Our Team
We are a group of therapists specialized in helping with challenges faced by individuals and families as they go through the stages of becoming parents, growing a family and raising resilient kids. We are committed to helping you thrive as your family grows.
Fahreen Jeshani, MSW, RSW
Adult & Family Therapist | Talkin' Families Co-Founder & Clinical Director
Adult & Family Therapist | Talkin' Families Co-Founder & Clinical Director
Fahreen's passion is supporting parents, especially mothers with the adjustment to motherhood, understanding infant and toddler sleep, postpartum depression and anxiety, reparenting therapy and adult ADHD. If you're an overwhelmed mama, feeling lost and can't figure out why things feel so hard - Fahreen is the right therapist for you. She also specializes in working with couples with young children that are finding themselves arguing more, not on the same page regarding parenting and feeling disconnected from each other.
Valerie Groysman, MSW, RSW
Child & Family Therapist | Talkin' Families Co-Founder
Child & Family Therapist | Talkin' Families Co-Founder
Baby and toddler sleep, strengthening parent/child relationships, finding and keeping relationship, getting along with others and getting in charge of stress and anxiety.
*not currently accepting new clients*
Christina Kocharakkal M.sc., RP, RMFT.
Marriage and Family Therapist & Infant Mental Health Specialist
Christina helps families with small children's social, emotional and behavior challenges. She helps with toddler tantrums, parents with kids who aren't listening, anxious or angry, and parents who aren't on the same page about parenting.
She is our very own "ninja" when it comes to learning how to have strong parent- child relationships.
Kaili Ets, Reg. OT.
Pediatric Occupational Therapist, Baby-Led Sleep, Child Development Sensory Processing and Reflux Specialist
Kaili has a knack for supporting families with spicy babies where you have tried everything to help them and can't figure out why nothing is working. Kaili will support you in getting to root cause of your little one's struggles - whether that is reflux or silent reflux, cow milk protein allergy (CMPA), eczema, high energy or strong willed babies and toddlers that just won't settle down for sleep and more.
You will walk away with steps you can take right away to start to get on track. There are very few professionals who are as knowledgeable as Kaili in so many different areas that impact children - she will put the puzzle pieces together with you to find solutions and relief.
Mackenzie Cooke, BA.
Doula & Baby Led Sleep and Wellbeing Specialist
Senior Sleep Specialist providing sleep consultation for 0-6 years without sleep training or cry it out of any kind.
Carlyn Chorny, RP.
Individual Psychotherapist and Child Sleep Specialist.
For parents who want to cultivate self-acceptance and love, improve communication and increase confidence. Child Sleep (0-6) Specialist.
Olivia Gregoris, MSW (Cand.)
Practicum Student
I am a first year Master of Social Work student at the University of Toronto. I am so excited to be completing my first practicum with Talkin’ Families Ontario. I previously completed a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, followed by a post-graduate certificate in Autism & Behavioural Sciences.
I have worked as an instructor therapist with kiddos on the spectrum and their families for the past 4 years. I am passionate about working with children and families and am excited to further develop my skills in practicum. When I’m not studying hard, I’m hanging out with my partner and our kitty named Meredith!
Annette Kovar McLaughlin
Practice Assistant
Annette is our virtual practice assistant. She is currently working towards her MA in counselling psychology but enjoys supporting clients in an administrative capacity in the meantime.
Our team is here to help you through the stages and challenges of raising resilient children together.
Our Clinic specializes in...
Child Sleep Consultation (birth to 6 years)
We offer benefit covered baby and child (0-6) sleep consultation. Our approach is holistic and we offer alternatives to sleep training and cry it out methods. We help you reach your baby and toddler's sleep goals without compromising those things you love about this stage of your lives. We have the skills to identify underlying health related causes of sleep disturbance and help you navigate the appropriate professionals who can help.
Re-Parenting Psychotherapy
Trying to parent differently than your parents did is not easy, especially once you try it on your own. We can help you develop skills and strategies to be able to parent like the parent you'd like to be instead of reverting to those automatic reactions you are trying to avoid.
Couples Therapy
Whether you need help reconnecting or working through a particular parenting conflict - we can help. Maybe you need help with making parenting decisions together. You will never hear "stop co-sleeping if you want a good relationship" - we support your couple relationship without compromising the things you love about having babies and small kids. Maybe the transition to parenthood has been difficult on your relationship and you want to reconnect now that you baby is a toddler or child.
Preschoolers and Smooth Transitions
Are you welcoming a new baby soon? Struggling with becoming a mom or parent? Transitioning to daycare? is your JK or SK child struggling with the transition to school? Maybe your family is undergoing a health challenge, high conflict, stress or a big change. We can help you make the transitions smoother, less difficult and more successful for your whole family.
Individual Psychotherapy
Life and transitions can be hard. You may experience increased stress, anxiety or a difficulty getting along with the people who you love the most. Perhaps it's your relationship with yourself that is causing you the most struggle and stress. Maybe you find yourself screaming at your child or partner but then regret it later. Maybe you feel like you just can't control yourself. You don't have to figure it out on your own, we can help!
Parenting through connection and without yelling or punishment
For babies, toddlers and young children (birth to 12)
You want to do what's best for your child but you don't know what else to do to get them to listen. Maybe punishment is the only thing that seems to work in the moment, but you notice more negative behavior later. Maybe you tried gentle parenting but now you regret it because your child's behaviour is out of hand. We can help you parent within your values while still getting the behaviour you are looking for.
Postpartum depression and anxiety (perinatal mental health)
The first year after baby is full of change and transition but experiencing high levels of anxiety and depression can take away all the joy from having a new baby. We help support your mental health without asking you to do anything that doesn't align with your values. You will never hear "sleep train you baby for your mental health" from us.
Raising spicy babies and children
Do you have a baby who just won't stop crying no matter what you do? Do you have a strong willed toddler or a child who seems to cry about every little thing? Maybe the screaming and crying is still ringing in your ears even though your baby no longer cries non stop. Maybe your baby or child was going through health conditions that kept being dismissed when you bring them up to your doctor. As social workers, we can help you navigate exactly who can help and how to advocate for yourself and your child to get the right help.