Gary Cockman, RSSW
Rehabilitation Therapist

For Gary Cockman, his role as rehabilitation therapist has special meaning. His brother had suffered from catastrophic brain injury after three major accidents before succumbing to a drunk driver. What drives Gary now “and always will” is the growing knowledge out there about brain injury and the new and emerging treatment techniques that are available. He has been at Brainworks since 2005.

Gary has a Social Service Worker Degree from Canadore College. In addition to his experiences with brain injury, he has ten years of experience working with individuals with a variety of other special needs, including developmental disabilities, behavioural disorders, mental health issues and dementia. He has also accumulated comprehensive life and job-coaching skills. Having already taken several professional development programs to enhance his therapy work with clients, he is continuously looking for additional educational forums and conferences to further expand his knowledge base.

Gary’s main goals in working with clients are to respect the individual and their injury, gain a rapport and trust, and be as least intrusive as possible. With this formula, Gary has several stories of client success. One involves a client who was behaving violently and that no one else was willing to take on. Five years after Gary first began working with him, the client had his violence issues under control, was living on his own, had a part-time serving customers and a girlfriend! Gary knows that success is a journey and that great things can be accomplished through persistence.

Open communication is key for Gary in working with multidisciplinary team members, as well as following the recommendations set out by the team to further each client’s treatment. He knows that the most effective treatment teams consist of several professionals, each bringing something unique and valuable to the table. A colleague once said of Gary that he “makes things go so smoothly.”

Gary has developed close, warm relationships with those most important in his life, and has a special respect for those he assists through his work: “Our clients are special people who need our expertise to help them recover from their injuries.” And that sense of kinship makes Gary a special member of our own Brainworks team.

Terry Ellison, BA, BSW, RSW
Social Worker / Rehabilitation Therapist

For Terry Ellison, always having a positive outlook and the ability to view each client’s situation from their unique perspective are very important to her work. But these are just a fraction of the qualities she brings to her therapy sessions. She is keenly aware of the serious challenges facing her clients and is passionate about helping them reach their own personal goals. Having earned a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Manitoba, she enjoys helping others. Her focus on the individual has found an excellent fit with Brainworks. She joined us in 2008.

Terry has over 10 years of experience assisting individuals with a variety of developmental and physical disabilities. She has formulated effective action plans for over a hundred families and clients of all ages, paying close attention to their own viewpoints. She is passionate about her work and continuously finds great inspiration in the strength and perseverance she sees in her clients. She knows that some have a long road ahead of them, and for them especially, encouragement, patience and having someone who understands their challenges are all very important.

Brain injury can be “such a traumatic experience for anyone to go through,” she says, “but you witness such strength from each person’s story. And you realize that your work really matters.”

And the success stories keep her energized. After brain injury, one of her clients began to gain such motivation and momentum, that Terry watched her proudly complete one academic course after another in her bid to further her education. Terry was there to encourage and coach her throughout her journey.

Terry loves the collaboration process of the treatment team, sharing and discussing the many ideas that are generated in group discussion. She feels that each team member enriches the group as a whole with their own unique perspective about the client and their care, and she knows that the primary part of her role is to advocate for her client to ensure that their wants and needs are centre-stage. With this client-centred perspective, Terry is a great ambassador for Brainworks.

Barb Hartwick
Rehabilitation Therapist

For Barb Hartwick, coming to Brainworks was a great opportunity to blend her business and creative experience with her background as a recreational therapist. She had earned her Therapeutic Recreation Diploma from Mount Royal College in Calgary and has been with us in our Muskoka office since 2008.

With Barb, it’s all about helping others. She enjoys working with people of all ages, whether it’s through therapy sessions or her many volunteer activities. “I love seeing a client progress in their skill levels and task completion,” she says, “but more than that, I am greatly inspired by their happiness, contentment and feelings of self-worth that come from having taken a new step forward.” It is very important to her to work together with clients to build relationships based on enthusiasm, respect and cooperation.

Barb enjoys learning new things. The more she has learned, the more she has been able to apply to her work. She has developed a variety of skills over the years including fitness coaching in several sports, designing and implementing programs, and resourceful, creative problem-solving abilities. She has also cultivated a special talent in sewing, which she has adapted for therapy sessions with clients as well as implemented in programs for young people, creating an avenue for self-expression and accomplishment.

In striving to be a cooperative team member, Barb’s aim is to be an active listener and effective communicator. Her highest priority is to serve the client by staying on track with the goals of the treatment plan while being flexible enough to handle unexpected bumps in the road.

Barb enjoys providing Brainworks’ client-centred therapeutic services to those living in the communities surrounding our Muskoka office. We are continually expanding our services to clients in an ever-widening area throughout Southwestern and Central Ontario, and Barb has helped us in a number of important ways. “I look forward to the many opportunities the uniqueness of Muskoka offers our clients.”

Jane Hobbs, BA, BEd
Rehabilitation Therapist

The concept of learning has played a major role throughout Jane Hobbs’ 30 years of experience helping those working through personal challenges. She has learned much about life and human perseverance from her clients and has come to have full confidence in each client’s ability to learn new tasks and skills. “I’ve always been intrigued by the ability of people with brain injury to heal and reinvent themselves,” she says. “I’m fascinated with the powers of the human brain and its untapped potential.”

Jane holds a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology Major), Bachelor of Education (Primary/Junior Designation), and a Developmental Service Worker Diploma. She has also completed Level One of American Sign Language. Before coming to Brainworks in 2009, she worked as an independent living manager, residential counsellor, and assistant residential supervisor, through which she accumulated extensive experience providing physical assistance, prompting, coaching, and other techniques to help individuals with daily life activities.

Throughout her career, Jane has supported those with developmental problems, brain injury, physical challenges, mental health and behavioural issues, and communication disorders. She has designed, developed and implemented numerous treatment plans to assist clients in identifying and reaching their personal goals. She has worked with all age groups, from children with behavioural difficulties to seniors with dementia. With her considerable vocational knowledge, she has also spent many years designing return-to-work, work-hardening and modified work programs for injured workers.

Jane is a patient, flexible and accommodating team player, whether she is working with clients and their families, or collaborating with treatment team members. She has an excellent sense of humour and a generous spirit that she shares with those around her. In meetings with professionals, she knows that, first and foremost, she is the representing voice for her clients and carefully articulates their wishes and needs so that the best strategies can be identified for them.

“Almost anything can be accomplished by believing in yourself and then attempting a task or skill,” she says. “Both therapy and life are really that simple.” At Brainworks, we too believe in the power of the perseverance and the key role it plays in helping each client move from injury to recovery. We’re so glad to have Jane’s skills and experience as part of our Brainworks team.

Abe Ibrahim, SSW, RSSW, CBIS
Rehabilitation Therapist

Abe Ibrahim brings a wealth of knowledge, counselling and support skills to his work with clients and their families. Having earned his Social Service Worker Diploma, he joined Brainworks as rehabilitation therapist in 2008, and was registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers shortly thereafter. Most recently, he has earned his Certified Brain Injury Specialist designation.
Among Abe’s many achievements:

• Experience working effectively and calmly in urgent and crisis situations using well-developed counselling and support skills, particularly with at-risk clients and families
• Experience working with adults with disabilities, those in conflict with the law, and abusive men
• Experience integrating multidisciplinary treatment plans into meaningful projects and functional activities
• Strong behavioural therapy skills and experience developing, implementing and monitoring behavioural programs
• Experience in community integration
• Firm leadership ability to take the initiative
• Excellent communication skills with professionals, social service agencies, and treatment team and family members regarding clients’ goals, needs and progress
• Patience, effectiveness, and flexibility in all work with clients
• Effective oral and written communication skills
• 2006 Ethno-Cultural Council of London Academic Award recipient
• Fluent in Arabic

Clients from diverse backgrounds may encounter both language and cultural barriers while coping with disability and participating in rehabilitation treatment. They may also feel a great deal of confusion, intimidation and hesitation when dealing with rehabilitation professionals. Fluent in Arabic, Abe is keenly aware of the barriers that these clients can experience which could impede their progress. And he brings to his work with clients a thoughtful multicultural sensitivity that makes Brainworks proud to have Abe as Rehabilitation Therapist in the London Area.

Karen Kempert, DSW
Rehabilitation Therapist

With over 20 years of experience in human services, Karen Kempert brings a wealth of know ledge to her work with clients. She loves working with people of all ages and enjoys helping them reach their goals. After a successful career in professional child care, where she moved up the ranks to a supervisory position, she returned to school to further her qualifications in disability services. Having graduated from the Developmental Services Worker Program at Fanshawe College in 2005, she has been with Brainworks for much of the time since.

Karen has worked closely with children with special needs for many years, and her problem-solving expertise has been widely sought by many agencies throughout the region. She’s developed a keen understanding of childhood development which she applies with sensitivity and confidence. Her skill level has extended to working with adults, and she has had rave reviews for her ability to quickly build a productive therapeutic alliance. Karen’s work at Brainworks covers a wide spectrum. She works with people of all ages with brain injury, autism, and other cognitive, behavioural and physical challenges.

Through a supportive client-therapist relationship, Karen provides an inclusive, client-centred environment for her clients—one in which they can redevelop their skills and work toward regaining their independence. In a nutshell, Karen loves helping people achieve their goals, and that has been her motivator from the start.

Jordan Kerr
Rehabilitation Therapist

Jordan has extensive vocational experience relevant to job coaching in a variety of areas, and has worked intensively with clients to get them back into a vocation that is within their abilities and that they are comfortable with. In addition, his organizational skills and careful attention to detail are ideally suited to treatment schedule management.

Jordan knows the importance of movement and fitness in one’s overall general health and well-being and he tries to instill that in his clients. Movement is movement forward. He has always seen progress in rehabilitation therapy. No matter how small, it is improvement and something to build on. One of his firm beliefs is that life has no limitations, except the ones that we put on ourselves.

Jordan has acquired a wide and diverse set of skills and interests over the years that have combined to make him a well-rounded individual. As rehabilitation therapist, he is a caring, motivational life and vocational coach and a valuable member of our team.

Hristos Chris Papastamos, BRE, MA
Rehabilitation Therapist

For Hristos Papastamos, the greatest inspiration has always come from watching others experience and achieve far more than they ever dreamed possible. Throughout his twenty years in the field of counselling, he has seen time and again the strength and resilience of the human spirit to overcome all manner of challenges and setbacks.

Having accumulated a wealth of experience counselling individuals, couples, families, groups, organizations and business professionals, Hristos joined our Brainworks staff as rehabilitation therapist in the spring of 2008. He has worked with clients of all ages with all forms of mental health concerns and other personal challenges. His soft-spoken yet direct, encouraging therapy style, combined with an excellent sense of humour, make him ideal for this role.

In addition to his one-on-one therapeutic work, Hristos is also an inspiring speaker and trainer. He has conducted seminars and training sessions for government, and for-profit and not-for-profit organizations in the areas of program development, strategic planning, leadership training, achieving balance between personal and professional life, relationship enhancement, and parenting. Over the years, he has also worked in clinical settings, developing three successful counselling practices.

In the spring of 2009, given his extensive communication and management background, Hristos was promoted to Manager of Community and Professional Services. He was uniquely suited for this management role at Brainworks, which included strategic planning, business development, communication, staff training, and special clinical projects.

Most recently, Hristos has accepted the position of Associate Executive Director. One of his main goals is to further expand Brainworks’ reputation in the community “as the premier rehabilitation organization standing beside its clients, facilitating independence while minimizing disability.” In addition, Hristos continues to carry a therapy caseload, providing rehabilitation therapy / counselling to a number of our clients.

“It is an honour and a privilege to work with Brainworks’ treatment partners,” he says. “To witness how entire teams of individuals from different backgrounds, disciplines and levels of expertise come together for one purpose—to assist clients in overcoming their challenges—is an amazing experience.”

Penny Primeau, BA (Psych)
Rehabilitation Therapist

For Penny Primeau, inspiration comes from the challenges of working with clients with brain injuries and the rewards of watching them progress. She has had four years of experience developing and implementing individualized treatment plans for adults with disabilities and several more working with children. She also has crisis management experience. Having earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of Windsor, and a year of nursing courses from St. Clair College, Penny has been a rehabilitation therapist with Brainworks since 2007.

Penny feels it is very important to draw clients out of their isolation, by helping them conquer their fears and anxieties to become part of the community again. She knows it takes time and persistently encourages them take a step beyond their comfort zone, until they discover for themselves the rewards of having taken that step.

Penny’s goal is to assist her clients in achieving their own goals, whatever they may be. To that end, she ensures regular, consistent communication with the other treatment team members to keep them updated and to share ideas that might further benefit her clients.

Penny’s colleagues describe her as ‘going above and beyond’ for her clients. Further, in mirroring the founding principles of Brainworks, Penny puts her clients and their goals front and centre.
When she’s not busy helping clients, Penny enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, and going on camping and canoeing trips.

Penny loves working with people. She feels that the major strengths she brings to her role as therapist are her compassion, empathy and understanding for others: “I have a great deal of patience, and I always try to put myself in the client’s situation.”

Dennis Radman, HBSc, RRP, CBIST
Senior Rehabilitation Therapist

Dennis is a graduate of The University of Western Ontario and joined Brainworks in July 2004. He has over 15 years of experience working with people with a wide variety of disabilities and has applied his many skills in cognitive, behavioural and psychosocial rehabilitation to serve Brainworks and its clients. Dennis has extensive brain injury treatment skills, strong vocational and job coaching skills, life and social skills training, computer skills, trained and experienced in behaviour management and speaks Croatian.

In October 2006, in recognition of his dedication, commitment and ability, Dennis was promoted to Senior Rehabilitation Therapist. At the same time, he moved from London to Windsor to accept an appointment as Regional Manager for Essex-Kent, in recognition of Brainworks’ growing clientele in these two areas.

In August 2008, Dennis returned to London to assume the role of Manager, Rehabilitation Therapy. Dennis will continue to be the main contact for rehabilitation therapy throughout Essex and Kent; however, he will now oversee our rehabilitation therapy program throughout Southwestern Ontario, through a system of team leaders supervising Brainworks’ constantly growing number of front line rehabilitation therapists.

Heather Raycraft, BA, SSW
Rehabilitation Therapist

Heather Raycraft was first introduced to working with brain injuries through her mother, who home-schooled several students with acquired brain injuries in high-school math. The more she learned about these injuries and their effects on those involved, the more she wanted to make a career out of helping these special individuals and their families.

Having earned her Bachelor of Art from the University of Western Ontario, majoring in Social Science, Heather then went on to earn a Social Service Worker Diploma through Fanshawe College. She has over nine years of community-based experience in brain injury rehabilitation. Before joining Brainworks in 2005, she worked as rehabilitation counsellor, service coordinator and case assistant.

Over the years, Heather has accumulated many valuable skills that she brings to her therapy sessions today. She has turned rehabilitation goals into useful, functional activities for clients, assisted in the development and implementation of behaviour programs, and helped those with brain injury, chronic pain and psychiatric disorders learn to adjust to or overcome their individual circumstances.

Heather is very skilled at working with challenging behaviours and is able to refocus an unproductive situation calmly and effectively. She knows that while some clients benefit best from a more serene approach, others need more direction, and she is able to adapt her therapy style accordingly.

Heather believes in the valuable collaboration process of teamwork, and values the input and experience that other professionals bring to the table. And she knows how important her own role is: “Implementing effective strategies and developing realistic goals requires a team effort in order to succeed,” she says. “And I am highly motivated to work within the team to promote the client’s own individual needs.” In that, she shares Brainworks’ own philosophy of putting the interests of clients front and centre to maximize their potential.

Jill Rutherford, CYW, CBIS
Team Lead, Rehabilitation Therapy
Rehabilitation Therapist

Jill Rutherford was first introduced to brain injury when a family member went through a traumatic personal experience. She became familiar with its many effects on the individual involved and those closest to them, services available and the various forms of treatment. With all of her accumulated work and personal experiences combined with her acquired skills and specialized education as a Child and Youth Worker Jill has proven to be a highly valuable member of the Brainworks team. She has a Child and Youth Worker Diploma and has been with Brainworks since 2008.

Jill is eager to work with clients of every age. Although she has over 20 years of experience helping children with behavioural issues, her experience also extends to counselling, multidisciplinary treatment plan development, goal identification and implementation, and teaching life and social skills to all ages.

It is Jill’s goal to build strong working relationships with her clients with trust and open, honest communication, in the least intrusive manner possible. She knows that the most effective client-therapist partnerships are the ones that produce the greatest gains, and it is important for her to support and encourage clients as they reach for the goals they’ve set.

Jill has an expansive skill set when it comes to behavioural and cognitive techniques and strategies. Jill not only encourages her clients to learn strategies in order to facilitate their goals but she is an exemplary model for them as well. Jill exemplifies the adage, ‘practice what you preach’.

Striving to be the most effective in her field, Jill is continuously focused on expanding her therapeutic skills. She enjoys reading, researching, taking courses and attending workshops on the subjects of brain injury and other various physical and psychological disabilities. This eagerness to learn has resulted in a constant expansion of her level of knowledge and skills and serves to benefit all of her clients. With all her contributions, we’re lucky to have her on our team.

Lani Saarkoppel, BPhysEd, BTeach, TRS
Professional Practice Leader
Rehabilitation Therapist

For Lani Saarkoppel has thoroughly enjoyed the ten years she has spent helping those with acquired brain injury and other disorders reach for and attain their goals. She has been a rehabilitation therapist at Brainworks since 2006. She earned her Bachelor of Teaching degree from the University of Western Sydney in Australia in 2003, and enhanced that degree with a Special Education component from the University of Western Ontario.

Lani’s outgoing warmth and passion for her chosen field are evident to all who meet her. Her enthusiasm is contagious, and that has made a big difference in the lives of her clients. Lani knows how important attitude is in overcoming barriers, both real and perceived, and infuses her rehabilitation therapy with positive energy and encouragement, creating a supportive rapport. Her goal is to help clients feel empowered to take the lead in their own recovery. One client recently remarked: “I believe in myself because you believe in me.”

Lani is an effective team player with strong interpersonal skills. Her high level of energy, commitment, and significant experience in the field are definite assets to her work with both clients and multidisciplinary teams of professionals. She enjoys collaborating with other therapists and treatment partners to develop the best treatment options, and she values the expertise and contributions of each member on the treatment team. Through a clear communication style, she ensures her clients’ needs are addressed so that their goals can ultimately be achieved.

Over the years, Lani has worked with children, adolescents, adults and seniors each with their own unique set of challenges, including brain injuries, developmental issues, Alzheimer’s, behavioural disorders and mental illness. She has guided them through academic support, recreational programs, behavioural management and/or modification, life skills training and activities of daily living.

A colleague once wrote to Lani: “You have such a vibrant personality. Your energy, affection and happiness radiate through, and you’re the kind of person we like to be around. You connect with people, and it’s clear that you love what you do.”

Jeff Sheridan, CFP
Rehabilitation Therapist

Jeff’s music was the catalyst to his career choice as rehabilitation therapist. He started out as a volunteer playing music to those with acquired brain injury and quickly decided to make therapy his life’s work. Prior to coming to Brainworks in 2005, Jeff worked as a youth and a relief worker helping those with disabilities overcome their challenges.

His inspiration has always come from witnessing his clients progress and knowing that he’s made a difference in their lives. Jeff enjoys highlighting and celebrating their smaller successes to enhance their sense of accomplishment, and this helps them feel more confident about tackling the larger goals.

Jeff relates to his clients in an energetic and respectful way that they immediately pick up on and draw from, much like the audiences at his concerts. His band, the Jeff Sheridan Band, has played around the world, and he knows how to get a crowd fired up. Transferring this motivational skill to his rehabilitation and coaching was for him a natural transition.

He enjoys working with people from all walks of life and is very much a team player. He loves to share ideas with professionals in all fields of expertise. With significant experience developing and facilitating individualized treatment plans and formal training and experience implementing behaviour management programs, he brings a great deal of insight to the treatment team process.

Jeff’s band ultimately led him to Brainworks. The care he has always shown his clients and his audience reflects perfectly the care our organization has always taken in assisting those with brain injury and other challenges reach their individual goals. We’re glad to have him on our team.

Nina Sutton, BSW, RSW
Social Worker / Rehabilitation Therapist

Nina Sutton fully understands the issues that arise from having a family member with a brain injury. When she was a young girl, her father was involved in a motor vehicle collision and had to work through a number of difficulties, including lingering aphasia. More recently, she has taken care of her brother, who was similarly involved in a collision and also sustained a brain injury. She learned early in life the many difficulties experienced by both those injured and their families, and she has developed tremendous patience and compassion for everyone involved.

In addition to her personal experiences, Nina has accumulated many years of experience working with different age groups. Among her many roles, she has worked as a support worker, activities coordinator, nursing home assistant, youth worker and health care aide. She earned an Honours Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Windsor, as well as a Human Service Certificate. She became registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers in 2006. She has been at Brainworks since 2005, working as both social worker and rehabilitation therapist.

Nina believes that the person who can best understand the issues surrounding someone living with brain injury is the person who has lived with similar circumstances first hand. Nina draws on the wealth of this knowledge to help her clients work through their own difficulties by educating them about their condition, suggesting coping strategies, and empowering them to get the most out of their rehabilitation. She knows that a tragedy like brain injury can tear a family apart, so she strives to teach each member of the family tools to not only cope, but to regain their strength as a cohesive support system. Nina knows that a client with the encouragement of family has the best chance for recovery, and supporting the family is a key part of what she does as social worker.

For Brainworks, it’s all about the client, as it is with Nina’s own client-centred philosophy. We are fortunate to have her as a valuable member of our therapy team.

Jola Szuwara, BA, BSW, RSW
Social Worker / Rehabilitation Therapist

For Jola Szuwara, it’s all about making a difference—especially in the lives of clients and their families. Fluent in Polish, she came to Canada when she was 7 years of age. She graduated with an Honours B.A. in Psychology and then went on to earn a second B.A. in Social Work, both from the University of Windsor. She decided on a career helping those suffering from brain injuries after conversations with friends who were doing similar work and who noted how rewarding their own experiences were. She has been a social worker and rehabilitation therapist at Brainworks covering the Windsor-Essex County area since 2008.

Jola has over six years of experience in client care and social services, and she has provided physical and emotional support to people of all ages with various challenges, from children with developmental problems to seniors with long-term care issues. She’s had exposure to a vast array of therapeutic environments, including counselling, palliative care, and stroke therapy.

Building a strong rapport with clients and treatment partners is very important to Jola. She strives to connect with clients through a genuine interest in their overall well-being, and then advocate for them when collaborating with other professionals. She knows that a client’s therapy is much more effective when they have a voice in the development of their own treatment plan.

Jola wants to continue to make a difference in the lives of clients as well as help strengthen their family ties. Rehabilitation can sometimes be a trying time, and she knows how important it is to support the whole family as they all work toward the common goal of enriching their loved one’s quality of life. This fits entirely with Brainworks’ own client and family-centred philosophy, and we are glad to have Jola in our family.

Aaron Vanderkuyl, BA
Rehabilitation Therapist

Aaron has been working full-time as a community-based rehab therapist since graduating with a psychology degree from UWO in 2007.

Cognitive, behavioural and psychosocial rehab are areas of strength for Aaron. He is a team player, who has carried out treatment protocols developed by team members. Aaron has worked under the supervision of a behavioural psychologist for the past two years and has skillfully implemented neurobehavioural treatment programs.

Personable, outgoing and confident, Aaron is a skilled rapport builder and motivator. He is approachable, articulate and has a range of interests that he taps into in his work with clients, including physical fitness, sports, and computers.His enthusiasm, experience and positive attitude will be great assets in serving our clients. His client-centred philosophy is a great match for Brainworks.

Ryan Vreugdenhil, BA
Rehabilitation Therapist

Ryan Vreugdenhil has been specifically trained to work with persons living with an acquired brain injury and with various levels of intellectual, physical, and psychological challenges. Having earned a certificate in Home and Community-Based Rehabilitation for Persons with ABI, and a BA in General Humanities, Ryan is currently working toward his Masters of Divinity in Marriage and Family Therapy. Brainworks is very glad to have him as rehabilitation therapist working in our Windsor region.

Among Ryan’s many skills and experiences:

• Working with clients living with a traumatic brain injury resulting from a motor vehicle accident, and other traumatic events and illnesses and their associated challenges
• Monitoring the individual needs of clients, ensuring that they follow a healthy daily routine, including establishing positive nutritional habits and regular physical exercise
• Working closely with treatment team members to ensure that therapeutic protocols are followed, giving feedback wherever necessary and appropriate
• Motivating and coaching clients to facilitate their achievement of a greater sense of self-esteem in the completion of daily activities and tasks
• Overseeing a group of men with various forms of schizophrenia, while living alongside them in a group-home setting
• Familiar and comfortable working with technical assisted devices, such as lifts and commodes, in the delivery of services
• Administering medication to those requiring assistance
• Teaching English to children in S. Korea
• Respectful, culturally sensitive, flexible and patient
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written

Ryan’s frontline experience has given him a keen awareness of the special needs that people with ABI and other challenges face. He ensures a positive therapeutic relationship with his clients, as well as their families, in helping them work toward not only achieving, but surpassing their individual goals.

Steve Wilpstra, DSW, CBIS
Team Lead, Rehabilitation Therapy
Rehabilitation Therapist

Steve Wilpstra had spent 20 years working in social services before turning his focus to those with brain injury. Graduating from the Developmental Service Worker program, he has worked as a high-risk counsellor, correctional officer, child and youth worker, and employment specialist helping those with special challenges find work. He has been a rehabilitation therapist with Brainworks since 2005. Recently, he earned his CBIS designation and has been appointed Rehabilitation Therapy Team Leader.

Among Steve’s many achievements:

• Over 20 years of experience providing support and facilitating the independence of people with disabilities
• Extensive experience with clients living with behavioural challenges requiring therapy
• Solid experience providing therapeutic services to individuals with a variety of conditions secondary to acquired brain injury
• Experience implementing treatment protocols from regulated and non-regulated health care professionals, and integrating them into meaningful projects and functional activities for his clients to pursue
• Vocational experience including the development and implementation of vocational rehabilitation programs, performing job searches for clients, helping them develop vocational and pre-vocational skills, and providing job coaching
• Several years of experience providing life and social skills training
• Patient, flexible and encouraging, with a sense of strength and support
• Proven track record for communication excellence, both oral and written

Steve’s genuine warmth and positive attitude shine through in his therapy work with clients, no matter how difficult their recovery journey or how overwhelmed they may feel. He has an admired ability to motivate them with steadfast encouragement, and persistently works with them to help them succeed. His ability to establish solid, trusting relationships with clients is very important to him and exemplifies the work we do here at Brainworks.

Laura Younker (B.A. in social work in progress)
Rehabilitation Therapist

For Laura Younker, inspiration springs from the smiles and the joy on her clients’ faces when they accomplish even the smallest goal in their recovery journey. She began her career with children, but she now sees clients of all ages and thoroughly enjoys what she does. She is well on her way to earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, and has been a rehabilitation therapist at Brainworks since 2007.

Laura has had over nine years of experience working with individuals with various abilities, and over four years of experience assisting those with brain injuries. Prior to coming to Brainworks, she coordinated rehabilitation programs, provided parent education, and worked as a recreation facilitator, camp counsellor and soccer coach. And she’s even an accomplished author/editor, having developed a Community Resource Guidebook for respite coordinators and family members.

It is very important for Laura to collaborate effectively with treatment team members to develop the best treatment options for each client. What she finds most rewarding in her role as rehab therapist is implementing the formulated treatment strategies and then being present to witness all of the benefits. “So often, we are there to see the small successes made by clients, and it is our great pleasure to report these back to the rest of the team.”

When Laura is not busy helping others, she puts her energy into running. She enjoys the exhilaration of completing a challenging run, and she tries to promote this sense of satisfaction in her clients. “I have many goals when managing a client’s treatment, but my number one goal is to never lose sight of what matters most to the client, and to continually encourage them to persevere.”