Why Bright Spot?

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The clients and families we work with come to us when they have a challenge. Whether it is a parent worried about their child's developmental milestones, a family who just found out their child has autism, or an adult adjusting to changes after a traumatic brain injury, we are often the first to connect with families and clients during these difficult times.

 

The greatest and most memorable moments we have as clinicians are those moments filled with laughter, the small steps toward a goal, the "Aha" moments, and the moments when a client feels understood.  At Bright Spot we aim to bring a twinkle to your day and a smile to your face while providing exceptional speech-language pathology and occupational therapy services.  

 

                                                 Let us be the BRIGHT spot in your day!

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Who are we?

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We are a team of dedicated, enthusiastic, and compassionate professionals committed to providing exceptional speech-language pathology and occupational therapy services.

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Services Include:

• Assessment 

• Intervention

• Consultation

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Services are Available in the Following Areas:

• Timmins (and surrounding areas) - at our office or in your home

• Sudbury (and surrounding areas) - at our office or in your home

• Across Ontario - through telepractice

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Most services are available in French and English

 

OUR VISION, MISSION, & VALUES

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Vision 

To brighten the day of the clients we serve.

 

Mission

To eliminate barriers to accessing speech-language pathology and occupational services through strategic partnerships.

 

Values

Family/client Centred: We care about YOUR goals

Knowledgeable: We complete continuing education every month to keep up-to-date with evidence-based practice

Individualized: We make our services fit our clients’ unique interests

Strengths-Based: We recognize that every client has strengths that are key to their success

Compassionate: We CARE! We show this to families by checking in on our clients frequently during services, while they are on a break from services, and after our services have been provided. We happily connect families to free public services whenever possible. We offer flexible payment plans and will work around families’ budgets. We constantly build partnerships that allow families to access services either for free or at a significantly reduced price.

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 Owner/Speech-Language Pathologist

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Rachel Pessah, M.Cl.Sc., Reg. CASLPO

Rachel is the owner of Bright Spot Therapy Services. She is a speech-language pathologist registered with the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO). She is also a member in good standing of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Canada (SAC) and the Ontario Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (OSLA). She attained a Masters of Clinical Sciences degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Western University in Ontario.

 

Rachel has worked with all ages in clinic and community settings including public schools, hospitals, group homes, and teletherapy. Rachel is currently involved with the Autism Assessment Team and the Feeding Initiative Pilot Project in Timmins. Rachel is certified in Hanen It Takes Two to Talk and More than Words programs. She has advanced training in feeding, autism, executive functioning, cognitive communication, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), and acquired brain injury. 

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Click here for a detailed description of Rachel's previous experience. 

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Occupational Therapist

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Elizabeth Jones H.B.Sc., B.H.Sc (OT), O.T. Reg. (Ont.)

Elizabeth Jones has been registered with the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario and practicing in northern Ontario for 22 years.  Elizabeth graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Psychology as well as a degree in Occupational Therapy from McMaster University.  She began her career working as a sole charge therapist at Anson General Hospital in Iroquois Falls, and now enjoys working with  children and adults in their communities.  Elizabeth has had a variety of experience working with clients from childhood up to over 100 years of age.  She is a certified ADP authorizer for seating and mobility devices as well as communication aids. Elizabeth and her husband have seven children, most of whom are homeschooled;  allowing her to understand the perspective of both parents and teachers.

Speech-Language Pathologist

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Danelle Lafortune, M.Sc.S., Reg. CASLPO

Danelle attained her Masters in Science de la Santé en Orthophonie from Laurentian University in Ontario. She is a speech-language pathologist registered with the College of Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathologist of Ontario (CASLPO) as well as a member of the Ontario Association of Speech-Language Pathologist and Audiologist (OSLA).

 

Danelle has gained experience working with the adult population in community settings, such as in home-care, group homes and hospitals. She also acquired experience working with preschoolers and school age children in clinics, rehabilitation centres and schools. Danelle is certified in Hanen It Takes Two to Talk and she also completed training in motor speech and feeding. 

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Danelle is excited to provide speech and language services, as well as services to those with swallowing impairments, to the adult population in Timmins and surrounding areas. Born and raised in Sudbury, Ontario, Danelle is looking forward to servicing Bright Spot children and their families in her home community.

Carobeth Zorzos

Clinical Psychologist

Clinical Psychologist

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Carobeth Zorzos, M.A., C.Psych., BCBA

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Carobeth is a Clinical Psychologist and a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst who has worked with children, youth, and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders, intellectual/developmental disabilities, behaviour disorders, and learning disabilities since 2001. She has a Master’s degree in Psychology from the University of Nevada, Reno.

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Carobeth has worked in both government funded and private practice settings, and her past consultation experience includes a wide variety of settings, including home and centre based ABA programs, schools, group homes, residential treatment programs, long term care facilities, adult day programs, inpatient mental health settings, and children’s aid societies. She also has experience working with indigenous children and youth in rural and remote communities throughout Ontario.

Carobeth is an active member of the behaviour analysis community, and has served in the following positions:

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• Ontario Association for Behaviour Analysis (ONTABA) Board of Directors member 2004-2010; 2011-2013 term

• Chair of ONTABA’s Professional Regulation Committee (2011-2013) and Autism Spectrum Disorder Task Force/Committee (2017-2019)

• ONTABA representative for the MCYS Ontario Autism Program Advisory Committee (2016-2018)

• Kerry’s Place Autism Services Board of Directors Member 2018 to 2022 term

• Autism Ontario Board of Directors member 2014-2017 term

• Member of Behaviour Science and Technology Program Advisory Committee at George Brown College

• Member of Applied Disabilities Studies Program Advisory Committee at Brock University.

• She received the 2018 Gerry Bloomfield Award from Autism Ontario and the 2017 President’s Award for Service Excellence from ONTABA for her work on the MCYS OAP Advisory Committee.

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Currently, Carobeth is the Director of Launch Behavioural Health Powered by Dalton Associates and is partnering with Bright Spot to assist with autism diagnostic assessments.

Therapy Assistant - Sudbury

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Stephanie Duke, B.A. 

Stephanie is an experienced therapy assistant (Speech and Language Pathology, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy) who has worked in children’s rehabilitation services for the last 20 years.  Born and raised in Sudbury, she moved to Timmins after completing her Bachelor of Arts from Laurentian University.

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Stephanie began her career as a therapy assistant with the Cochrane Temiskaming Children’s Treatment Centre (CTCTC) in 1997. She has worked with children of all ages, providing individual and group therapy services under the direction of supervising therapists. In addition to providing individual treatment programs, Stephanie has been actively involved in the coordination and implementation of various motor groups such as the Tumble and Swing toddler gross motor group and Snowbound downhill ski program. She has also assisted in recreational activities such as craft clubs and cooking groups as well as a Sledge Skate program.  In recent years, Stephanie has worked more closely with children with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and/or SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder), additionally serving as a coordinator and OT assistant with the Sensory Processing Parent Group. She has participated in many professional development activities throughout her career, more recently in the areas of communication with children with ASD. Coming from an artistic background, Stephanie enjoys incorporating music and crafts into her therapy sessions as she strongly believes that creativity can make learning fun.

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Having recently relocated back to Sudbury with her family, Stephanie looks forward to serving Bright Spot clients and families in her home community and surrounding area.

Therapy Assistant - Sudbury​

 

Kelsey Lapointe, B.Sc.S. 

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Kelsey holds a degree in Health Sciences in Speech-Language Pathology (Science de la Santé en Orthophonie). She is currently working on her Masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology at Laurentian University. She has valuable experience working with both children and adults and is eager to put into practice what she has learned. Kelsey has gained invaluable experience through her previous work experience as a substitute teacher, camp counsellor, and as an assistant developmental support worker. Kelsey is bilingual and is able to provide services in French and English. Born and raised in Timmins and currently living in Sudbury, she is thrilled to be able to provide services in Northeastern Ontario!

Therapy Assistant - Timmins

 

Jenna Boulet, RBT, CYW

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Jenna graduated as Child and Youth Worker in 2008. She immediately started working for Access Better Living providing respite care services.  In 2009 she started working at NEOFACS in the EarlyOn Centre, the Brighter Futures Program as well as the Supervised Access Program.  In 2016 she began working for CSCDGR (Conseil Scolaire Catholique du District des Grandes Rivières) as an educational Assistant and had the opportunity to work as a Child and Youth Worker ABA assistant.  Jenna recently completed the Registered Behavior Technician Course and has since become certified.

 

Through her experience Jenna has worked with infants, toddlers, children of all ages, teenagers as well as adults.  She has also had the opportunity to work with children with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder).  Jenna has facilitated playgroups, music programs, gym nights, messy plays, physical activity sessions, Wings of Discovery, Esso Math and school readiness programs.  Jenna also has experience providing ABA service under the direct supervision of a BCaBA, helping with the implementation of behaviour and skill acquisition plans.  

 

Jenna has always had a passion for working with children, she is absolutely thrilled to provide bilingual (French/English) services to Timmins and surrounding communities.

Lisa Firlotte

Educational Therapist

Educational Therapist - Timmins

 

Lisa Firlotte, B.A., B.Ed., OCT

 

Lisa is an Ontario Certified Teacher (OCT) who has been employed by District School Board Ontario North East since 2014. She received her Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Child and Youth Studies and her Bachelor of Education through the concurrent education program at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario. Prior to returning to Timmins, Lisa was employed by Brock University as a teaching assistant in the Department of Child and Youth Studies.

 

Lisa’s work, volunteer and education experiences have allowed her the joy of working with students from Kindergarten to Grade 12, as well as adults attending University. Whether in an employment or volunteer capacity she always seeks to create a safe environment for learners to take risks and develop a growth mindset. Lisa has experience supporting students with a variety of needs. In addition to her work in schools, Lisa volunteered with the Learning Disabilities Association of Niagara’s Reading Rocks! program to help guide students to success in reading and writing. During this program she created engaging student-based programming that focused on sight word knowledge, fluency and comprehension, phonemic awareness and spelling.

 

Born and raised in Timmins, Ontario Lisa is excited to be able to help children in the North find confidence in their reading and writing abilities and learn skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.