational therapy. 

Colleen graduated with a Master’s in Occupational Therapy from the University of Alberta in 2013 and has developed a special interest in maternal mental health and pediatric feeding. As a mom to three children with feeding struggles, she understands the stress of mealtime and is passionate about making it a time of connection and comfort for families.

Colleen’s therapeutic approach includes comprehensive assessments to uncover the ‘why’ behind feeding challenges, and she collaborates with families to create meaningful, functional, and enjoyable plans. Besides her feeding specialization, Colleen supports family mental health, emotional regulation, daily activities, sensory integration, and motor development. Outside of work, she enjoys outdoor adventures with her family and savoring good coffee. ☕️

We are thrilled to have Colleen’s expertise and compassionate approach on our team!

Meet Radhika Dhunnoo, our Board Certified Behaviour Analyst with over 12 years of experience working with children!  

Radhika has an empathetic and playful approach, supporting families both in the school system and within home services. She specializes in children’s academic needs, independence, social skills, and daily living skills, creating meaningful changes in her clients’ lives through a strengths-based and connection approach.

Radhika’s expertise extends to working with complex diagnoses, and she also provides Sand Tray therapy for children who have faced internal struggles and found traditional talk therapy challenging. We are thrilled to have Radhika’s experience and compassionate approach on our team!

🌟 Meet Claire Burry, one of our dedicated Speech Language Pathologists! 

Claire moved to Edmonton in 2012 to further her education, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and Psychology and a Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Alberta.

Claire started her career as a school-based SLP, providing assessment and intervention for children with various communication needs. Her professional journey has fostered a special interest in speech sound disorders. Claire aims to help children develop pride in who they are by supporting their communication skills, making intervention fun and engaging by considering each child’s unique strengths and interests.

Claire’s additional qualifications include membership in the Alberta College of Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists, PODD Introductory Training, DTTC for CAS, Standard First Aid + CPR Level C, and ongoing training in The Learn Play Thrive Approach to Autism.

We’re thrilled to have her expertise and passion on our team!

🌟 Meet Christina Ferber, a dedicated and passionate psychologist with over 20 years of experience working with children, youth, and parents in schools, clinics, and private practice settings. 

Christina is a registered psychologist in Alberta, specializing in Synergetic play therapy, sand tray therapy, and creative techniques to engage children and youth. Utilizing an attachment-focused approach, she integrates principles from Emotion Focused Family Therapy, NeuroRelational Framework, Gottman Emotion Coaching, and the Circle of Security program. Christina enjoys helping clients of all ages with a variety of concerns, including depression, anxiety, OCD, and trauma. 

She is committed to tapping into each individual’s inner strength to build resilience and hope. With a special interest in positive psychology and mindfulness practices, Christina uses a client-centered approach to explore concerns and provide tailored interventions.

Christina offers free phone consultations to answer any questions you may have prior to booking. 
For more information, reach out! We’d be happy to help. (780) 441-1220

Meet Claire Kjeld, our Registered Dietitian at Alberta Therapy Co.

With a career spanning since 2006 across both the United States and Canada, Claire brings a wealth of experience from diverse settings, including primary care, health and wellness, sports, pediatric, and clinical nutrition.

Claire’s passion lies in helping families navigate feeding and nutrition challenges, whether due to medical conditions, special needs, picky eating, or food sensitivities. She also offers her expertise to adults dealing with health concerns like weight management, diabetes, high cholesterol, and gastrointestinal issues.

In the sports world, Claire educates athletes and teams on tailored nutrition strategies to boost performance. Her practical recommendations are designed to meet the unique needs of each individual or team she works with.

Building trusting relationships is the cornerstone of Claire’s practice. She provides services like nutrition analysis, supplement assessment, metabolic rate testing, feeding therapy, meal time observations, workshops, and athlete nutrition coaching.

Appointments are flexible, available in-office, online, in-home, or at team facilities.

Claire Kjeld is here to guide you on your nutrition journey with expertise and care.

Claire offers free phone consultations to answer any questions you may have prior to booking. 

For more information, reach out! We’d be happy to help. (780) 441-1220

👋🏼 Meet Aleksandra!

Aleksandra is a Registered Provisional Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Arts in Psychology and a master’s degree in counseling. Aleksandra specializes in providing individual counseling to children (ages 8+), youth, and adults facing frequent patterns of distress, such as chronic stress, emotional dysregulation, and dependency on devices. She aims to help clients gain new perspectives on the origins of these patterns, voice previously unexpressed experiences, and discover more functional ways of existing in the world.

With extensive experience working with various demographics, including students and first responders, Aleksandra has tackled issues like developmental trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, addiction, and grief. Her professional journey spans diverse settings like addictions and recovery centers, outpatient treatment centers, and private practice.

Aleksandra prioritizes establishing genuine connections with her clients, believing it’s crucial for successful therapy. She tailors therapy to individual needs, fostering authenticity, compassion, and humor to create a safe environment. Her approach integrates psychodynamic, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), alongside mindfulness and somatic therapy techniques. This enables her to develop practical strategies for deeper exploratory work, addressing concerns like anxiety, depression, addiction, trauma, and relationship issues.

Aleksandra warmly welcomes individuals from all walks of life to her practice, aiming to help clients achieve their goals while gaining a profound understanding of themselves and their connections with others.

Meet Erin Villas! 👋🏼

Erin is a Registered Speech Language Pathologist that completed her Masters in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of Alberta. 

While using play-based therapy, she is passionate in empowering families and collaborating with them to target goals that are functional and meaningful to their lives. Erin’s areas of interest are speech sound disorders, early language intervention, and working with augmentative and alternative communication tools for children with complex communication needs.

Erin is a compassionate, fun, energetic member of the Simon Says Inc. and Alberta Therapy Co. team. As a born and raised Edmontonian, Erin is passionate about the opportunity to give back to the community she loves through her work as a Speech Language Pathologist. 

Erin offers free phone consultations to answer any questions you may have prior to booking. 

For more information, reach out! We’d be happy to help. (780) 441-1220

Meet Jessica Edwards, one of our skilled Occupational Therapists here at Alberta Therapy Co.

Jessica grew up in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island and completed her Bachelor of Kinesiology at the University of British Columbia. She then moved to Edmonton to complete her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at the University of Alberta. 

During her career, she has supported children through her work at non-profit organizations, private practice, and school boards. Her experiences working on multi-disciplinary teams and forming collaborative relationships allow her to truly deliver a family-centred approach to practice. 

Jessica’s clinical scope of practice includes assessment and intervention around feeding and swallowing, sensory and motor development, visual-motor development, activities of daily living, and challenging behaviours. She strongly believes that therapy should be play-based, individualized and most importantly, fun! 

Jessica offers free phone consultations to answer any questions you may have prior to booking. 

For more information, reach out! We’d be happy to help. (780) 441-1220

Meet Lauren Pitchforth, our very own Child and Youth Counsellor!

Lauren is deeply passionate about helping adolescents and their families navigate through the many of challenges life can throw our way. 

With a master’s degree in Child and Youth Care, she has dedicated over seven years of her career to supporting young people and their families in hospital and mental health school settings.Throughout her career, she’s had the privilege of working with diverse groups of adolescents and families facing a wide range of struggles. 

“My goal is to empower young people to recognize that their problems are separate from their identities, and that they possess the resilience to overcome them no matter how difficult it may seem.” 

Lauren’s specializes in supporting individuals dealing with anxiety, depression, OCD, ADHD, family separation, and complex trauma. Her versatility is an asset to our dynamic team, utilizing a variety of therapeutic approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), exposure therapy, narrative therapy, and play therapy, always tailoring my approach to meet the unique needs of each individual.

Lauren is a empathetic, compassionate member of our team, dedicated to creating a safe and supportive environment where clients can explore their thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment. 

“My approach is grounded in empathy, compassion, and a deep understanding of the developmental needs of adolescents. Continuing education is important to me, and I make it a point in my life to stay informed about the latest research and best practices in mental health. Outside of my clinical practice, I enjoy going to the gym, practicing mindfulness and spending quality time with my loved ones. 

I am excited to meet you and support you in becoming an even more remarkable version of yourself.”

Lauren offers free phone consultations to answer any questions you may have prior to booking. 

For more information, reach out! We’d be happy to help. (780) 441-1220

👋🏼 Meet Kathy Simon, the heart behind Simon Says Speech Inc. and Alberta Therapy Co. 💙

Raised in Newfoundland, Kathy’s journey into speech pathology was fueled by the friendly nature of her home province, and the chatty environment fostered by her loving parents. 🌊

💬🗣️ After obtaining her Masters of Clinical Science in Speech Language Pathology at Western University, Kathy served rural and remote communities in Northern Ontario, working with all ages in various environments. 

It was then that Kathy discovered the power of an interdisciplinary team. 🤝

Now based in Edmonton, Kathy’s dedication shines as she advocates for children with complex communication needs, empowering families to find their voices. With a wealth of qualifications and a steadfast commitment to ongoing education, Kathy is your ally in Edmonton and beyond, ready to support your family each and every step of the way! 💙

🌟 Unsure if an SLP is the next step for your family? Kathy Simon is available for FREE 20 minute phone or video consultations to help you gain clarity and feel confident the journey ahead!

Let’s talk about neuroaffirming language❤️ to honour all types of brains🧠​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Nowadays, more and more people voice their experiences as neurodivergent adults 🫶 Lived experiences help us reframe our language to be more affirming and aim to remove the stigmas attached to deficit driven language.

How can we change our everyday language to be more respectful of those we love💭?

It’s easy! Making little changes and reframing your phrasing makes all the difference for those around you 🌍

Above are some examples of putting the neuroaffirming model ahead of the deficit-based model!

What is your favorite change that you recognize?

Alberta Therapy Co. ⛰️ presents…. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Is Baby Ready to try Solids? 🍓🍇🍎

Our registered dietitian, Claire Kjeld, alongside our occupational therapist, Jessica Edwards, will give your family the run down 📈📊 on introducing solid foods to your baby!

Let our experts guide you in the best and safest methods to take this big next step🪜

Join our Feeding Team on April 20th @ The Fourth in Southgate Centre and ask any and all questions you may have about introducing your baby to solid foods! 🫶

The workshop will begin at 10:30 am. We cannot wait to see you there❤️🥳

Today is World Down Syndrome Day❤️​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Grab your most colourful socks🧦 it’s time to celebrate 🥳

Today is a dedicated day to advocate for inclusion, celebration, and the rights of people with Down Syndrome🌏💜

Happy International Women’s Day❤️💜💙​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Women owned, women ran, and all women therapists, women keep this company going 🌏

We could not do it without all the amazing women working at home, at the clinic, and in the homes of our clients to provide therapy in any setting we can🫶

Thank you for being the strong women you are🥳 today is for you