Juanita Gnanapragasam, MSc.OT
(she/her)
Registered Occupational Therapist & Counselling Therapist
About Me
I am a therapist that LOVES helping people figure out how to live a fulfilling and authentic life. That's what mental health occupational therapy is all about. What gives you meaning? What sensory experiences affect your day-to-day life? What gets in the way of you doing the things you care about the most? I work with individuals across the lifespan, especially those who are first- or second-generation Canadians; young adults; and individuals with neurodivergent identities.
My Ideal Client
I work with individuals (14+) and families. I work especially well with:
Adults, kids, and teens who are neurodivergent (ADHD, autism, or still figuring that out) and want support to navigate school, work, or daily life that doesn't ask them to mask or conform;
People dealing with burnout (especially due to work), anxiety, or a daily life that's become harder than it should be;
Those navigating career and life transitions, new diagnoses, returning to work, changing paths, or recovering from an unexpected loss or change;
Individuals managing mood disorders, trauma, or sensory and visual flashbacks that are getting in the way of meaningful activities;
Folks struggling with executive functioning challenges like routine, planning, organization, time management, decision making, and/or emotional regulation;
First-, second-, and third-generation Canadians managing cultural expectations and occupational injustices related to racism;
Anyone who has tried therapy before and felt like something was missing--particularly those who want practical tools alongside emotional support.
Book your FREE Interactive Intake or fill out a quick Online Intake Form to get started.
Working with Me
Occupational therapy asks the question: what are you actually doing each day, and how is that working for you?
I approach every client with curiosity and a whole-picture view; your habits, your nervous system, your environment, and what you want your daily life to look like. The goal isn't just to feel better in session; it's to function better in the real world.
We start by identifying what's getting in the way of the life you want, then build structured, practical strategies to move toward it. Depending on what you're working on, that might involve processing difficult experiences, modifying your environment or routines, working on energy management, or doing the identity and emotional work that underpins all of it. Often it's a combination.
Because I'm both an Occupational Therapist and a Counselling Therapist, this means sessions can move between the inner work (emotions, identity, processing past experiences) and the outer work (routines, sensory environment, what you’re actually doing day-to-day). My approach is neurodivergent-affirming throughout: we start from how your brain actually works and build from there.
I’ve had the privilege of being trained and able to draw from various therapeutic approaches like Prolonged Exposure Therapy, Systematic Desensitization Approaches, Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, and sensory and environmental strategies and I choose what fits you, not the other way around.
My Experience
Master of Occupational Therapy, University of Alberta
Master of Public Health, Health Promotion Specialization, University of Alberta
Registered Occupational Therapist, Alberta College of Occupational Therapists (#5560)
Counselling Therapist, Association of Counselling Therapy of Alberta (#3133)
Member with Society of Alberta Occupational Therapists, Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists and World Federation of Occupational Therapists
When I'm not at YEG FC...
I'm an avid baker, cake decorator, and the current cooking and culture columnist for CBC Edmonton Morning AM. When I’m not reading up on food history or volunteering to run cooking classes in the city, I can be found dabbling in pottery, glass blowing, and tending to plants.