Meet The Team!
We have an experienced occupational therapy team that would be happy to work with you! Our clinicians have dedicated their careers to pediatrics and, alongside their roles at Real Life Pediatric Occupational Therapy, hold positions at highly reputable children's hospitals and public organizations.

Laura Thompson
Founder & Owner
Occupational Therapist
Laura Thompson, MScOT, OT Reg. (Ont.), is a highly reputable Occupational Therapist with 15 years of experience working with babies, children, teens, young adults, and families. In addition to being the founder & owner of Real Life Pediatric Occupational Therapy, Laura remains a Team Lead and Occupational Therapist at Canada’s largest pediatric rehabilitation hospital in Toronto. She engages regularly in teaching and is an adjunct Lecturer at the University of Toronto’s Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy.
Laura has extensive experience working with young people with developmental delays, fine and gross motor challenges, Developmental Coordination Disorder, Down syndrome, physical disabilities including cerebral palsy and acquired brain injury, hemiplegia, intellectual disabilities, neurodivergence, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, learning disabilities, giftedness, twice exceptionalities, concussion, complex medical needs, chronic health conditions, and mental health considerations. She has practiced in inpatient, outpatient, school, and community settings.
Laura has a strong passion for occupational therapy, connects authentically and non-judgementally with young people and their families, is playful and highly creative, and dedicated to driving the profession forward with current best practices.
She has additional training in solution-focused coaching, neurodiversity affirming approaches, trauma informed care, Cognitive Orientation to Daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP), sensory processing, Motor Learning approaches, positioning and handling (including Neurodevelopmetnal Treatment and child initiated movement therapies), feeding, Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT), Hand-Arm Bimanual Intensive Therapy (HABIT), printing programs, writing aids and assistive technology, persistent concussion therapies, chronic health condition management, life skills coaching, the transition to adulthood, program development, and generative leadership.
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Jessica Bellisario
Occupational Therapist
Jessica Bellisario, MScOT, OT Reg. (Ont.), is a registered occupational therapist who is passionate about collaborating with children and their families to support them in achieving meaningful occupational goals. Since she graduated from the University of Toronto in 2022 with a Masters of Occupational Therapy degree, she has had worked in a variety of quality settings including outpatient paediatrics at Canada's largest pediatric rehabilitation hospital, the public school system, and in private practice. Jessica has experience working with children, youth, and adults with variety of diagnoses. She is known for her adaptability when working with families, creativity, and ongoing drive for professional development. Jessica has excellent skills in working both individually with clients and facilitating groups. During her free time, Jessica enjoys going for walks, playing with her dog, exercising, travelling and spending time with her friends and family.

Darlene Espinosa
Occupational Therapist Assistant & ECE
Darlene Espinosa is a dedicated and passionate professional with over 18 years of experience. She brings a wealth of knowledge to both her roles as an Occupational Therapist Assistant and Early Childhood Educator. Her focus on play, creativity, and skill development highlights her understanding of the importance of these elements in children's growth. Darlene works with children with a range of disabilities, including cerebral palsy, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down syndrome, genetic conditions, medical complexity and developmental delays. She has worked in hospital, community, and childcare settings. Darlene is known for her enthusiasm, playfulness and affirming approach. In addition to her work at Real Life Pediatric Therapy, she is the founder and owner of Circle Time with Dar. This demonstrates her commitment to fostering inclusive communities, which is extremely valuable for families, children and the wider community. Darlene provides services in English and Spanish.