Meet Our Instructors!
We provide education and training that helps organizations build capacity, strengths, resources, and enhanced performance through strategic communication.
Dr. Elaine Cook, PhD.
ecook@hollandbloorview.ca
Elaine Cook has a PhD in applied behavioural psychology. As a certified solution-focused coach she works with individuals, families and organizations to facilitate conversations and implement humanistic programs that guide people toward development and personal wisdom. Currently, she works at Holland Bloorview Kid’s Rehabilitation Hospital and is responsible for training doctors, nurses, clinicians, students, youth and families in solution-focused communication practices. She is mother to three children and two fur-babies, and when she isn’t mothering or working she loves to ponder the nature of the universe and our place in it, as integrated, whole and healthy beings.
Cathy Petta, RN
Cathy Petta has been an RN for over 30 years, and has spent the last 16 years at Holland Bloorview, She spent her first two years here on the inpatient rehab unit, and for the last 14 years has been one of the nurses with the Psychopharmacology Clinic supporting children with ASD with severe interfering behaviors and their families.
Since her first introduction to the Solution Focused approach in 2016 she has worked to embed a Solution Focused approach in all areas of her practice at Holland Bloorview and beyond. She was one of the first cohort to successfully complete the certification in Humanistic solution focused health care coaching and facilitation at Holland Bloorview.
Her passion and best hope is to help other clinicians to bring the humanistic solution focused approach to their clinical practice.
Brian J. Freel, SFC
bfreel@hollandbloorview.ca
Brian Freel is an experienced coach, program facilitator and seminar/group leader. In his private practice Brian assists all types of clients including: children & youths, families, adults of all ages, couples and professionals, in groups and one-on-one consultations. He is passionate about everything solution focused and is an expert at leading from behind for a wide range of issues and concerns.
Brian brings a unique perspective and many years of experience to HB Humanistic Healthcare and states, without reservation, how honored he is to be part of such a progressive and dynamic team.
He is a lifelong learner and an incurable optimist.
In his spare time you may see Brian cycling the roads and mountain bike trails where he resides in the Niagara Region.
Nikky Henderson
Nikky Henderson brings an extremely positive outlook to her role as Program Assistant with the Solution Focused Team at Holland Bloorview. In her current role she shares her experience as a young person living with Cerebral Palsy, navigating through the health care system. Using her lived experience, she hopes to shed light on the opportunities for growth to allow for a more equitable and client-centred health care system. It is her hope that through embedding and implementation of Solution-Focused principals that all people especially those with disabilities are better able to recognize their inherent strengths and resources which allows for a better understanding of self. She is also a Youth Mentor at Holland Bloorview.
Wesley Magee-Saxton
Wesley Magee-Saxton is a 22-year-old multidisciplinary artist and storyteller. They are a recent graduate of the York University Theatre program, having earned their Bachelor of Fine Arts with a Specialized Honours in acting for the stage. They were trained in Solution Focused Humanistic Healthcare during their time as a Youth Leader at Holland Bloorview. As a cofacilitator on the team, they hope to bring the unique insights of their lived experience as a white disabled actor and apply it to a healthcare context. They endeavour to use the knowledge gifted to them by this experience and training, to hold space for participants of the workshops to view the work through the lens of someone intimately intertwined with the healthcare system. They wish to acknowledge the disparities of care between differing intersections within the current systems at play, and to use their privilege to be a guide towards progress.
Gunjan Seth
Gunjan is the mother of an individual with autism and a proud immigrant to Canada. Through the journey & joy of raising her son with autism, she has acquired a lived experience, education & training that has strongly motivated her to volunteer, share with and advocate for clients, parents, and caregivers. She is a Family as Faculty and Family mentor at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. She is also a Parent advisor with ECHO Ontario Autism, Family Partner with Autism Speaks, Autism Care Network and PFAC member with Ontario Health.
She is very passionate about sharing her lived experience with a humanistic approach to support families, caregivers, healthcare students and Clinicians to create a world of possibilities where everyone feels included, respected, valued and supported to meet their needs and hopes. Being a curious learner, she leads from behind with compassion to create safe spaces and works collaboratively with clients, families, healthcare students and clinicians to shine light on their strengths, resources and miracles that are already happening.
Candace Muskat
Candace has been a family mentor at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital (HB) for the past eight years. As a parent of a former HB client, she possesses a genuine understanding of the all-consuming rehab journey and is passionate about sharing experiences and supporting clients as they navigate their way through the many complex health care, educational, and social systems. Candace has an unwavering belief that “anything can be possible” and thus, the solution focused (SF) approach to supporting others – highlighting and embracing solutions instead of focusing on problems, resonated deeply and fuels her commitment and excitement in working with HB families.
As a recently certified solution focused health care coach (C-SFHCC), Candace has developed a new appreciation for the wholeness of all individuals, and focuses on amplifying and reinforcing the strengths and resources of parents, caregivers, and their loved ones in every conversation. She is forever inspired by how easily the SF approach encourages individuals to notice and tap into their inherent strengths, resources and resilience so that they can create opportunities that move them closer to achieving their unique aspirations.
Candace holds an MSW from the University of Toronto, practiced in the field of mental health, later joined the business world, and has more recently stepped back into health care as a passionate advocate for a SF approach to care through coaching and family workshop facilitation. In her spare time, you can find her in the vegetable garden, arranging flowers, or sweating it out on the megaformer at Lagree. She is most grateful for her three awesome children who reminder her daily that anything can be possible.
