Stratford Occupational Therapy

01/23/2026

We’ve officially kicked off our 8-week mosaic glass session for Veterans and their families at our Arts-Based Therapy Studio — and there have already been lots of laughs!

With colourful glass, creative sparks, and moments of mindfulness, these sessions are all about slowing down, being present, and enjoying the process (and each other).

This program is part of our Courage Through Connection initiative, made possible through funding from the Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund - creating meaningful opportunities for connection, creativity, and healing. Veterans Affairs Canada

Huge thanks to the talented Cathy Krolikowski from Kro in the Skye Art Studio, who is leading the sessions with support from our therapists, helping make this space relaxed, safe, supportive, and full of good energy. 💙🧩😄 🍁

01/18/2026

We asked. You told us what mattered. We listened - and it was a lot of fun.

These photos capture our first Wood & Epoxy workshop for our Courage Through Connection project, funded by the Veteran and Family Well Being Fund. Veterans Affairs Canada

Through leisure interest surveys with Veterans and their families, working with wood and epoxy stood out as a high-interest activity. This two half-day workshop gave participants the chance to slow down, work with their hands, and enjoy the process from start to finish.

Participants chose a cutting board, serving tray, crib board, or set of coasters, along with their own wood and epoxy colours -making each piece uniquely theirs. Along the way, there was focus, creativity, conversation, and plenty of pride in what was created.

A big thank-you to Phil LaFrance at Iron Roots Customs for sharing his expertise and for transforming our Arts-Based Therapy Studio into a woodworking shop for the event. We’re so grateful for the skill, patience, and heart you brought to this experience.

Courage Through Connection: This project will empower Veterans and families to find safety and belonging through shared experiences in meaningful activities. Strengthening connections within the family and community, the program fosters resilience, through an uplifting healing environment for participants.

Please feel free to share and follow, to increase awareness of this project for Veterans and their families on PEI who may benefit.

For more details please contact:

Donna@StratfordOT.com
Stratford Occupational Therapy & Counselling Services
www.StratfordOT.com

12/23/2025

Pro Bono (free) Counselling Sessions with our Counselling Therapist Intern:

January and February, especially after the holidays, can be a challenging time for people of all ages. With big transitions, shorter days, and added stress, many experience increased mental health challenges during this time.

To help support our community, we will be offering pro bono counselling sessions with our Counselling Therapist Intern throughout January and February.

Stephanie primarily works with children and adolescents, while also providing services to adults. She frequently incorporates play-based and art-based therapeutic modalities into her sessions.

Booking is available online: https://stratfordot.janeapp.com/ #/discipline/20/treatment/101
Or by phone: 902-566-6767
Happy holidays to all and take care ❤

11/11/2025

We remember and we thank you.

10/21/2025

This is such a labor of love and appreciation❤️

Come on out to help us. Time is quickly winding down and we still have a lot of poppies to get secured. All help is welcome, whether you do 3, 13 or 30!

All work must be complete before early November so just a couple of weeks left.

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.