ABOUT US
Meet Our Founder
Welcome to our practice! Led by Courtney Panella, a Registered Behaviour Analyst and approved Ontario Autism Program service provider, we bring over 15 years of experience in delivering effective, evidence-based treatment. Our mission is to enhance the well-being of those we support through personalized behaviour consultation. By working closely with each family, we strive to develop essential skills and reduce interfering behaviours, ensuring individualized support tailored to your unique needs.
SERVICES
How our consultation approach can help
Challenging Behaviour
Challenging behaviours are often linked to underlying skill deficits. Children prefer to do well but can struggle when they are confused or when their needs are not being met. At First Step, we understand that these behaviours are often a child's way of communicating unmet needs or difficulties. We work closely with families to help them teach their children more effective and adaptive ways to engage with others. Our approach emphasizes the importance of fostering positive, co-regulatory relationships, ensuring that caregivers have the tools and strategies to support their child effectively. With extensive experience in managing behaviours ranging from mild disruptions to more intense or dangerous challenges, we collaborate with families to stabilize difficult situations, reduce stress, and promote safety for everyone involved.
Toilet Training
Toilet training challenges can manifest in various ways, such as frequent accidents, resistance to using the toilet, fear or anxiety around the process, withholding urine or stool, difficulty transitioning from diapers to underwear, and bedwetting. These challenges can create frustration and stress for both children and caregivers. At First Step, we take a personalized approach, meeting your child at their current developmental stage. We focus on fostering success and independence in a way that aligns with their individual pace and needs. Our approach is also mindful of your family's unique schedule and routine, ensuring that toilet training becomes a manageable and positive experience for everyone involved.
Sleep
Sleep challenges can take many forms, such as difficulty falling asleep, waking up during the night, resistance at bedtime, or dependence on caregivers throughout the night when everyone should be resting. For children, sleep is essential for growth, brain development, memory consolidation, emotional regulation, and overall health. Quality rest enhances focus, behaviour, and learning abilities during the day. For families, good sleep promotes better communication, patience, and energy, making it easier to manage daily tasks and challenges. Ensuring that everyone in the family gets enough rest contributes to stronger relationships and a healthier, happier home. At First Step, we respect each family's unique sleep practices and collaborate to achieve sleep goals that best suit your needs.
Skill Development
Some children require specialized teaching to develop the skills they need to grow into independent, confident, and fulfilled adults. At First Step, we partner with families to break down complex skills into manageable, achievable steps, equipping parents with the tools and strategies they need to teach these skills effectively. Using evidence-based approaches, we guide and support caregivers in fostering their child's growth across various areas, including social skills, emotional regulation, communication, executive functioning, leisure activities, and daily living tasks. Our goal is to empower caregivers to confidently support their child's development, ensuring progress that is both meaningful and sustainable.