Meet The Team
Caelah Gamache
Owner, Clinical Supervisor
Caelah, a Registered Behaviour Analyst (RBA) and Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA), brings over a decade of experience in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) and family coaching. A registered provider on the Ontario Autism Provider list, Caelah specializes in Autism Spectrum Disorder, developmental disabilities, ADHD, anxiety, acquired brain injury, and dual diagnosis.
​
Starting her career as a Child and Youth Worker and parent coach in Ottawa, Caelah’s passion for home-based family work grew, leading her to a Behaviour Consultant role at CHEO. This experience inspired her to establish Gamache Behaviour Consulting, where she empowers parents to implement ABA strategies and enhance family life.
Now a behavior analyst with a local School Board, Caelah works with school teams to address classroom behaviour challenges.
​
In her off time, Caelah enjoys her adventures as a mom, the on-going pursuit of achieving a pull-up and she is an avid movie watcher, in particular Harry Potter (a category unto itself), Sci-fi, and comedy genres.
Behaviour Consultant
Rachel Griffioen
Rachel has been working in the field of developmental and physical disabilities for 20 years and applying her knowledge in behaviour analysis to this field for over 10 years. During her time in the field, she has had the opportunity to work with individuals with varying physical and developmental disabilities.
​
Rachel is experienced in Autism and Dual Diagnosis services and has provided services in-home and in clinical settings. She has worked directly with clients implementing behaviour analysis and in a mediator model, training caregivers to implement the strategies.
​
She is trained in multiple, evidence-based, approaches such as Triple P Positive Parenting- Stepping Stones and the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). She has rounded out her practice with some training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and is currently completing her bachelor’s in Psychology at Carleton University.
​
In her spare time, Rachel enjoys running, gardening and working with her animals.
BCBA, Registered Behaviour Analyst, Clinical Supervisor
Dannielle Ryksen
Dannielle, RBA, BCBA, has been working in the field of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) for close to 4 years. She entered the world of ABA through her co-op program during her undergraduate degree in psychology while at Carleton University. During this time, she had the opportunity to learn to how to implement Intensive Trial Teaching (ITT) and Naturalistic Teaching Environment strategies with individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She developed such a love for ABA that she enrolled herself in the Masters of Special Education program, with a focus in ABA, at the Arizona State University.
​
Throughout her career, she has implemented ABA strategies within client’s homes and within a centre-based environment. She has rounded out her scope of competence by developing her skill set in implementing various forms of functional communication to help learners build their communication skills. She is adept at teaching applications such as Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) and Proloquo2Go.
​
Dannielle is very passionate about child-led programs and is currently expanding her practice in this area. In a child-led approach, skill targets are taught based on the learner's interests and preferences and teaching is done in a more natural setting.
In her spare time, Dannielle enjoys hiking and playing sports such as basketball & hockey. She also fancies herself an artist and dabbles in painting.
Behaviour Consultant
Hunter Bourgon
Hunter has been working in the field of ABA for over five years. She obtained her Board Certified Assistant Behaviour Analyst (BCaBA) in March, 2022 after completing her coursework through the Florida Institute of Technology.
​
Hunter has worked with children and youth in home, daycare, school and center-based settings. She has facilitated 1:1, dyadic and triadic sessions. Hunter has experience providing comprehensive therapy to build skills and delivering focused ABA therapy services to target specific areas of development such as communication, toileting, social skills and challenging behaviours.
​
Hunter is passionate about helping children and youth develop socially significant skills and build independence. She is also a practitioner of a collaborative approach to therapy and greatly enjoys working closely with families and other professionals to design treatment that is a best fit.
​
In her free time, Hunter enjoys playing volleyball, going to dog parks, weekends at the cottage, spending time with family and friends and trying new things. She also is always on the lookout for a new TV show to binge or board game to play.
Registered Behaviour Analyst
Julie Lathrop
Like many professionals in this field, Julie’s introduction to the world of Applied Behaviour Analysis started with one child and his family. She was hired to provide extra support for this child at his daycare and this quickly grew into a career in the field for over 10 years. She has undergraduate degrees in Fine Arts and Psychology (Honours), and a Master’s degree in Art Therapy. She did her coursework with the Florida Institute of Technology and completed her supervision hours to be certified as a BCBA in 2015.
Julie gained further experience working in the Autism program at CHEO. At CHEO she ran clinic and in-home sessions for children with varying needs ranging in ages from 3 to 18. She has facilitated many different parent and children’s groups in both French and English. She is trained in a variety of evidence-based approaches such as PEERS, AIM and Triple P Positive Parenting Solutions-Stepping Stones and she is currently fulfilling the role of an ABA specialist facilitating various skill-building groups at a local schoolboard.
She loves working with children and teens and is passionate about teaching skills effectively and gently. She loves spending as much time as possible with her daughters, partner, and extended family. She still loves painting and promises to show those paintings to people.... someday. ;)
Behaviour Consultant
Amy Galipeau
Amy is one of our bilingual consultants. She obtained her undergrad degree in Psychology in 2014 and started her journey in the field by working front line in adult group homes, while completing a post graduate certificate in Autism and Behavioural Sciences.
She has been implementing her knowledge of ABA principles for over nine years, in both clinical and in-home settings. Her implementation experience stretches across a range of ages (from children to adults) and diagnoses including individuals with intellectual disabilities and global developmental delays. She has experience providing behaviour analysis directly to clients, individually or in groups, as well as with caregivers in a mediator training model.
She makes it a priority, when working with families, to make them a pivotal piece in the development of the behavioural plan strategies and goals. She strongly advocates that parents are the experts of their child.
In her spare time she enjoys reading thrillers, spending time with her loved ones and discovering new places.
Behaviour Consultant
Marie-Eve Blanchard
Marie-ève Allard Blanchard is a bi-lingual experienced behavior consultant with 10+ years of experience in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). She has had success in teaching new behaviors and skills to children through various programs while also providing parents with effective techniques to support their child at home.
Marie-ève strongly believes that parents are the experts on their children and makes it a top priority to involve them in the development of the behavioral plan strategies and goals. Her dedication to working collaboratively with parents and families has been instrumental in helping children achieve their goals.
In addition to her professional expertise, Marie-ève enjoys spending time with her family, playing board games, and going camping in her spare time.
Behaviour Consultant
Zara Dieters-Castator
Zara brings over 20 years of experience working with exceptional learners and individuals with disabilities in a variety of settings. From her early days as a Camp Counsellor to her role as an Instructor Therapist, Zara creates an empathetic and supportive environment that helps clients thrive. She’s delivered ABA services in both clinical and home settings, working one-on-one with clients, in groups, and through coaching parents and caregivers.
​
Zara holds diplomas in Developmental Services Work and Child and Youth Work, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She’s also trained in PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System), PEERS (Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills), and IBI (Intensive Behavioural Intervention). Her experience with tools like ABLLS, CANS, and FISH helps her ensure that clients’ goals are both achievable and meaningful, always focusing on promoting learning in natural, everyday environments whenever possible.
​
When she’s not working with clients, Zara loves spending time with friends and family, growing vegetables in her garden, curling during the winter, and enjoying the company of her pets.
Instructor Therapist
Shanez Lawrence
Shanez has nearly three years of experience in behavioral therapy and a boundless passion for making a difference! Currently juggling her studies for a joint honors degree in Psychology and Linguistics at the University of Ottawa, Shanez is on a mission to unravel the mysteries of human behavior and communication.
​
With a zest for life, Shanez dives into her work with enthusiasm, bringing a fresh perspective to every challenge. Whether she's working with children or adults, Shanez is all about infusing fun into effective behavioral strategies. Her commitment to the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is as infectious as her smile, as she eagerly expands her expertise in the field.
​
In her downtime, you can find Shanez hitting the gym, sharing laughs with her loved ones, or jet-setting off to explore exciting new destinations.
Instructor Therapist
Aisha Stenger-Elmas
Aisha has been working in the ABA field for 2 years. She obtained her undergraduate Developmental Psychology Degree in 2022 and is currently working on obtaining her Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology.
Aisha has worked with children and adults with varying physical and developmental disabilities, including Autism, in centre-based settings. She has worked in 1:1 client settings and group settings. Through her ABA therapy training she has worked on daily living skills, academic skills, language skills, social skills, and challenging behaviours.
Aisha is very passionate about working with children and plans to make the PTSD and trauma field the focus of her career. She also believes in play therapy, child led therapy approaches, and working in natural settings.
During her free time, Aisha loves to read, be outdoors, crochet, spend time with friends and family, and play with her dog.
Instructor Therapist
Jaime Piquette
Jaime's journey in education began during her high school years, where she discovered a passion for supporting students with developmental and physical disabilities. She eagerly volunteered in a specialized classroom, dedicating her time to assist and uplift these students.
Driven by her passion, Jaime pursued a program in Developmental Services, gaining the knowledge and skills needed to excel in her field. Over the years, she's worked as an Educational Assistant in a specialized program designed to provide targeted support and intervention for students with unique needs. Her dedication has made a significant impact on the lives of the students she works with.
Beyond her career, Jaime and her family have been providing respite care for over 26 years, demonstrating a deep-rooted commitment to helping others. When she's not working, Jaime loves spending time camping and swimming with her family.
Instructor Therapist
Ameera Arjoon
Ameera has been working in the education field for the past 8 years. Ameera holds her bachelor's degree in Speech and Language science with a minor in Psychology from the University of the West Indies and a Masters in Reading Education from St. Thomas University. She currently works as a ABA Therapist and Special Needs Tutor.
Ameera's goal for tutoring is to help children create foundations for life. One size does not fit all when it comes to education, so Ameera tailors her approach to make a difference for learners.
When she isn't in the classroom, you can find her spending time with family and friends, gaming, out in nature or at the gym. Forever a lover of baking new types of cookies, just don't ask her to clean the kitchen after!
Instructor Therapist
Rachel Hughes
Rachel has over six years of experience working with children and is especially passionate about supporting those with special needs. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Child and Youth Studies and is currently continuing her journey in education at the University of Ottawa’s teacher’s college, with dreams of becoming an elementary school teacher.
​
For Rachel, working with children isn’t just a profession—it’s where her heart lies. She’s dedicated to creating a space where children of all abilities can grow, learn, and thrive. By using playful, engaging strategies like sensory activities, music, and movement, she ensures that each child not only develops important skills but also enjoys every moment.
​
In her free time, Rachel loves to keep active, whether she’s working out at the gym or relaxing by the lake at her family cottage. She also enjoys quiet moments curled up with a good show—balance is everything!
Intake Coordinator
Sarah Begg
Sarah has an Honors Bachelor's degree in Behavioral Psychology and a diploma in Human Resources Business Administration, but let’s be real — her most intense training comes from being a mom of four!
She’s worked with all kinds of people, but helping parents navigate the wild world of supports and programming is where her heart truly lies. She often jokes that she went to school to figure out how to manage her own household, where her behavior management skills get tested daily by her little crew.
​
She brings personal insight into the rewards and challenges of parenting and understands firsthand how effective family-centered approaches can transform day-to-day life.
In her free time, Sarah enjoys running.... after her kids, Sarah is all about self-improvement, continuous learning, and finding balance in the beautiful chaos of motherhood.
BCBA, Registered Behaviour Analyst, Clinical Supervisor
Sarah Lange
Sarah, BCBA, RBA, has been working in the field of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) since 2017. After completing her undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of Ottawa, Sarah pursued a post-graduate certificate in Autism and Behavioural Science at Algonquin College. In 2022, she earned her Master of Arts in Special Education (ABA), and became BCBA/RBA certified in 2024.
​
Sarah has gained extensive experience in private clinics, schools, and home settings. Most notably, she spent two years living on Indigenous Reserves, where she worked as a Special Education Technician and Resource Teacher. This hands-on experience has given her a deep understanding of the diverse needs of clients and a unique perspective on individualized care.
Sarah is passionate about setting goals that truly enhance her clients’ quality of life. She places a strong emphasis on client assent, ensuring that clients are actively engaged and their voices are always heard throughout the process.
Outside of work, Sarah enjoys staying active at the gym, watching soccer, and spending time with her family and dog—who, let’s be honest, probably gets more attention than anyone else.