Meet Our Team
Our Occupational Therapists
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Born and raised on Vancouver Island, there is no other place Melissa prefers to be than by the ocean. Majoring in Biological Psychology she graduated with a Bachelor of Sciences from the University of Victoria in 2009 before completing her Masters in Occupational Therapy from the University of British Columbia in 2011.
With over 10 years of experience, Melissa has worked as an Occupational Therapist in long term care facilities, neurorehabilitation, hospital acute care, a joint replacement clinic and community health services. She retains a clinical instructor role at UBC and has previously worked as a rehabilitation services educator and community health services leader for Island Health.
Melissa strongly believes in having her clients lead their own treatment plans as the expert in their own limitations and capacities. Melissa is known to establish a gentle and progressive approach to engaging clients in their rehabilitation goals.
In addition to her work, Melissa enjoys raising her dear planet-obsessed boy and dancing salsa.
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Lauren graduated from UBC with a masters in Occupational Therapy in 2015. Since then, she has practiced in a variety of clinical areas including acute care, long term care, mental health and industrial settings. She has experience in workplace ergonomics and functional cognitive assessments as well as interests in mindfulness and sleep hygiene.
Lauren values working in a client-centred manner and works creatively with clients to support their goals and participation in meaningful activities. Lauren is committed to ongoing learning and professional development.
In her spare time, Lauren enjoys photography, gardening and spending time with her children.
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Sydney graduated from the University of British Columbia Okanagan with a Bachelor of Human Kinetics before completing a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at the University of Alberta in 2022. Since graduating, Sydney has gained experience across a broad range of practice areas, including long-term care, workplace ergonomics, cognitive abilities evaluations, and community-based home modifications.
Sydney is passionate about supporting clients in building confidence, maximizing independence, and engaging fully in the meaningful activities that enrich their daily lives.
Sydney’s approach is centred on collaboration and client-driven solutions that promote function and well-being across diverse environments to help individuals achieve their goals.
Outside of work, you’ll often find Sydney unwinding by the ocean or discovering new local coffee shops.
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Erin graduated from UVic with a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and later completed a Master of Occupational Therapy at UBC.
She has nearly 20 years of experience working with medical and adaptive equipment, both as an occupational therapist and within equipment loan programs.
Erin has worked primarily in community health services, as well as acute care and long-term care settings.
Erin is known for her ability to listen carefully to fully understand each situation before offering thoughtful, individualized recommendations. She values a collaborative approach and enjoys working alongside clients to support their goals and independence. She is especially motivated by finding simple, practical solutions that make a meaningful difference in daily life.
Outside of work, she enjoys running, gardening, and travelling with her family.
Our Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Stephanie has over a decade of experience working in schools since 2012, following her education at UBC.
Stephanie works with children between the ages of 0 and 6 inclusive. Her focus is on practicing collaborative problem-solving by fostering positive relationships and using neurodiversity-affirming practice approaches. She is passionate about supporting parents in creating meaningful change, such as establishing routines that enhance quality of life and achieving functional goals.
In her free time, Stephanie enjoys being outdoors, whether on the water, in the snow, or riding a bike.
Our Respiratory Therapist
Kelly is a respiratory therapist with 25 years of experience. Throughout her career, she has had the privilege of working with patients of all ages, from paediatrics to adults and gained valuable experience in different departments, from acute care to community. Working in these diverse settings has allowed her to develop a comprehensive understanding of respiratory care and its impact on patients’ overall health. She has strong clinical skills and a very gentle, understanding approach along with a desire to continue learning.
Click here to check out her new home-based respiratory rehabilitation program (for people with advanced COPD and other lung conditions).
When she is not helping someone breathe easier, you can find her spending time with her husband, son and two horses.
Our Rehab Assistants
Tiffanie completed her Rehabilitation Assistant program at Capilano University, and has been working as a Rehab Assistant for five years now. She is passionate and dedicated about caring for others, and enjoys connecting and encouraging her clients.
When Tiffanie is not working, you can find her exploring trails whether by foot or by bike. She loves being outdoors, especially by the water. On a rainy day you might find her putting on a movie with a snack in hand!
Brighton is a Rehabilitation Assistant with Engage Therapy and a current Registered Massage Therapy student at Camosun College. He completed his Bachelor of Human Kinetics at UBC Okanagan and has previous experience with Island Health, supporting clients in their recovery and independence through exercise and mobility programs.
Before moving into healthcare, Brighton spent seven seasons as a firefighter with the BC Wildfire Service, where he also led his base’s Occupational Athlete Program to help firefighters prevent injuries and prepare for the physical demands of summer.
Outside of work and school, he enjoys spending time outdoors among the forests of Vancouver Island and has recently turned his attention to the underwater world, exploring the cold coastal waters through snorkelling and freediving.
Anna is a recent graduate with honours from the University of Victoria’s Kinesiology program. In her honours project, she conducted a qualitative systematic review on the experiences of patients living with spatial neglect after stroke and the clinicians who assess and treat the condition. This project is being finalized soon and will aim for publication in an academic journal.
Anna completed her practicum with Engage Therapy under the supervision of two occupational therapists (Thao and Lauren). She is aspiring to become an OT herself.
Other than working at Engage Therapy, Anna’s hobbies are playing volleyball and boxing with friends.
Andrew grew up in Whitehorse, Yukon, where long winters meant shoveling snow, hauling firewood, and learning early on how to keep moving no matter the conditions. That environment shaped his resilience and connection to physical activity.
He spent years playing soccer, volleyball, and wrestling before finding his way into personal training and human kinetics, eventually becoming a Registered Kinesiologist.
He approaches his work with a focus on the bigger picture, believing recovery and progress take time and often benefit from a collaborative approach. He’s always learning and looking for ways to better support the people he works with.
Outside of work, you’ll usually find him walking with his dog Jackson, often with an audiobook playing, or spending time near the water with a good book.
Operations Manager
Mara is our Operations Manager with over 10 years of experience in the administrative field. She is highly organized with exceptional communications skills and people-centered approach. In her role, she oversees daily operations, optimizes workflow systems and supports therapists and clients to ensure services run smoothly and efficiently.
When she is not working, you will find her going on adventures with her family, cooking, crafting and enjoying music.
Are you interested in joining our team?
Engage Therapy continues to evolve and new positions may become available in the future.
If you are an Occupational Therapist, Physical Assistant, or Rehabilitation Assistant based in Greater Victoria and motivated to deliver quality person-centred services, please reach out.