Stratford Occupational Therapy

08/13/2025

We are excited to welcome Stephanie Gillis to our team as a Counselling Therapist Intern completing her Master’s in Counselling Psychology at our clinic. She brings a warm, compassionate presence and is now accepting new clients for a September start.

With a diploma in Child and Youth Work and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Stephanie brings a creative and client-centered approach to therapy. She incorporates pottery and activity-based strategies to support healing, foster connection, and infuse joy into the therapeutic process.

Stephanie will be available early evenings on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and all-day Fridays. You can reach out directly to inquire about availability or book online here: https://stratfordot.janeapp.com/ #/staff_member/9

Her services are available at an affordable rate of $75 per one-hour session.
Areas of Practice:
Stephanie works with clients navigating a range of challenges, including:
Anxiety, Emotional regulation, Identity exploration, Self-esteem, Life transitions, Addiction, Depression
Who She Works With
Stephanie works with:
Children (ages 10+)
Teens
Adults
Therapeutic Approaches:
Stephanie draws from a variety therapeutic approaches, tailoring each session to meet the unique needs of her clients. She incorporates evidence-based practices such as: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Humanistic Approaches, Solution-Focused Therapy, Psychodynamic Approaches, among others.

“While I am still growing into this new role, there are a few things I know with confidence: we all need safe, trustworthy people who truly see us, hear us, and understand us. I believe every person deserves this kind of connection- and has the capacity to experience it. As a developing counselling therapist, my role is to walk alongside you as you navigate things that may feel heavy or complicated - supporting you exactly as you are, and exactly where you are."

06/25/2025

We were so proud to share with Veterans Affairs Minister Jill McKnight our programming for Veterans and their families through our "Courage Through Connection" project. We were very fortunate to receive funding through the Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund.
Veterans Affairs Canada

Pottery isn’t about perfection. It’s about grounding, healing, and building something new. At Stratford Occupational Therapy in PEI, Veterans are reconnecting through clay, conversation, and community.

Our government is supporting this program with $250,000 to help veterans find their centre again.

Invisible injuries are real. These heroes still carry them. Thank you for your service.

—

La poterie, ce n’est pas la perfection. C’est une façon de se recentrer, de guérir et de reconstruire. À Stratford OT à l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard, des vétérans renouent avec eux-mêmes grâce à l’argile, aux échanges et à la communauté.

Notre gouvernement appuie ce programme avec un financement de 250 000 $ pour aider les vétérans à retrouver leur équilibre.

Les blessures invisibles sont bien réelles. Ces héros les portent encore. Merci pour votre service.

Sean Casey Veterans Affairs Canada

05/15/2025

https://apple.news/A8MfQt9rvSS6Z9ULU4DLzJA

If you think you don't have time, well, think again.

05/13/2025

I wanted to share that last week I was the recipient of the 2025 CAOT Award of Merit and I am really proud of this and wanted to share:
"The CAOT Award of Merit is a prestigious service award given by the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) to recognize significant contributions to the profession. It is presented to both occupational therapists and non-occupational therapists who have demonstrated exceptional service or leadership within the field. The award is presented annually, but only when deserving candidates are identified."

I’ve practiced as an Occupational Therapist for 34 years across the spectrum of health care and I still find the profession inspiring and rewarding. It was a true honour to have been nominated by a peer, and a pleasant shock to have won!

Building the first OT clinic on PEI was a big undertaking, but easy and fun at the same time with such a supportive family at home and work. I am proud of the team at our centre and our creative programming to improve the lives of Islanders. I can honestly say I love going to work. Fish greet me in the reception area and there are birds at the feeders outside most windows – we consider them part of the team 😊

My family, my sister, and two of my OT colleagues Sophie and Charlotte went to Edmonton to accept the award and attend the CAOT Conference. Sharing some of the photos of us at the Awards Ceremony and checking out the Edmonton Biodomes for some nature therapy.

Donna

03/08/2025

Happy International Women's Day to all women from the women at Stratford Occupational Therapy & Counselling Services. We value the dynamic professionals we have on staff and applaud their ability and desire to work collaboratively with each other and their clients to achieve the goals that matter most.

At our centre you will find professionalism, fun, creativity, strength, passion, expertise, curiosity, courage, and above all kindness.

Photos are shown in the order of which each clinician joined the team:
Donna MacLeod, Occupational Therapist
Charlotte Carlaw, Occupational Therapist
Stephanie Rainnie, Occupational Therapist
Sophie Tonet, Occupational Therapist
Jess Findlay, Occupational Therapist
Stephanie Gillis, Office Admin & working on her Masters in Counselling
Alana Murphy, Occupational Therapist
Shelley Carmichael, Occupational Therapist
Carrie Drake, Occupational Therapist
Jodi Phillips, Master's Level Clinical Social Worker
Christine Trainor, Registered Counselling Therapist
Emily Hancock, Student Occupational Therapist

02/03/2025

We welcome Christine Trainor who is joining our team this week!

Christine Trainor is a Counselling Therapist who is registered with the College of Counselling Therapy of PEI (CCTPEI) and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA). She holds a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology. Prior to studying psychology, she graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design University and completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University.

As a professional visual artist, she brings decades of experience and skills (painter, printmaker, papermaker, bookbinder, book artist) to art-based therapy. She is currently completing a post-graduate program in Expressive Arts Therapy, Trauma-Informed. Talking about our feelings can seem challenging when we are struggling, but words are not the only tools we have for communicating. In art-based therapy sessions, clients create art with the therapist, affording them the opportunity to process complex experiences, emotions, thoughts, and feelings without sole reliance on words.

Christine has a special interest in working with Veterans, first responders, and victims of sexual violence and intimate partner violence. Her areas of focus include intergenerational trauma, trauma-informed care, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT and CBCT forPTSD), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and CommitmentTherapy (ACT). She looks forward to completing EMDR and DBR certification, and engaging in eco-therapy, and trauma-informed nature based expressive arts therapeutic approaches, grounded in neuroscience and polyvagal theory. Christine has also completed training in working with immigrant and refugee populations through IRSA and SACLI (TESL). Currently completing a certificate program in Traumatic Stress Studies, through Bessel van Der Kolk’s ‘Trauma Research Foundation’ she continues to expand her ability to offer a variety of different treatment approaches tailored to individual client’s needs.

01/07/2025

We are beyond excited to welcome Jodi Phillips to Stratford OT's Mental Health team!

Jodi is a registered Master’s level clinical social worker with over 33 years’ experience working in both public and private sectors, federal and provincial government agencies, crown corporations and not for profit organizations. In addition to her BA, BSW and MSW degrees, she is also a graduate of the UPEI School of Conflict Resolution, and the ICA International Association of Facilitators Institute giving her certification as a mediator, negotiator and facilitator. She is Certified in DBT, CBT, CT-PTSD, ITTM (Intergenerational Trauma Treatment Model Clinical Therapist Certification), Somatic Therapy, TF-CBT, ASIST( su***de assessment/intervention), CISD (critical incident stress debriefing), the ASI Way Cognitive Behavioural Emotive Therapy, Men & Healing Psychotherapy for Men, Male Centred Trauma Therapy Certification, Response Based Therapy, and currently is working towards her Sensorimotor Psychotherapy certification.

Jodi has also attended training with the PESI Psychotherapy Network and MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies). Working with and alongside various first responder professionals, Jodi also grew up surrounded by family who were in the military, RCMP, and paramedicine, giving her firsthand knowledge of how these very essential services impact the individual and their families. She has now dedicated her life and professional career providing therapy to this population and people with complex PTSD, understanding the nature and the unique challenges that this clientele faces during active service, pre and post release/retirement, and transition back to civilian life.

Jodi is passionate about her work, utilizing all her education, training and work experience to provide the best possible care assisting Veterans and people with complex trauma, multiple diagnosis, pain and other chronic medical conditions achieve a sense of well-being in their lives.

Jodi has spent many years in the martial arts world, training and competing in Muay Thai, Kickboxing, MMA and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu where she is currently a brown belt. She has incorporated the benefits of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu into many projects involving Veterans and continues to do so.

12/03/2024

10/19/2024

This week Stratford OT had the privilege to attend a workshop with world-renowned best-selling author and trauma specialist Gabor Maté in Halifax @ Light House Arts Centre. We were humbled and grateful to attend such a prestigious event and learn from the best. We are actively integrating and reflecting upon how we can foster community, connection, and compassionate holistic care for ourselves and the clients we serve.

10/02/2024

Great Idea! Happy Occupational Therapy Month! We may do the same on PEI!

HAPPY OT MONTH!!👩‍🦽‍➡️🧩🧠🛁🧘🍽️✍️🌱🤸‍♀️

This month we’ll be celebrating and showcasing all the wonderfully innovative and diverse programs, people and teams that make Occupational Therapy the discipline it is!

Stay tuned for student spotlights, education opportunities and more!!

08/02/2024

Dear OT,
A reminder as you set out to work on the last day of this working week -
Don’t be fooled into thinking that your work is common sense because it is in the context of an everyday activity.
Beneath the activity there is a depth of expertise, critical thinking and neuanced understanding of human behaviour and context, and the interplay between the two.
So, walk tall.
You got this, 🫶🏼✨

05/16/2024

This story hits very close to home as we incorporate pottery in our occupational therapy with Veterans and other clients experiencing mental health challenges. Working with clay can have a significant impact on grounding and calming the nervous system. Well done Lynette, very well done! We share your passion❤️