Our partners

Education + Wellbeing

Deborah Rogers is an educational and wellbeing consultant who uses a child-centered approach based on the child’s strengths to ensure that they are able to thrive socially, emotionally and academically in any educational context that they are in.

We use a collaborative team approach to work with students, educators and their families to meet the needs of a child from an educational and social-emotional lens. We help students to meet their academic goals and create individualized plans to lay out the steps to reach these goals. We will make sure that each and family is able to access the support they need so that they can thrive in every aspect of their learning!

We draw on the expertise of our support network to give our clients the best professional care and avoid the waitlists that may occur.

Meet Sara Handler - MSW

Sara is a registered Social Worker with a MSW degree from Wilfrid Laurier University and a M.A. in Expressive Art Therapy.

Sara has worked with children, youth and families in community based mental health programs for over 15 years. Sara began her career as a behavioral consultant working in group homes to support children with Autism and developmental disabilities. She also treats children and adolescents struggling with mental health concerns and those who have experienced trauma and abuse.

As a Social Worker, Sara brings a strength-based and holistic approach to her work. Sara strongly believes in the importance of the therapeutic relationship and the healing power of connection. Sara is committed to building therapeutic relationships that are non-judgemental, empathic and compassionate. She incorporates Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), solution-focused approaches, narrative and art therapies as well as mindfulness practices into her work.

Sara values collaboration and working with parents, caregivers as well as multidisciplinary teams of other professionals. We value Sara’s contributions in partnering with us and bringing her lens and expertise to the work we do in bridging education and well-being so that each child can thrive!

Sara Handler, MSW, RSW

Social Worker, Psychotherapist

T: 416-358-9352

E: [email protected]

Brave the Waves

The Brave The Waves Teacher’s Manual

Brave The Waves – A Program for Building Resiliency is the result of a collaboration between Sharon Neiss-Arbess, social workers, educators, and psychologists and was formally written by Ms. Deborah Rogers, B.Ed, M.A. It is ideal for the middle school classroom.

The manual was written to support the Government of Ontario’s Open Minds, Healthy Minds initiative (2011), covers several Ontario Curriculum requirements, and is extremely user-friendly for teachers and camp staff. Each lesson presents excerpts and activities that address the most complex challenges teens and middle schools are facing today: bullying and mental health. It is a series of 10 interactive lessons that use engaging topics to promote discussions related to the book and relevant issues for middle school-aged kids. Presently our program is being used in over 10 schools within the GTA and various community organizations across the city.

We also write curriculum and develop educational programs that focus on social emotional learning!

Extra-curriculars for kids

Kids Book Club Toronto

A kids program designed to engage, challenge, and improve kids’ literacy skills in a fun and engaging way, within a social setting. Strong literacy skills are key to social and emotional well-being and student success.

We design book clubs for students in grades 2-8. Each book club is catered to the needs and interests of the group.

Participants can join one of our existing groups or we will assist you in organizing a group for your child and their friends. You pick the day and time.

Our experienced team of teachers delivers high-quality programming and will ensure that the book club is a unique learning experience that your child will love!

www.kidsbookclubto.com