Cultivating Healthy Minds
At Walnut Orchard Psychology Services, we are dedicated to understanding your unique cognitive and emotional well-being. Dr. Nussbaum offers virtual and in-person treatment for a variety of difficulties including trauma and coping with chronic health symptoms such as pain. We offer comprehensive neuropsychological, cognitive, psychoeducational, and psychodiagnostic assessments tailored for adults aged 18 to 65 in Ontario. Our mission is to provide you with the insight and support you need to navigate life's challenges, focusing on your individual needs rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Dr. Shayna Nussbaum, Founder, Neuropsychologist
(she/her)
Dr. Shayna Nussbaum is a registered Psychologist in Ontario. She specializes in Clinical Neuropsychology, Clinical Psychology, and Rehabilitation Psychology.
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During her training, Dr. Nussbaum completed a residency at The Ottawa Hospital, focusing on Clinical Neuropsychology. She's dedicated to providing psychological and neuropsychological assessments, offering support for brain, orthopaedic, and mental stress injuries, as well as various mental health challenges.
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In her role as a staff psychologist at Humber River Hospital's Outpatient Mental Health and Addictions Program, Dr. Nussbaum contributes to treatment and assessment and plays a crucial part in developing and evaluating mental health programs.
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Additionally, she serves as an Early Career Board Member of the Canadian Academy of Psychologists in Disability Assessment and holds certifications in Independent Medical Evaluation and Catastrophic Impairment Evaluation through the Canadian Society of Medical Evaluators/Canadian Academy of Psychologists in Disability Assessment. Dr. Nussbaum's dedication to your well-being is evident through her expert care and commitment to her clients.
Dr. Laura Leong
Psychologist
Dr. Laura Leong is a licensed Psychologist in Ontario. She specializes in Clinical Psychology and Forensics/Correctional Psychology with adults.
Dr. Leong completed her Ph.D. at Wayne State University, with her internship at the historic Saint Elizabeths Hospital in Washington, DC. She has over a decade of experience in hospital settings, helping people with serious mental health conditions. She is currently a staff psychologist at Humber River Hospital, providing not only direct patient care, but also clinical leadership, to help shape the services that all patients receive for Mood and Anxiety Disorders.
Dr. Leong specializes in providing Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Interpersonal Psychotherapy and is currently accepting referrals for treating mood and anxiety conditions. She has a caring, warm, nonjudgmental approach, and balances the work and analysis in therapy with a sense of humour and a focus on each person's individual strengths. She creates a collaborative environment where meaningful and long-lasting changes can occur.
In her free time, Dr. Leong enjoys crocheting, cooking, and travelling.
Dr. Siqi (see-key) Huang, C.Psych.
Psychologist
Dr. Huang practices in the areas of Clinical and Health Psychology with adults. She provides assessments for conditions related to mental health (e.g., anxiety, depression, trauma, OCD, personality disorders), cognition and learning (e.g., ADHD, learning disorders), as well as autism spectrum disorder assessments, and health-related mental health concerns (e.g., distress related to somatic symptoms, pain, or becoming ill). Dr. Huang has several publications, primarily in the area of cross-cultural mental health.
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In her assessments, Dr. Huang strives to help clients gain a better understanding of their current symptoms and the options available to improve their well-being.
In her free time, Dr. Huang enjoys drawing and painting, martial arts, and travelling.
Sara Mansueto, BA(Hons) (she/her), Psychometrist
Sara graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University in 2021 with a major in Psychology and Criminology. She was trained by and has been working as a psychometrist with Dr. Nussbaum for the past 2 years. As part of an interdisciplinary team, Sara conducts various cognitive assessments using a trauma-informed approach to meet each client’s unique needs. She supports clients through the assessment process to aid in treatment planning, interventions, and diagnoses.
In addition to her role as a psychometrist, she works as a research analyst at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). She assesses treatment interventions for youth experiencing depression to better inform future treatment options.
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As a psychometrist and researcher, she aims to provide insightful support to her clients.
Elizabeth Selezneva, M.Sc.
Psychometrist
Elizabeth holds a Master of Science from King College London and a Specialized Honors degree in Psychology from York University. Over the years, she has worked with diverse populations, from children to older adults, in both public and private healthcare settings in Toronto. Her interests lie in the complex interplay of mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions. In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys yoga, hiking, and traveling.
Valerie Presti, B.A.
Clinic Administrator (she/her)
Valerie is the clinic administrator at Walnut Orchard Psychology Services. Her warmth, enthusiasm and approachability will help put you at ease from the moment you initially reach out. Whether she is liaising with clients, scheduling appointments or processing a new referral, her assistance will help make the process run smoothly.
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Valerie was born and raised in Peterborough, Ontario and later graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a Bachelor’s degree in Administrative and Commercial Studies. Valerie brings a wealth of experience and organizational skills from the years she spent in the Healthcare and Advertising fields. Valerie is now raising her 4 young children with her husband in Oakville.
Gina Pollitt, BA (Hons), Psychometrist and Professional Editor
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Gina Pollitt graduated from Thomson Rivers University with a double major in Psychology (Honours) and English Literature. She has over 14 years of experience working as a psychometrist, and clinical report writer and editor.
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Gina currently specializes in psychological and medical report editing, and also provides administrative support for psychologists including file reviewing. Gina appreciates her clients’ different needs, and provides quality service in a professional manner.
Joanna Model, B.S.W., M.S.W.
Joanna holds a master’s degree in social work from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work and a postgraduate diploma in public relations from Humber College.
She has worked at Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, JVS Toronto and The Child Development Institute. She has 10+ years of experience working as an editor for psychologists and neuropsychologists on private, forensic, civil, psychovocational, and personal injury assessments.
Myra Sweet (she/her)
Myra graduated from the Humber College nursing program and worked as a Registered Nurse on the multi-organ transplant unit at Toronto General Hospital.
Myra has over 20 years of experience in transcribing and editing medical documentation in both private and hospital settings, which have included Trillium Health Partners, Halton Healthcare Services, and University Health Network. In addition to her medical editor role, she is also a course developer and facilitator at Loyalist College.
Services
At Walnut Orchard Psychology Services, we have two primary categories of service, psychotherapy and assessment.
Treatment
We provide short-term, evidence-based psychotherapy for adults dealing with a variety of mental health issues. Our clinic specializes in trauma and coping with physical and cognitive difficulties such as chronic pain, attention difficulties, and brain fog. Clients can expect a supportive and structured environment where they explore their experiences, learn coping strategies, and build resilience. We build treatment goals collaboratively, so that you are reaching the goals that are important to you. Ultimately, psychotherapy empowers individuals to regain control of their lives and move towards a brighter, more fulfilling future.
Assessment
We provide psychological and neuropsychological assessment. Through a comprehensive evaluation process, individuals can gain clarity about their unique challenges, whether they pertain to mental health, cognitive functioning, or neurobehavioral issues. The goal of such assessments is to pinpoint the underlying factors contributing to a person's difficulties and provide invaluable insights that guide the development of tailored treatment plans. By analyzing test results and combining them with clinical observations, we discern between various conditions, leading to more precise diagnoses. This process ensures that treatment strategies are tailored to address the individual's needs, fostering a path towards recovery and improved well-being. We also provide recommendations for accommodations and referrals to other healthcare providers that may be helpful for your specific needs, such as occupational therapy to build everyday living skills.