Nicole Hnatiuk (she/her) is a neurodiversity-affirming occupational therapist/social-cognitive therapist in Edmonton, Alberta.

Nicole received her Bachelor of Science (2010) and Master of Science-Occupational Therapy (2012) from the University of Alberta. She begins her work on her doctorate degree in Fall 2023. Nicole works as an occupational therapist in a local school district, working with children from ages 4-20, including social-emotional learning & regulation programming. Nicole’s interest in social-emotional learning & regulation began when she noticed that many educators ask for strategies for kids who struggled with social interactions. Nicole is passionate about building her skills in social-emotional learning, regulation and neurodiversity-affirming programming.

Beliefs

• All brains are valuable and valued.
• Successful therapy happens when a person trusts their therapist and finds joy during a session.
• Collaboration between the therapist and the client/family is essential to therapy.
• The focus should be on a client’s strengths instead of challenges.
• Clients will not be taught “social skills” with the goal of making others more comfortable. Their social differences should be celebrated. Instead, clients should learn about their brains, their communication styles (and the styles of others) and self-advocate to live a joyful, authentic life.
• If a therapist is working with a neurodivergent population, they need to listen and engage with that particular neurodivergent community.

Training

• Neurodiversity-Affirming OT Practice: An Autism CE Summit by Learn Play Thrive
• Kelly Mahler Interoception Professional Development Sessions
• Ross Green Collaborative Problem Solving Training
• Social Thinking Professional Development Sessions
• Facilitating Independent Executive Functioning by Sarah Ward