About me
Photo by John Zada.
I’m a registered occupational therapist, who also practices psychotherapy, based in Toronto, Ontario. I’ve trained in both the UK and Canada, from the University of Leeds Beckett and the University of Oxford to the SickKids Learning Institute (University of Toronto) and Compass Mental Health (BC Children’s Hospital).
Previously, I worked in a pediatric centre with autistic children and youth. In private practice, I’ve had many autistic clients who are also struggling with eating difficulties or have been diagnosed with an eating disorder.
As an advocate, speaker, fundraiser, non-profit board member, magazine publisher and mentor in the eating disorder field since 1999, I have also fully recovered from an eating disorder myself. What began as dieting and orthorexia developed into bulimia when I was a teenager. While that began over 30 years ago, what I learned from that experience has given me powerful insight into what my clients are going through. This has allowed me to connect and work with some of the most therapy-resistant teenagers with success.
I am a passionate, dedicated and approachable therapist who loves being a part of my clients’ path to recovery. I hope you’ll trust me to guide you.
~ Lori
Education:
Master of Science: MSc Occupational Therapy (Leeds Beckett University, UK)
Master of Arts: MA Dance Anthropology (University of Roehampton, UK)
Registration:
College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario (COTO)
Memberships:
Academy for Eating Disorders (AED)
Eating Disorders Association of Canada (EDAC-ATAC)
Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists – Eating Disorders Practice Network (secretary)
Teaching:
Introduction to Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) – Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists
How To Provide Safe Care When a Client Has an Eating Disorder – Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists
Therapy approaches I use and/or that inform my practice:
Occupational therapy, occupational science, sensory integration and modulation, enhanced cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT-E) for eating disorders, Human Givens, motivational interviewing, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), self-compassion, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills, breathwork, and gentle movement.