Our Team

CO-FOUNDER & OPERATIONS MANAGER

Andrea (She/her) is an Early Childhood Educator with 15 years of experience working with children in diverse environments, she is also a mother of two girls. Andrea has extensive experience developing curriculums using a play-based learning model to promote child development. She has experience supporting children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families in various communities throughout Toronto. Andrea has completed several trainings and workshops on mindfulness therapies, children’s mental health, self compassion, positive parenting, ASD and ADHD.

Andrea understands the challenges of raising children and the obstacles parents are presented with on a daily basis. She believes in using positive parenting strategies and is passionate about teaching other families how to develop mutual respect, encourage open communication and ultimately develop trustworthy family relationships!

On her free time Andrea is often out in nature with her family, or getting creative at home with one of her many hobbies!

INTAKE & FAMILY SERVICE COORDINATOR

Nicky (She/Her) is a Registered Early Childhood Educator with over 14 years of experience working with children and families in diverse environments. She has held various roles within the childcare sector. Including Centre Director where she led teams and supported families with care, compassion and care coordination, where she supported families in navigating services through the Ontario Autism Program. Nicky is passionate about creating nurturing, inclusive spaces where every family feels valued and supported.

Her diverse experience has given her a deep understanding of child development and the importance of individualized care. Nicky believes in meeting each child and family where they are, fostering growth through play, connection, and meaningful relationships. She strives to create environments that encourage curiosity, confidence, and a sense of belonging.

In her free time, Nicky loves exploring new restaurants around the city and cherishing every moment she gets to make new memories with her family.

CLINICAL DIRECTOR

Kristin (She/Her) is a Registered Behaviour Analyst and Mental Health Clinician with over 12 years of experience providing evidence based therapy to neurodivergent children and youth. She holds a Master’s degree in Applied Disability Studies from Brock University and is an approved clinical supervisor of the Ontario Autism Program (OAP). Kristin is passionate about helping children with Autism, ADHD, and other exceptionalities build meaningful skills and embrace their unique potential!

Believing that therapy should be fun and engaging, Kristin uses a play-based approach to teaching, making every session something children look forward to. She combines creativity with evidence-based methods from Positive Psychology, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Clinical Behaviour Analysis, and mindfulness to create holistic, trauma-informed programs. Her goal is to foster emotional regulation, confidence, and resilience while promoting overall wellness and joy in learning.

Outside of work, Kristin loves traveling, exploring nature, hiking, kayaking, or camping with her pets by her side.

CLINICAL SERVICES MANAGER
CLINICAL SUPERVISOR

Frank Nicolson (she/her) is a Registered Behaviour Analyst (Ont.) with a Master of Education in Applied Behaviour Analysis from Monash University, Australia. She has been a dedicated member of the behaviour analysis community since 2009, supporting families around the world in Australia, the U.S. and now Canada. She's passionate about collaborating with families to help neurodivergent children build values-driven lives and help them discover a love of learning they can take with them through their lives. 

When she's not cheering on families at Willow Tree, you'll probably find Frank doing improv theatre. Improv is her second passion with its welcoming and inclusive community where laughter and fun are always encouraged. Doing improv means celebrating mistakes, forgetting your worries, and truly embracing the present moment with fellow players.

CLINICAL LEAD - MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
SOCIAL WORKER

Safia (She/Her) is the Clinical Lead for Mental Health Services at Willow Tree Mind & Wellness. She is a Registered Social Worker with a Master of Social Work, a BA in Child and Developmental Psychology, and a certification in Autism and Behavioural Sciences.
Safia is currently completing her PhD in Social Work at York University. Safia’s research and clinical interests have focused on better understanding how intersectionality impacts child, youth, and family mental health. Safia is passionate about supporting the socioemotional needs of children and youth with diverse dis/abilities, and uses client-centered, anti-oppressive, neurodiversity-affirming approaches in all her work. Safia has extensive experience in children’s mental health, child development, ABA therapies and play based therapies for neurodivergent youth. Safia provides direct therapy to children, and parent consultation as well as clinical supervision to the child and youth therapists at Willow Tree.

In her free time, Safia enjoys watching basketball and social strategy games, painting, and spending time with loved ones.

SENIOR CHILD & YOUTH THERAPIST

Jordana (she/her) is passionate about developing fun and engaging programs as the Senior Child & Youth Therapist at Willow Tree!  Jordana emphasizes skill building, using ABA and mental wellbeing approaches to tailor programs to each child.

Jordana is currently completing a Master’s degree specializing in ABA. Her previous education includes a Master’s degree in Developmental Psychology and Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) as well as a diploma in Behavioural Science from Seneca college and received her undergraduate degree from York University in Psychology where she conducted research focusing on the ways coping strategies can mediate stress experienced by parents of children with ASD.

Jordana enjoys spending time with her dog and teaching him new tricks. She is always trying to learn new things by asking questions, researching, and gaining new experiences! 

SOCIAL WORKER

Victoria Polese (she/her) is a social worker and child and youth therapist at Willow Tree. She has a Bachelors Degree in Social Work from York University and is a Registered Social worker with the OCSWSSW. She has experience learning about children with autism from her educational background and from living with her three and sixteen year old nephew who have autism. Victoria is most passionate about providing children with the skills they need to love themselves and to navigate the issues that arise as they grow! She is excited to do this through creating a safe and fun space for children to explore their interests, identity and skills. 

On Victoria's free time, you can find her going to the gym, journaling, or reading. She enjoys working on self-love and learning new and healthy ways of being expressive. 

INSTRUCTOR THERAPIST

Anjali Joseph is a supervised instructor therapist at Willow Tree. She holds a certificate in Autism and Behavioral Science and has a Master’s degree in Social Work from India. She is passionate about supporting children with developmental needs, using her education and experience to create engaging and meaningful opportunities for growth. Anjali is committed to fostering a safe, supportive environment where children can develop new skills and build confidence as they navigate their unique journeys.

She loves to read and If not at Willow Tree, you can find her at the nearby library!

REGISTERED SOCIAL WORKER

Kim Morden (she/her) is a social worker at Willow Tree Mind & Wellness registered with the OCSWSSW.
With experience in counselling and supporting refugee and immigrant children as well as her experience supporting adolescents with Autism and ADHD, Kimberly is passionate about helping kids and teens feel safe, understood, and empowered in their unique journeys. She takes a strengths-based approach, focusing on emotional regulation, self-confidence, and social skills through engaging, fun and practical strategies.

Outside of work, Kimberly enjoys unwinding at the dog park with her pup, getting lost in a good science fiction book, and diving into educational podcasts to keep learning and growing.

Registered Social Worker

Rubab Arif (she/her) is a Social Worker registered with the OCSWSSW. She has a Bachelor's degree in Social Work (BSW) from York University and has a strong background in supporting children and youth from diverse minority communities.

Rubab is especially passionate about working with children who have ADHD and Autism. She brings warmth, patience, and a playful energy into every space she enters, helping kids build confidence, think critically, and grow into kind, compassionate leaders. Whether she’s supporting group sessions or one-on-one therapy, Rubab always strives to create an environment where every child feels seen, valued, and excited to grow.

In her spare time, Rubab enjoys spending quality time with her nieces, watching TV shows and discovering new places to explore in the city.

REGISTERED SOCIAL WORKER (CLINICAL)

Bevina Sebastine (she/her) is a social worker at Willow Tree. Originally from India, she holds a Master’s degree in Social Work and is a Registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. Bevina brings diverse experience from hospital and community settings, supporting children, youth, and families through challenges related to anxiety, depression, trauma, emotional regulation, substance use, and life transitions.

Bevina is passionate about fostering a safe and supportive environment where children and youth can explore their emotions, develop resilience, and gain the tools to thrive. She incorporates trauma-informed and evidence-based approaches such as CBT, DBT, and Solution-Focused Therapy to provide compassionate and collaborative care that meets each young person’s unique needs.

Outside of her clinical work, Bevina values balance and creativity. She enjoys spending time with her dog, organizing community events, and engaging in activities that promote connection, mindfulness, and personal well-being.

LEAD ABA THERAPIST

Meet Hephzibah!
Hephzibah (she/her) is a Lead ABA Therapist who loves helping kids learn, grow, and have fun while building important life skills! She has a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and specialized training in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA). She knows lots of fun and creative ways to help kids communicate, make friends, and feel confident!

Hephzibah believes that Learning should be an adventure and enjoys making every session exciting with games, activities, and lots of encouragement. She is also trained in Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) and harm reduction strategies, and has completed a certificate in addictions and mental health, she always makes sure everyone feels safe and supported.

When she’s not working with kids, Hephzibah loves painting, exploring new places, and baking delicious treats! She even enjoys discovering cool new playgrounds and fun activities to share. She can’t wait to help kids reach their goals and have fun along the way!

ABA THERAPIST

Ashley (she/her) is an ABA Therapist with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology. She has experience working with children with ASD and ADHD in both 1:1 and group settings, running social groups that promote social-emotional learning and teamwork. She also facilitates play-based academy classes, believing that play-based teaching fosters meaningful learning experiences for young children.

In her free time, she enjoys attending yoga classes for mindfulness and relaxation, as well as watching documentaries to continuously expand her knowledge.

Early Intervention Facilitator

Danielle (she/her) is an Early Intervention Facilitator, she is a Registered Early Childhood Educator with over 10 years of experience working with children.  She graduated from Centennial College for Early Childhood Education. Danielle has a passion for instilling kindness, play based learning and helping young children to grow and flourish as individuals. 
She focuses on providing a positive, joyful and inviting space for all children in her care. She believes that together, we can help your child develop skills that they can carry with them through each chapter of life.

Danielle is also a mother and bring this unique perspective when supporting young children. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her son exploring nature.

Lead ABA Therapist
Leutrime Lahu (she/her), is currently completing her Masters Degree in Applied Disability Studies, specializing in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) at Brock University. She has five years of experience in the field of ABA, supporting children with autism and developmental disabilities in both clinical and educational settings. Her experience includes program implementation and writing, training mediators, and conducting assessments. 

Leutrime is passionate about combining evidence-based practices with engaging, practical interventions that foster meaningful skill development in children. She is eager to continue her growth in the field of ABA and is pursuing certification as a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) and RBA. In her spare time, she enjoys weight training at the gym, cooking new recipes, and spending quality time with her sisters by exploring cafés, and traveling together.

ABA Therapist

Ruben (he/him) is an ABA Therapist who loves helping kids learn, grow, and have fun while building important life skills. He has a diploma in Autism & Behavioural Science program from George Brown College and also holds a certificate in Addictions and Mental Health from Fanshawe College. In addition, Ruben has a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Psychology. 

Ruben has hands-on experience facilitating group programs where he supported children in communication, executive functioning, self-regulation, and friendship building. His sessions are playful and active turning learning into an adventure with games, movement, and lots of encouragement.

Outside of work, Ruben’s love for sports shines through. Whether it’s playing football, staying active, or exploring fitness, he brings the same energy and enthusiasm to his work with kids!

REGISTERED BEHAVIOUR ALANYST

Madelene (she/her) is a Behaviour Analyst since in 2018. Since that time, she has worked across a variety of settings including schools, group homes, hospitals, and community environments, bringing a broad perspective to her behaviour-analytic practice. She is a member of the Ontario Association of Behaviour Analysis (ONTABA) and a clinical supervisor of the Ontario Autism Program (OAP).  She holds a Level 6 credential in the Skills-Based Treatment (SBT) method, a specialised credential for managing and treating severe problem behaviours through functional assessment and skill-based intervention,  implementing ethical, compassionate interventions rooted in best-practice standards. 

Outside of work, you’ll most likely find her curled up on the couch watching documentaries, enjoying relaxed time with her dog sleeping her side.