The Fourth Trimester: Strategies to Thrive for Mom and Babe, By Dr. Jennifer Castle, ND- Naturopathic Doctor and Sleep Consultant
Topics:
• Physical healing tips for Mom: Nutrition and Self-Care
• Mental/emotional supports to put in place
• Sleep Hygiene for Mom and Babe: What should sleep look like?
I am a registered Social Worker with a Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Social Work from McMaster University. I am extremely passionate about perinatal mental health, children’s mental health, and supporting caregivers as they experience the many joys and challenges of parenthood. I have completed the Maternal Mental Health Certificate Training for Mental Health and Clinical Professionals, and the Advanced Perinatal Mental Health Psychotherapy Certificate Training offered through Postpartum Support International. I have a background of over five years experience in children’s mental health, including caregiver and family therapy. I have training in various therapeutic modalities including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Emotion-Focused Family Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Emotion-Focused Therapy. At the MomMe Clinic, I offer psychotherapy services to both children and adults, aged 7 and up.
I strive to create a non-judgmental and welcoming space for individuals to feel comfortable and safe sharing their experiences. I truly believe that the therapeutic relationship is the most important factor influencing positive outcomes and success in therapy. Therefore, I focus on building strong, genuine connections with clients and working collaboratively toward their self-identified goals. I know that every individual is different with their own unique story, and therefore I draw from various modalities to explore and get a better understanding of the thoughts, feelings, and emotions that are impacting you. I look forward to getting to know you and being a part of your circle of support.
Sara is available on Wednesdays. For more availability, please contact the MomMe Clinic.
Hi, my name is Lana. I am an Osteopathic Manual Therapist and Bioenergetic Medicine Practitioner. I also hold a diploma in practical nursing and worked for Hamilton Health Sciences for 10 years.
This combined education gives me a greater understanding of medical conditions and how to apply this knowledge to my practice to treat you as a whole person and to provide personalized treatment for every patient.
Osteopathic treatments help to ease pain, reduce tissue tension, improve the overall quality of life, speed the healing of the body, and reduce the impact of illness in everyday life.
My goal is to help you restore movement and alignment within your body so that your body functions better and heals itself.
Nimra completed her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from McGill University, and a Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Brighton in England. She is a Registered Occupational Therapist (OT) in good standing with the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario, and a member of the Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists.
Nimra has worked with children with ASD, developmental disabilities, sensory processing needs, mental health needs, and physical disabilities in school-based and community settings. She has provided interventions to support with sensory processing, motor planning, self-care activities, gross and fine motor skills, visual-spatial skills, self-regulation, handwriting, and classroom skills.
Nimra is a certified DIRFloortime® practitioner. She has experience using this evidence-based method as an assessment and treatment tool to support children with social-emotional needs, particularly children on the autism spectrum. She has coached and supported parents and caregivers with incorporating Floortime at home to better engage with their child.
Alongside Occupational Therapy, Nimra is a visual artist and has years of experience facilitating arts-based workshops. She is passionate about bringing a creative, play-based approach to each session that incorporates the unique interests of the child. She believes that celebrating their strengths and helping parents to identify and amplify these strengths can increase motivation and overall engagement with therapy.
Nimra is available at the clinic on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11am – 5pm.
Throughout her career working in pediatric community care and school-based rehabilitation, she has supported children from birth to 19 years with a wide range of issues including accessibility and equipment needs, sensory processing needs, emotional regulation and executive functioning challenges, and fine and gross motor delays. She has additional training in managing complex feeding concerns in infants and toddlers and she loves working with parents/caregivers to support baby’s optimal growth, development and exploration.
Andrea is passionate about partnering with children and their families to help them succeed in the daily occupations that matter most to them. She uses a strengths-based approach and neurodiversity-affirming lens to empower families to better understand how to help their unique child thrive. Andrea firmly believes in a no one-size-fits-all approach. With creativity, compassion, connection and good old-fashioned fun, therapy becomes something that kids want to do – all while building skills, confidence and a positive sense of self. Andrea is dedicated to helping children and their families become the best version of themselves and participate fully in all life has to offer.
Andrea is a Registered Occupational Therapist (OT) in good standing with the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario and a member of the Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists.
Dipti completed her Master in Neurorehabilitation at Brunel University, United Kingdom in 2013 after completing a Bachelors of Physiotherapy from India. Dipti discovered her passion for working with children while in school and since graduating has worked in Pediatrics. During this time she pursued additional training focusing primarily on the assessment of children’s development and Pediatric treatment strategies. She incorporates play based therapy, parents coaching, individualized home exercise programming based on family centred treatment approach. Her practice is mainly aimed at treating children aged newborn to 18 years for various conditions including delayed milestones, Torticollis and Plagiocephaly, Cerebral Palsy and a variety of other movement and Neurological Disorders, Genetic Disorders, Toe Walking, Low Muscle Tone and strength, core strengthening and postural imbalances. She believes the most important part of therapy is to educate the families and parents so they feel empowered in handling their infants and children. When not working, Dipti enjoys spending time with her son and husband, cooking, making art, and meditating.
As a Naturopathic Doctor, I am fueled by helping people make connections between what contributes to their health and what does not and encouraging them to make choices in their days that make their lives better. Patients come to me with either acute or chronic health conditions and we set goals around how they want to feel and figure out what needs to be done to get them there. We do this work together by discussing current and past health concerns, food choices and digestive health, exercise and movement, medications/supplements, lab tests, stress levels, sleep habits, mental and emotional health, anything else that needs to be discussed, and then set some achievable goals. Sleep consulting is also a big and wonderful part of my practice that I started to focus on when my children were babies, and we were all struggling with sleep. I value sleep and I believe proper sleep hygiene needs to be encouraged starting in infancy. When we sleep well, we become healthier and more capable in all aspects of our life.
I am a licensed Naturopathic Doctor with the College of Naturopaths of Ontario (CONO) and a current member of both the Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors (OAND) and the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (CAND). I am also a Certified Child Sleep Consultant trained by The Family Sleep Institute.
Please get in touch with the office for the schedule.
Stephanie is passionate about providing science-based nutrition advice to help you have a happy and healthy pregnancy and to set up the next generation for good health! She takes a client-centred approach to provide personalized nutrition recommendations. Stephanie is a Registered Dietitian (RD) in good standing with the College of Dietitians of Ontario, and a member of Dietitians of Canada. She obtained an Honors Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Western University, followed by a dietetic internship at London Health Sciences Centre, during which she helped a diverse range of individuals with their nutrition concerns.
Please get in touch with the office for the schedule.
Camilla (She/Her) is a mom to twins, Registered Nurse (RN), International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), Baby-led Sleep and Wellness Consultant, Registered Circle of Security Parenting Facilitator and Perinatal Mental Health Psychotherapy certified (PMH-C).
She has been a RN for over 25+ years in various nursing specialities including infection control, maternal child health, public health, infant mental health and perinatal mental health.She has been an IBCLC for over 14+ years in hospital, community clinics and private practice. She has taken advanced training and education in many different lactation issues some of those being: Tethered Oral Tissues(TOT) commonly known as “tongue ties”, breastfeeding multiples, low milk supply, relactation, neurologically compromised and premature infants, and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
She is a strong advocate for maternal and infant mental health and has years (& years) of experience working with parents as an early years parent educator for a children’s mental health agency. She helps parents navigate the hardest job anyone will ever have with down-to-earth practical approaches that focus on the parent-child relationship. As a certified baby-led sleep and wellness specialist she helps parents understand normal infant and child sleep and how to survive (& thrive) during the early years without having to resort to “sleep training”. She practices from an attachment-based perspective and helps parents learn to listen to their “gut”, tune in to their baby’s cues and know that this journey was never meant to be done with-out the support of others.
As a physiotherapist with a focus on pelvic health and orthopedics, I empower women to take control of their health, stay active, and laugh often (leak free). I help people understand what is going on in their body and make plans to help them progress towards their lifestyle or exercise goals. My hope is to spread the word that pelvic health concerns are common, not so embarrassing, and not an inevitable part of aging or childbirth. With a strong interest in women’s health, I entered the pelvic physiotherapy field immediately upon graduation. My clinical experience has focused on women at all stages of life with concerns such as incontinence, pelvic pain during sexual activity, diastasis, and more. I also have significant experience treating adults with orthopedic injuries or chronic pain with complex health backgrounds.
It is my top priority to create a compassionate, sensitive, and relaxed environment for each client that they can share openly within. Treatment plans we develop collaboratively are client centered with a biopsychosocial approach and are based on current evidence and/or best practice.
I received my BSc in Kinesiology from Queen’s University in 2009 and my MSc in Physiotherapy from McMaster University in 2015. I am a member of the Canadian and Ontario Physiotherapy Associations, and the Women’s Health Division. When I’m not at work, I can be found spending time with my husband and three young kiddos, exercising (currently a fan of HIIT), volunteering on the board of directors of a local non-profit daycare, or enjoying a massive mug of cream of earl grey tea.
Leanne graduated from York University with a Honours Bachelor of Arts Specialising in Kinesiology (H.BA. Kin) and an Athletic Therapy Diploma. Leanne was certified as an Athletic Therapist in 2008. Leanne went on to complete her Advanced Diploma in Massage Therapy from the Ontario College of Health and Technology and was registered as a massage therapist in 2013. Leanne is in good standing with the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario, the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association and the Ontario Athletic Therapists Association.
Leanne has a wide range of experience, from working with various sports teams at different levels (the Hamilton Minor Football Association, U20 women’s rep soccer team, the Canadian Women’s U20 ball hockey team are a few), to children and adults with special needs and different types of neurological conditions, as well as recreational athletes, pregnant women and new and seasoned moms and dads. Leanne is a newer mom herself and this experience has been eye opening about how much more can be done to support moms and families throughout pregnancy and new family experience and the physical toll it can take.
Throughout Leanne’s years of working with people from all different walks of life, Leanne continues to be passionate about learning about where her clients are in their journey and doing what she can to help them get more out of life.
Leanne uses a variety of techniques in her practice including myofascial release, Soft Tissue Release Techniques, lymphatic drainage, Muscle Energy Techniques as well as Cranial Sacral techniques in addition to Swedish and traditional massage techniques. Leanne meets each client where they are and tailors her techniques and approach to their individual treatment needs and goals.
Nicole Kristensen is a Registered Social Worker with a Bachelors Degree in Social Work from McMaster University. She has worked with a wide range of clientele over the course of her career, including individuals living with a variety of mental health and medical diagnoses, including depression, anxiety, traumatic brain injuries, and chronic pain. Nicole is committed to honouring each person’s unique journey and she focuses on providing a person-centered and strength’s based approach to therapy. Nicole’s therapeutic approach draws upon Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness Based treatment modalities. Nicole is also a Certified Vocational Rehabilitation Professional with experience providing career counselling services. Nicole is in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) and the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW).
