Our team is made up of highly skilled occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and a registered dietician, working as a collaborative team to ensure a well-rounded treatment approach for every client. Every therapist on our team has extensive experience, training, and education in the responsive feeding approach.
Carla is the owner and CEO of The Responsive Feeding Centre of BC. Carla has been practicing in speech language pathology since 2007. She has a passion for working within a neurodiversity-affirming framework and is also leading the clinical team at Victoria Speech and Language Centre in learning from autistic voices and unlearning many of the ableist ways clinicians are taught in graduate school. This work has led the team to dive into neurodiversity affirming ways of supporting our most anxious and restricted eaters. She is passionate about supporting families and mealtimes in a way that prioritizes the child-parent relationship and reduces overall mealtime stress. As a mom of 2 active boys, she has seen many responsive feeding strategies improve her own family’s and friends mealtimes and allow her boys more autonomy in exploring new foods at their own pace. She has learned from her many years of working with families how stressful the simple act of feeding their children can be and is committed to supporting life long mealtime peace and providing parents with the strategies to help their child learn the skills needed to feel safe in exploring new foods.
Danica is a Registered Dietitian with over 10 years of experience supporting children, youth, and families navigating a wide range of feeding and eating challenges. She has worked in pediatric clinics and specialized eating disorder programs across Alberta and British Columbia — including the Calgary Eating Disorder Program and the Central Island Child and Youth Eating Disorder Program. Danica has a strong foundation in pediatric nutrition and brings deep expertise in areas such as ARFID, selective eating, disordered eating, growth concerns, and feeding differences related to neurodivergence. Her approach is rooted in responsive, neurodiversity-affirming care that empowers families to build positive and connected relationships around food. Grounded in a Health at Every Size and all-foods-fit philosophy, Danica values body-neutral and food-neutral strategies that prioritize felt safety, trust, and curiosity at mealtimes. She is passionate about helping caregivers better understand their child’s unique feeding journey — while building confidence, compassion, and resilience along the way. Danica lives in Nanaimo, where she also practices as part of a collaborative care team at Red Canoe Pediatrics. Outside of work, she enjoys gardening, swimming, camping, and spending time outdoors with her husband, two daughters, and their dog Waffles.
Tieghan is a speech-language pathologist who graduated with her masters degree from the University of Alberta. She has clinical experience working with neurodivergent children and teens ranging from 18 months to 16 years, and also has experience assessing feeding and swallowing with adults. Tieghan really connected to the responsive feeding approach and how it prioritizes felt safety and building trusting relationships with food and the people we explore food with. Tieghan has enjoyed learning how to incorporate a neurodiversity affirming approach into her therapy and honouring all different kinds of communication and participation styles. She feels passionate about helping children expand their ability to communicate about food, no matter what modality, and find a way to participate in mealtimes that feels right for them. She is excited to help families support their children in developing happy, healthy relationships with food. Tieghan has taken the following professional education courses related to responsive feeding:
• The Get Permission Approach to Anxious Eaters, Anxious Mealtimes, Get Permission Institute
• Responsive Feeding Therapy: The Foundational Series, Responsive Feeding PRO
• AEIOU: An Integrated Approach to Paediatric Feeding, Food Smart Kids
• Parent Coaching Skills for Paediatric Feeding Specialists (Level 1), Responsive Feeding PRO
• Assessment of Picky Eaters, Get Permission Institute
Jillian is a speech-language pathologist who graduated with her master’s degree from the University of Northern Texas. With lots of clinical experience working with neurodivergent children and teens, Jillian is passionate about helping children develop positive relationships with food. As someone who navigates her own food sensitivities, Jillian understands firsthand the challenges that can arise around mealtimes and brings a unique blend of professional expertise and personal experience to our responsive feeding centre. This personal journey fuels her dedication to empowering children with the tools that they need to explore food comfortably and confidently. Jillian’s approach focuses on reducing the stigma around seeking help for feeding challenges and creating a supportive environment for food exploration.
Jillian has taken the following courses related to responsive feeding:
-The Get Permission Approach to Anxious Eaters, Anxious Mealtimes, Get Permission Institute
-Responsive Feeding Therapy: The Foundational Series, Responsive Feeding PRO
Celise is registered with the college of dietitians of BC. Celise earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Food Nutrition and Health from the University of British Columbia and has been serving as a pediatric dietitian at BC Children’s Hospital since 2017. Throughout her tenure, she has undertaken diverse roles, honing her skills in assessing and treating pediatric nutrition and feeding challenges, including selective eating, sensory sensitivities, food aversions, and feeding tube dependence. Her compassionate approach emphasizes building trust and confidence in children as they explore new foods and eating experiences.
Celise collaborates closely with families, caregivers, and multidisciplinary teams to
develop personalized nutrition plans when addressing feeding issues. Drawing on evidence-based strategies and innovative techniques, Celise empowers families with practical tools and resources to foster positive mealtime experiences and promote healthy relationships with food which ultimately preserves a child’s nutritional wellbeing.
Currently residing in Vancouver, Celise also does great work with the Sunny Hill Health Centers Feeding team. When she is not supporting families with their feeding goals, Celise can be found spending quality time with her husband and two children as well as biking, hiking, and beekeeping on her rooftop garden.
Izzy is a speech language pathologist who graduated with a Master’s degree from the University of British Columbia. As someone who comes from a family with a diverse food background, Izzy knows the value of having the strategies and tools to navigate through new foods. Izzy is passionate about developing positive relationships with food for people of all ages, and loves creating opportunities to have fun exploring new tastes and textures. Mealtimes play an important role in life for all of us, and Izzy is excited to be part of the responsive feeding team to aid in making meals a joyful experience.
Izzy has taken the following courses related to responsive feeding:
-The Get Permission Approach to Anxious Eaters, Anxious Mealtimes, Get Permission Institute
-Responsive Feeding Therapy: The Foundational Series, Responsive Feeding PRO
Ella is an Occupational Therapist who graduated with her MSc.OT from Queen’s University in 2013. She has clinical experience working with neurodivergent children and teens from ages 18 months-18 years, assessing feeding and swallowing with adults, and supporting adults in mental health settings. Ella is passionate about supporting families in fostering strong connections and a sense of felt safety as the foundation for building positive relationships with food and mealtimes. Drawing from both personal and professional experience, she brings a compassionate understanding to her work. Ella navigates her own food sensitivities and supports one of her children through a complex eating journey, giving her a deep appreciation for the emotional and practical struggles both caregivers and children often face. Her work is grounded in empathy, collaboration, and a belief in the power of connection and felt safety at the table. Outside of her work with families, Ella cherishes time with her husband and three children and takes every opportunity to be near the ocean.
Ella has taken the following courses related to responsive feeding:
– The Get Permission Approach for Anxious Eaters, Anxious Mealtimes, Get Permission Institute
– Responsive Feeding Therapy; The Foundational Series, Responsive Feeding PRO
– The Power of Communication and Connection at Mealtimes, Get Permission Institute
– Prioritizing Safety and Connection in the Feeding Relationship, Get Permission Institute
– Learning Through Opportunity: Feeding in Infancy and Toddlerhood
– Mouth Moves: Helping Parents to Support Oral Motor Development in their Children for Pediatric Feeding Success
– Feeding Development: What is Typical?
– Foundations of Feeding Therapy for OTs: Anatomy, Physiology, Terms, and Tools
– Feeding and Nutrition Interventions for Children on the Autism Spectrum
– Sensory Skills: Helping Parents to Support Sensory Development in their Children for Pediatric Feeding Success
– Responsive Feeding: Together At The Table
– Crumbs as a Tool in Pediatric Feeding Transitions
– Overview of Prematurity and Associated Conditions
– Introduction to Breastfeeding and the Role of the Occupational Therapy Practitioner
Alison is an occupational therapist who graduated with her masters degree from the University of British Columbia. Alison has experience working with neurodivergent children and youth of all ages and their families. Alison’s passion for supporting individuals on their feeding journeys began from her own personal experience as a sensory eater and her sister’s experience with complex feeding needs. Alison spent the majority of her childhood as a ‘very picky eater’ and is now able to have a positive, fulfilling relationship with various foods! Her personal experience is the driving force behind why she values the Responsive Feeding Approach and she is excited to support others in discovering their own safe and comfortable relationship with food.
Alison has taken the following professional education courses related to feeding and eating therapy:
– The Get Permission Approach to Anxious Eaters, Anxious Mealtimes: The Get
Permission Institute
– Responsive Feeding Therapy: The Foundational Series: Responsive Feeding PRO
– Food Chaining Therapy – Northern Speech Services
– Pediatric Feeding & Swallowing: Managing Complex Issues – Sherna Marcus
Our commitment extends beyond treating feeding challenges, aiming to empower both children and parents with the tools and knowledge to create a lasting foundation for a lifetime of healthy and enjoyable eating experiences.
