My Story
Practical Experience & Clinical Insight
With over two decades in education, my career has been defined by a deep commitment to child development and family support. I have held diverse roles from classroom teacher and school administrator to preschool owner, in both Canada and the Middle East. These roles provided me with a practical understanding of how children learn, grow, and navigate the social-emotional challenges of the school environment.
My clinical work is an extension of my Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (MACP) and my Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.), which focused on Social-Emotional Literacy. By blending clinical insight with a person-centred approach, I create a supportive space for children and youth to explore their mental well-being and practice coping strategies using creative and interactive methods.
I believe that identifying emotions while building the tools to navigate them is the foundation for managing them. While my direct work with children focuses on ages 8 and up, I work with parents of younger children to support emotional well-being at home. I often incorporate bibliotherapy into these sessions, using literature and storytelling to help families externalize challenges, build empathy, and develop a shared language for their experiences.
Consulting & Evolution
At the outset of the pandemic, building on my professional background and educational foundation, I worked as a Parenting and Educational Consultant. For four years, I supported caregivers in navigating their unique stressors, helping them move toward more sustainable family dynamics. This experience deeply informs my current evidence-based approach to therapy, particularly for parents navigating the complexities of home and school advocacy.
Beyond the Office
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Former High-Performance Athlete: As a former competitive TaeKwonDo (TKD) athlete, I learned that movement, breathing and mindfulness are key elements of focus and resilience.
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Busy Parent: My experience navigating the daily realities of being a busy parent shapes my approach to family support. I seek to ensure my work is always grounded in what is actually sustainable for modern families.
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Nature & Connection: When I’m not working, you’ll find me outdoors. Walking my dog in nature is my favourite way to recharge and stay grounded.
~You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.~
- Winnie the Pooh
My Approach
The Three Pillars of My Work
Evidence-Based & Research-Informed:
Building on my Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (MACP) and my Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed) specializing in Social-Emotional Literacy, I use evidence-based frameworks to help you understand the "why" behind your challenges. Whether we are utilizing bibliotherapy to develop a shared language or applying neuro-affirming strategies to support executive functioning, our sessions are grounded in science and tailored to your family's unique profile.
Strengths-Based & Individualized:
I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. We begin by identifying the unique strengths you and your family already possess. From there we develop a collaborative framework for growth, one that respects your values and fits the realities of your daily life.
Practical & Action-Oriented:
The goal of our work is to move beyond just identifying a problem and toward building the tools to navigate it. We focus on developing sustainable strategies such as mindfulness, regulation techniques and effective communication that can be implemented into your daily life routines.
Tara Gratto is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
practicing under the Clinical Supervision of
Shaelyn Kraemer, MACP, DCP, RP.