Meet Our Team

Owner, Northern Play Therapy

Christine is the Owner and Director of Northern Play Therapy. She is a Certified EMDR Therapist and Parent-Child Attachment Specialist, and a member of the Canadian Association for Play Therapy, where she is completing her certification. Christine brings extensive experience working with children, youth, and families across a variety of settings, including hospitals, Indigenous communities, crisis response, and child protection.

With specialized expertise in complex trauma, attachment, and behavioural challenges, Christine is dedicated to providing evidence-based, compassionate care. Her approach integrates play-based therapy, EMDR, and attachment-focused methods to help children build resilience, strengthen relationships, and move toward healing. Christine is deeply committed to advancing the field of child and youth therapy through ongoing training, clinical supervision, and mentorship of other therapists.

My name is Sarah Wise, and I’m so excited to be supporting Northern Play Therapy through Occupational Therapy and Psychotherapy! Born and raised in Sudbury, I'm so glad to be back in the north supporting my community. I'm passionate about supporting children, families, and young adults. I love helping children, families, and young adults find fun, practical ways to feel more regulated, confident, and connected as they work toward their own meaningful goals. 

My background centers on uncovering the physiological and emotional roots of challenges through the nervous system- understanding the impact of sensory processing, retained primitive reflexes, co-regulation, attachment, and the power of play in supporting both functional and emotional growth.

I’m certified in providing the Safe and Sound Protocol, and I have training and supervision in Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP). I’m currently pursuing additional training in nature therapy and dolphin vagus nerve neurostimulation.

Shannon is a Registered Social Worker with university degrees in Social Work and Psychology, bringing over ten years of experience in diverse areas, including child and adolescent mental health, homelessness, and crisis intervention. With seven years dedicated to supporting young people, Shannon is certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and trained in Solution Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. Shannon has also worked closely with Indigenous communities, fostering a deep understanding of cultural practices and perspectives. Passionate about empowering children and teens, Shannon is dedicated to meeting them where they are currently at and helping them work towards living life to the fullest.

Kayla is a Registered Social Worker currently completing a Master’s thesis exploring art-based mindfulness as a stepping stone to relationship repair in families. She holds a Level 2 certification in Expressive Arts Therapy and is deeply passionate about the power of creativity, connection, and collaboration in the healing process. Kayla works from a strengths-based approach, integrating art, play, and mindfulness to support children, youth, and families in building understanding and strengthening relationships. She is committed to helping families find authentic and sustainable ways to connect, heal, and grow together.