Meet the Expanding Horizons Team
Expanding Horizons Occupational Therapy provides occupational therapy, social work and physiotherapy services to clients living in Ottawa and surrounding areas. Occupational therapy and social work assessment and intervention can be provided in either English or French.
To learn more about the Expanding Horizons team, read the profiles below. You can click each clinician’s photo for a more detailed profile.
the team
Meg Topolnisky, B.A., MScOT Reg. (Ont.), Psychotherapist
Meg is the founder of Expanding Horizons and has many years of experience working with children and youth. She strives to enable her clients to reach their full potential in life, school, and play.
Mark Topolnisky, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Mark is the co-owner of Expanding Horizons Occupational Therapy. He brings many years of experience from a hospital based setting in addition to completing psychometry in private practice to his psychotherapy practice. Mark offers services in English and French.
Sivah, Certified Therapy Dog & CEO
Sivah is an 15 year old Labrador Retriever. Sivah has been a favourite employee of Expanding Horizons for the last 14 years. She has now entered a well-deserved retirement after years of dedicated work. Thank you Sivah for all the lives you have touched!
Lauren Pike, BScKin, MScOT Reg. (Ont.), Psychotherapist
Lauren is a passionate & hardworking OT whose positive attitude & inquisitive personality aid her in harnessing new skills & honing her expertise. She has a special interest in working with children and youth in the areas of sensory processing, sensory regulation and fine and gross motor skills.
Patrick Turcotte, BSW, MSW, RSW
Patrick is a registered clinical social worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW). He has completed a Bachelor and Master of Social Work degrees from the University of Ottawa and Western University, respectively. Patrick has extensive experience working with at-risk youth, teens, and young adults, as well as their immediate families and friends, and takes pride in creating and nurturing an open, safe, trusting, and welcoming environment in every session.
Jon Pike, BScKin, MSPT
From paediatrics to geriatrics, Jon strives to provide a fun, movement-based approach within his physiotherapy practice to help individuals of all ages achieve their goals. As a physiotherapist, his goal is to enhance movement, function, and well-being through a combination of manual therapy techniques, exercise prescription, and education on both injury management and prevention.
Carolyn Powell, BScHK, MScOT Reg. (Ont.)
Carolyn is an enthusiastic OT working with children and youth in the community, schools and mental health settings. Her interests include fine-motor assessment and teaching self-regulation strategies.
Alyssa Bergevin, BHSc, MScOT Reg. (Ont.)
Alyssa is passionate about working with teens and pre-teens in acute mental health setting. She has years of experience volunteering with kids with chronic pain. She loves to work with kids of all ages in areas of mental health, self-regulation, pain management as well as fine and gross motor skills.
Emilie Scott, BScHK, BEd, MScOT. Reg.(Ont.)
Emilie has experience working in a school setting with students from kindergarten to grade 12, with a wide variety of diagnoses and abilities. She loves working with children and youth in areas of fine motor skills, gross motor skills, self-regulation, mental health and sensory processing.
Michelle Seguin, Honours BSc BIM Neuroscience, MScOT Reg. (Ont.)
Michelle is very excited to be joining the team at Expanding Horizons. She was born and raised in a small town South-East of Ottawa and is fluently bilingual in French and English. She has special interest and background in Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and self-regulation.
Jessica Summerton, MScOT Reg. (Ont.)
Jessica is passionate and committed about working in pediatrics to help support children and their families. She has many years of experience working with children and youth with a variety of abilities, within the settings of hospitals, schools, and clinics. Her interests include Autism Spectrum Disorder, mindfulness, sensory processing, developmental milestones, learning disabilities, and fine and gross motor skills.
Jesse Friedman, MScOT Reg. (Ont.)
Jesse is a supportive, creative, and dynamic therapist. He always strives to identify goals collaboratively with clients and enjoys helping them to develop their ability to participate in meaningful activity. Jesse recognizes the importance of providing therapy to children that is safe, engaging, and fun. Jesse has experience and special interest in working with children on sensory processing, self
regulation, fine and gross motor skills, and handwriting.
Holly Brule, MScOT, Reg. (Ont.)
Holly is committed to creating a space that cultivates each
of her client’s strengths and passions and prioritizes self-efficacy, autonomy and agency in
therapy and beyond! She is excited to add to her ‘OT toolbox’ and more specifically, expand
upon her knowledge on feeding, self and emotional regulation, sensory processing and gross
and fine motor skill development.
Christopher Laguerre, MScOT Reg. (Ont.)
Chris is a motivated bilingual OT with a Master of Health Sciences in Occupational Therapy from the University of Ottawa. Fluent in French and English, Chris has a background in psychology and social work and has worked with children, teens, and youth. He focuses on enhancing clients’ engagement in meaningful activities and occupations, with strong interests in mental health, sensory integration, self-regulation, and motor skills.
Estefania Hoyos, MScOT Reg. (Ont.)
Estefania is a motivated occupational therapist who has worked with individuals of all ages and various needs. She loves helping her clients engage in activities that are the most meaningful, important and helpful to their everyday life. Estefania has worked in hospital, private practice and rehab settings.
Caitlin Stone, B.PAPM, MScOT, OT Reg. (Ont.)
As an occupational therapist, Caitlin’s special interest in the area of child and youth mental health brought her to Expanding Horizons Occupational Therapy. Caitlin’s experience and interests also include working with children and youth diagnosed with Autism, ADHD, genetic conditions, mental health concerns, and sensory-related concerns. She also has experience working with adults and youth in managing post-concussion syndrome.
Marie-Pier Audet, B.A. Crim. & Psyc., M.S.W., R.S.W.
Marie-Pier is a clinical social worker dedicated to guiding individuals toward a healthier, and more fulfilled life. She offers services in French and English. With a rich background spanning hospital, school, and community settings, she brings a wealth of experience in navigating the complexities of mental health, family dynamics, life changes, and relationship challenges. Her passion lies in understanding the unique journeys of her clients and empowering them to make positive changes.
Nicolas Ghent, MScOT, OT Reg. (Ont.)
Nick is a keen and inventive OT, dedicated to the profession and the individuals he works with. His lived and work experience equips him with skills to support mental health &
wellbeing, social-level challenges, difficulties at school and at home, and meaningful belonging for all identities. Nick has learned and worked in a variety of clinical and community settings, in English and French, with pre-teens, at-risk youth, adults, and older adults.
Nadine Ivall Boileau, MScOT Reg. (Ont.)
Nadine is a compassionate OT who believes in collaborating with her clients and their families to identify meaningful treatment goals and develop personalized treatment plans that support their flourishing. Nadine has a strong background in mental health and experience working with clients of all ages and abilities.
Hodan Farah, BSW MSW RSW
Hodan’s work extends beyond traditional boundaries, as she also serves as a mental health therapist, where she focuses on fostering growth within Francophone and immigrant communities. This dual capacity allows Hodan to offer comprehensive support tailored to the unique needs of these groups. She believes that by working together, we can create a supportive environment that promotes mutual understanding and effectively addresses mental health challenges.
Isabel Johns, MScOT Reg.(Ont.)
Isabel is an occupational therapist who is dedicated to providing person-centered and
collaborative care to children, youth, adults, and their families. She is passionate about enabling her clients to reach their occupational goals. Isabel has a special interest in mental health, sensory processing, and emotional regulation.
Isabel has recent experience in both inpatient and outpatient hospital settings, and
international occupational therapy contexts.
Denise Bédard, MScOT, OT Reg. (Ont.)
Denise is a friendly, supportive, and attentive Occupational Therapist, with a diverse
background working with clients of all ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, cultures, and abilities. She is enthusiastic about helping her clients reach their goals, no matter how big or small. She has been an occupational therapist serving the Ottawa-Gatineau region for over 10 years. Denise is bilingual and offers services in both official languages.
Megan de Cruz, MScOT, OT Reg. (Ont.)
Megan is motivated and passionate about helping individuals of all ages participate in their meaningful occupations. Megan has experience working with children, youth, and adults. Her recent experiences include hospital, rehabilitation, and private practice settings. Megan is interested in working with children in the areas of gross motor, fine motor, sensory processing, and self regulation.
Julie Brezden, MScOT, OT Reg. (Ont.)
Julie is a friendly, caring and enthusiastic OT who is passionate about helping her clients achieve their meaningful goals and reach their full potential. She has experience working with individuals of all ages in a variety of practice settings. She offers services in English and French.
Sonia Byerley, MScOT Reg. (Ont.)
Sonia is a creative and supportive occupational therapist with a passion for helping children and
youth reach their full potential. Sonia has gained diverse experience working with children, youth, and adults in a private clinic setting, hospital, in the community, and in a children’s health centre. Sonia is dedicated to providing compassionate and effective care, taking joy in being a part of her clients’ journeys toward growth and success.
Peter Soliman, MScOT, Reg. (Ont.)
Peter is a driven and passionate OT who has always had an interest in helping children and their families achieve their meaningful goals. Peter has experience working with children of younger age. Peter is interested in working with children to help them with school readiness, gross motor skills, sensory processing, and self-regulation. Peter’s passion for learning allows him to continue to grow professionally and personally.
Mila Stewart-Stevanovic, MScOT Reg. (Ont.)
Mila is passionate about the right to fully engage and participate in your life. She is dedicated to providing a compassionate, safe and fun environment with appropriate resources and strategies that individuals can apply in their everyday lives. Mila has experience working with children, youth and adults in a variety of settings including hospitals, private practice, rehab and community settings.
Giuliana Borracci, MScOT, Reg. (Ont.)
Giuliana is a compassionate and patient OT who believes in the importance of connecting with children and youth in such a way that therapy sessions are not only beneficial, but also enjoyable. She strives to create a supportive, safe environment where all feelings and emotions are valid. Giuliana has a strong background in mental health, but enjoys working with children in all aspects of their lives.
Stéphanie Bérubé, MHScOT Reg. (Ont.), B.A.
Stéphanie is a graduate from the University of Ottawa offering OT services in both English and French. She is especially interested in child and youth mental health, self-regulation as well as sensory processing.
Victoria Sarunksy, MScOT, Reg. (Ont.)
Victoria obtained a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from McMaster University. Victoria is passionate about promoting health and wellbeing through meaningful
activities and believes in taking a holistic, evidenced-based, collaborative, and relationship-centred
approach.
Barri Trager BSc, MScOT, OT Reg. (Ont.)
Barri was born and raised in Toronto. She graduated from Queen’s University with a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2009. Prior to this, she completed a Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion at Dalhousie University in 2006.
Caroline Reda Gad, Administrative Assistant
With an intriguing blend of experiences across environments, from proteomic research to retail in chain companies, Caroline can boast of customer-services satisfaction and medical literacy that will ensure that our clients receive the best care that they can with Expanding Horizons!
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