A Little Bit About My Story & Approach
Tara Gratto M.S.Ed., MACP
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
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/guidance counsellor 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 Development and Literacy. By blending clinical insight with a person-centred approach, I create a supportive space for children, youth and parents 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 expanded my practice into Parenting and Educational Consulting. Over four years of consulting, I supported families and schools through:
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Workshops & Presentations: Delivering practical, research-informed workshops for parents and educators on child development, emotional regulation, and executive functioning.
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Creative Social-Emotional Tools: Authoring a children's picture book designed to help young readers explore brain science in a playful way, helping them understand the stress response and emotional regulation as an extension of my work with bibliotherapy.
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Caregiver Advocacy: Partnering 1-on-1 with parents to manage daily stressors and navigate daycare and school environments.
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 firsthand that movement, breathwork, and mindfulness are essential building blocks for focus and resilience.
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Busy Parent: As a busy parent navigating the daily mental load of scheduling, school demands, and unique family dynamics, I get it. I know firsthand that family life is rarely simple or predictable which helps me to show up with compassion and empathy.
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Nature & Connection: When I’m not working, you’ll likely find me outdoors. Walking my dog in nature is my favourite way to recharge and stay grounded.
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Self-Proclaimed Nerd: I love reading and researching anything related to neuroscience, neurodiversity and SEL. There is a long-running joke in my house about how often I start conversations with, "So, I read this interesting article..."
Credentials & Professional Affiliations
College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), CRPO# 20546
Ontario College of Teachers
Ontario Certified Teacher, Good Standing, OCT #498902
Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance (CADDRA)
Professional Member
My Approach
Clinical Framework
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 (picture books/books) to develop a shared language or applying neuro-informed 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.
How My Experience Shapes My Work
Throughout my evolving career, I’ve come to understand that you don't need a doctor's referral or an official diagnosis to seek support, but there are points in the journey where exploring an assessment can be beneficial. Wherever your family is on that continuum, my role is to meet you there and provide practical guidance.
Empowering Parents of Young Children (Under 8):
Early in my career as a preschool owner and educator, I saw that real, lasting progress for young children happens when we support the primary adults in their world. Rather than placing a young child in 1-on-1 therapy, I work directly with caregivers to make sense of big outbursts, sensory needs, and early developmental shifts. Together we will build tools and strategies that work for your family.
Building Practical Tools for Youth (8+):
Working with older children and teens, my focus is on helping them understand their unique strengths and build practical coping strategies. Whether a young person is navigating a diagnosis like ADHD, ASD, executive functioning differences (such as organization, focus, and emotional regulation), or is trying to manage school and peer stress, our sessions focus on boosting their self-awareness, confidence, and daily functioning.
Supporting the Person Behind the Parent:
Beyond supporting your children, it is also important to find manageable ways of supporting yourself. We focus on helping you navigate parenting stress, set healthy boundaries, and advocate effectively within the school system for IEPs and support plans. Together, we work to find practical ways forward that are realistic and sustainable for your daily life.
Tara Gratto is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
practicing under the Clinical Supervision of
Shaelyn Kraemer, MACP, DCP, RP.