Dr. Anna Grivas Matejka, C.Psych.

Dr. Anna Grivas Matejka is a Registered Child and Adolescent Psychologist at Growing Minds. She specializes in psychological and developmental assessments of children and adolescents. She has expertise in the assessment of ASD, Intellectual Disability, Learning Disabilities, ADHD, behaviour and social/emotional difficulties. 

Dr. Matejka also provides cognitive behaviour therapy for children and adolescents with significant anxiety, mood disorders and anger management concerns. 

Dr. Matejka provides coaching and consultation to parents, educators and other clinicians to ensure the ongoing growth and development of the client. 

Dr. Danielle Ostfield is a Registered Child Psychologist  who specializes in working with individuals who have received a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and/or Learning Disability. She has extensive experience in psychological and developmental assessments of young children and adolescents, and a special interest in Early Intervention for young children with or at risk of a diagnosis of ASD.  

Danielle has previously held positions at the The Autism Research Unit at The Hospital for Sick Children, North York General Hospital, The Toronto District School Board, and ISAND.

Dr. Laurie Vismara is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over 20 years of experience working closely with children, families, and early childhood professionals in autism intervention. She is a co-author and developer of the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) parent coaching, as well as certified therapist and trainer in the ESDM. 

Laurie's family-centered approach recognizes parents as their child's first and most natural teacher. Specific knowledge and understanding of child development, interactive teaching strategies, and the effects of early autism integrate with parents' motivation to support their child's learning and innate understanding of their child's abilities and interests, as well as their family life and daily routines. Together a systematic process of family-focused goals and strategies unfold to support a child's learning and development inside play and other everyday parent-child interactions. 

Dr. Cynthia Maya Beristain is a Registered Child and Adolescent Psychologist. She has extensive experience in assessment of neurodevelopmental differences (LD, ADHD, ASD, Intellectual Disability) and socioemotional difficulties for school-age children and adolescents. She also provides therapeutic support for children and teens who struggle with emotion and behaviour regulation and those have experienced chronic adversity while working with their parents/caregivers and consulting with school personnel. 

Cynthia has provided services at Surrey Place, Youthdale Treatment Centres, the Toronto District School Board, and private practice. She also teaches at OISE/UT and supervises graduate psychology students.  

Dr. Laura Demchuk Sloan is a Registered Psychologist with over 25 years of experience working with school-age children and youth, as well as young adults. She is highly experienced in diagnosing ADHD, LD, ASD, Intellectual Developmental Disorder, and socioemotional difficulties through psychological and developmental assessments. 

Laura has provided supervision to graduate Psychology students and recent graduates. She is a certified provider of PEERS for Adolescents and has training with other interventions. She enjoys working with families, children, and youth as well as consulting with school personnel in her role at the TDSB. She has experience in developing and/or delivering personal development (PD) related to well-being, trauma, ASD, anxiety, and developmental disabilities. 

Robert Gauthier is registered with the College of Psychologists of Ontario. He is a clinical and school psychologist with almost 40 years of experience in schools and private practice settings assessing and treating children, adolescents and adults with a variety of developmental, learning, and social-emotional needs. 

While over the past 25 years he has developed expertise in assessing and treating children, adolescents and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), his focus at Growing Minds is on assessment of older adolescents and adults with ASD. 

Dr. Andrea Maughan completed her doctorate in the Clinical-Developmental Psychology program at York University and is currently undergoing registration for Supervised Practice as a Psychologist. She also has a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Massachusetts Boston.

Andrea has experience conducting psychological assessments focused on understanding neurodevelopmental differences (LD, ADHD, ASD, Intellectual Disability) and socio-emotional functioning in children and adolescents. Her intervention experience has focused on providing cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to children with autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions, and she has experience and training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT). Andrea also provides parent consultation and coaching to support child emotional and behavioural difficulties. 

Andrea has provided services at the Toronto District School Board, Child Development Institute, Sick Kids Centre for Community Mental Health, and the York University Psychology Clinic. 

Dr. Brianne Drouillard is a Registered Child and Adolescent Psychologist at Growing Minds. She specializes in developmental and psychological assessments of children and adolescents, with expertise in the assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Intellectual Disability, Learning Disabilities, and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). She has a special interest in early identification of ASD, as well as parents’ experiences and emotions throughout the assessment process.

Brianne also provides services at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital and the Autism Research Centre.

Evan is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst with 10 years of experience working with teams in clinic, home, school and recreational settings. She has supported individuals who have Autism, ADHD, Learning Disabilities, and their families. Evan specializes in Natural Developmental Behaviour Intervention for young children, well as focused behaviour support and skill building for school age clients and teenagers. Areas of focus include social communication, emotional regulation, independent and adaptive life skills, and school readiness.

Evan takes a client centred, play based approach to learning, with emphasis on building connection and tailoring goals to meet each child's needs. She invites parent collaboration on developing strategies to incorporate into everyday routines and activities. In addition to individual sessions, Evan offers coaching and support for parents, as well as consultation in home and educational settings.

Orly Silberstein is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst with over 14 years of experience working with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other neurodevelopmental conditions. Orly works closely with parents and clinicians from diverse disciplines to ensure an integrated approach and generalization of skills. 

Orly strives to help children reach developmentally-appropriate goals through child-led activities, that will help increase the child and their family’s quality of life. Orly provides coaching to parents and educators to support the client consistently and effectively across settings.   

Jenni is a Child and Youth Care Practitioner who recently graduated from the George Brown College Advanced Diploma program. She is continuing her education at Toronto Metropolitan University to obtain her Bachelor of Arts in CYC.

Jenni has experience working in group formats, classroom settings, social skill programs and one to one behavioural support to a range of individuals who have Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, OCD and learning disabilities.

As a student, Jenni has completed internships at Geneva Centre for Autism where she provided respite and programming support and further completed a second placement at Junior Academy private school where she collaborated with the classroom community to provide behavioural educational and programming support in a school setting.

Gulnaz Pathan is a dedicated professional with a multifaceted background in education and psychology. Armed with a BA in Child and Youth Care and Psychology, B.Ed in the Primary/Junior Division, and Post Graduate diploma in Autism and Behavioural Science, Gulnaz brings a wealth of expertise to her role. With over a decade of experience as a Behavior Therapist and Special Educator, she has honed her skills in supporting individuals with diverse needs.

Gulnaz's approach is characterized by her caring and compassionate demeanor, underpinned by a strengths-based philosophy. She emphasizes culturally relevant pedagogy, ensuring that her interventions are tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual. Currently, Gulnaz serves as an OCT Educator, specializing in special education within her board. Her commitment to empowering students and fostering inclusive environments underscores her dedication to the field.