Meet the team

Healthcare Provider of the Year Ontario Brain Injury Association

DR. ELAINE MCKINNON, Ph.D., C.Psych.Psychologist & founder

Encompass’ founder, Dr. Elaine McKinnon, is a registered psychologist who has been practicing in the field of Pediatric and Adult Neuropsychology and Clinical Psychology for over twenty years. She established Encompass Neuropsychological Services in 2013 and, along with her growing staff, she has worked with hundreds of children, adolescents and adults in the Southern Ontario region.

Dr. McKinnon completed her Ph.D. in Psychology at York University where her Ph.D. thesis examined the impact of acquired brain injuries on adolescents and their families. Prior to setting up in private practice, Dr. McKinnon held a position as a Clinical Psychologist in the Rehabilitation Unit and Child and Family Services at the Credit Valley Hospital. Her early training was completed at Holland Bloorview Kids’ Rehabilitation Hospital and the Hospital for Sick Children.

Dr. McKinnon’s work in the area of acquired brain injuries and sports concussion extends back many years. In addition, she has experience working with a range of neurodevelopmental disorders, and psychological and behavioural adjustment disorders. She brings a broad range of clinical skills in assessment and treatment, and has worked to guide treatment planning within multidisciplinary teams for children and adults. Dr. McKinnon’s interests also extend to supporting the work of community brain injury associations, advocating for increased knowledge sharing and improved access to services for all ages. She was recognized in 2020 with an Outstanding Achievement Award in the field of Pediatric Neuropsychology by the Brain Injury Association of Peel and Halton (BIAPH).

DR. CRISTINA SAVERINO, Ph.D., C.Psych.Psychologist

Dr. Cristina Saverino is a registered clinical neuropsychologist. She completed her PhD in psychology from the University of Toronto. Dr. Saverino has extensive experience working with adults and seniors with acquired brain injury and neurodegenerative diseases. She has worked for the Canadian Concussion Centre and the Hull-Ellis Concussion Clinic at the Toronto-Rehabilitation Institute at UHN. Dr. Saverino also provides psychological services to individuals at the Toronto Western Hospital-UHN that have sustained work related injuries and are experiencing chronic pain, PTSD and co-occurring depression and anxiety following their injury.

Dr. Saverino contributed to the development of the Standards of Post-Concussion Care in Ontario and has presented and published various scientific papers on the topics of aging and memory, traumatic brain injury and on the usefulness of psychological intervention post-concussion.

DR. SUSAN SPROKAY, Psy.D., C.Psych.Psychologist

Dr. Susan Sprokay received her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University and completed an internship in contemporary psychodynamic psychotherapy at The Wright Institute in Los Angeles. She completed her post-doctoral training at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, where she focused both her clinical and research work on aging, risk for Alzheimer’s disease, caregiver burden, and memory training.

In addition to specializing in neuropsychological assessment of memory disorders, Dr. Sprokay provides training sessions to help individuals learn strategies to improve their memory and overall cognitive health.

Dr. Mary Stewart, Ph.D., C.Psych.Psychologist

Dr. Mary Stewart is a registered psychologist who has been practicing in the fields of pediatric and adult clinical neuropsychology, clinical psychology, and rehabilitation psychology for nearly thirty years. She completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Windsor where her dissertation work focused on the early predictors of reading disability outcomes. Dr. Stewart’s early clinical work experience involved neuropsychological assessments of children in acute care hospital settings in Windsor and Halifax, as well as adults in the Acquired Brain Injury Program at Hamilton Health Sciences Centre. Since 1992, she has held the position of Clinical Neuropsychologist in the acquired brain injury program at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital (Holland Bloorview). In this role, Dr. Stewart provides neuropsychological assessment, individual therapy, group counseling, and consultation services for children, adolescents and young adults, as well as facilitating caregiver/parent groups.

Dr. Stewart was the Professional Practice Leader of Psychology at Holland Bloorview from 1997-2009 and was a member of the College of Psychologists (CPO) Registration Committee from 2011-2013. She continues to maintain an active interest in professional practice as an oral examiner and interviewer for CPO. Dr. Stewart is currently involved in a clinical research project evaluating a caregiver peer support program offered during the inpatient phase of brain injury rehabilitation to determine if the needs of caregivers to support themselves and their children are being met.

Dr. Ksusha Blacklock, Ph.D., C.Psych.Psychologist

Dr. Ksusha Blacklock is a registered psychologist, who practices in the fields of pediatric clinical neuropsychology, clinical psychology, and rehabilitation psychology. She completed her Ph.D. in Clinical-Developmental Psychology and Clinical Neuropsychology at York University. Her graduate research focused on the factors contributing to optimal outcomes for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) participating in government-funded behavioural intervention, with particular focus on the continued development and clinical use of a measure of the quality of the intervention. Dr. Blacklock has presented her research at numerous conferences as well as to the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.

Dr. Blacklock has worked at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital since 2013. Her clinical work has included providing direct services and counseling to children, adolescents, and young adults with ASD, as well as co-facilitating groups for children with ASD struggling with anxiety. She has also provided individual and group counseling to children and teens following an acquired brain injury. Dr. Blacklock currently provides psychoeducational and neuropsychological assessments to children and adolescents with various neurodevelopmental challenges, including assessment and diagnosis in the areas of learning disability, intellectual disability, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and ASD. At Holland Bloorview, she continues to supervise and train several students and interns throughout their placements at the hospital. She has also recently been part of a dissertation committee for a paper examining how parents of children with ASD perceive and select intervention options in Taiwan. She is currently working on a publication related to a measure of quality of behavioural intervention for ASD.

Dr. Ashley Danguecan, PhD., C.Psych.Neuropsychologist

Dr. Ashley Danguecan is a Pediatric Clinical Neuropsychologist registered in the Province of Ontario. She completed her undergraduate studies at York University, and subsequently her M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (with Neuropsychology specialization) at the University of Windsor. During Dr. Danguecan’s residency and neuropsychology post-doctoral training at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), she gained comprehensive assessment, treatment, and research experience with a range of complex pediatric medical populations including children with neonatal brain injury (e.g., stroke, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy), genetic/metabolic conditions, epilepsy, brain tumor, leukemia, and sickle cell disease.

Since 2018, Dr. Danguecan has been a Staff Neuropsychologist at SickKids, serving the Division of Rheumatology and the Neonatal Neurodevelopmental Follow-Up Clinic. In this capacity, she provides neuropsychology assessment services, leads a mental health screening program, supervises graduate-level Psychology trainees, and conducts mental health and cognitive outcome research. Dr. Danguecan adopts an evidence-based, biopsychosocial approach to assessment and treatment that considers the child and family’s unique context.

ALISA METCALFE, M.A.Psychometrist

Alisa Metcalfe has been conducting psychological and neuropsychological assessments for over 20 years, having worked with a number of psychologists, as well as years of experience teaching psychological assessment to Ph.D. level graduate students. She is skilled at assessing for a broad range of needs, including neuropsychological, educational, gifted, cognitive impairments, and mental health concerns, ranging in age from preschoolers to adults. Her easygoing, friendly, and warm demeanour puts clients at ease, especially children and adolescents, allowing for excellent rapport with the clients she works with.

MARITA GOLTZ, M.A., C.Psych. (Alberta)Psychometrist

Marita Goltz has been conducting psychological and neuropsychological assessments for over 30 years, having worked with a variety of client populations spanning in age from children as young as two through to senior citizens. Her areas of expertise include assessing for complex psychiatric disorders, acquired brain injuries, autism spectrum disorders, developmental disabilities, learning disorders, as well as the full range of childhood/adolescent psychological problems and co-morbid conditions. Marita is highly skilled at honing in on all areas of development and you can rest assured that she will be acutely attuned and attentive to your needs.

SHARYN VAN ZON, B.A. (Hons), DCSPsychometrist

Sharon is a consultant psychometrist with 23+ years of experience performing neuropsychological, psychological, psychoeducational and psychovocational assessments for adults, adolescents and children. She has also previously worked as an assessor, clinician and clinical coordinator of both public and private sector organizations, within the fields of neuropsychology and education.

LE-ANH NGO, M.Sc.Psychometrist

Le-Anh Ngo has been working in the field of psychological and neuropsychological assessment for over 15 years. Prior to joining us, Le-Anh accumulated a broad knowledgebase working with a variety of age groups and client populations at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, The Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, Credit Valley Hospital and Peel Halton Dufferin Acquired Brain Injury Services. In addition to her extensive background in assessment and research, Le-Anh is also trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, in treating adults. Her enthusiastic, engaged, and energetic disposition make her a well-liked favourite with children and teens.

AUDREY MEISSNER, M.Ed., BCBABehaviour Analyst

Audrey Meissner is a consulting behaviour analyst for Encompass Neuropsychological Services. She is also the clinical director of behavioural services for Central West Specialized Developmental Services. She was the clinical director for the New Haven Learning Centre since its inception in 1998 and was promoted to executive director for her last 10 years with the organization.

Audrey has specialized in the education and treatment of individuals with autism and developmental disabilities for the past 20 years, and holds a Master’s degree in special education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto. Audrey has been a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst since 2005, and is a presenter at local, national, and international conferences on topics relating to educating individuals with autism and developmental disabilities using the science of applied behaviour analysis.

SCOTT FARRAWAYBehaviour Consultant

Since 1984, Scott has worked with people with Acquired Brain Injury in both hospital and community settings. After completing a degree in Psychology at McMaster University, Scott began working at the Chedoke Hospital Rehabilitation Program initially as a Recreation Therapist and then later as a Primary Outreach Therapist for the Acquired Brain Injury Program. During this period of time, he received extensive training and experience in Neurobehavioural Rehabilitation and Behaviour Analysis.

In addition to his work in the public sector, Scott has also enjoyed consulting with individuals and families in the private sector since 1998. His relationship with Dr. Elaine McKinnon and Encompass Neuropsychological Services has allowed him to bring over 30 years of experience in the social service field to people experiencing behavioural challenges.