Meet Elissa
Meet Elissa Mackonka, MSc. OT, Reg. (Ont.)
Elissa is a compassionate Registered Occupational Therapist who finds true fulfillment in helping children and families thrive in their meaningful daily activities. Elissa holds an undergraduate degree in Honours Specialization Kinesiology and earned her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from McMaster University. Specializing in pediatric care, Elissa supports children at all ages and stages of life, from infancy through adolescence.
Elissa holds a keen professional interest in early intervention, specifically focusing on infants and feeding therapy. She has advanced training in infant bodywork for feeding support (critical for best practice surrounding tongue and lip tie releases), as well as selective feeding, picky eating, and the transition to solid foods. Guided by a holistic, neurodiversity-affirming, and family-centered lens, Elissa focuses deeply on self-regulation, sensory processing, and fine motor development to help children build functional independence.
Elissa brings extensive experience working alongside neurodivergent children and youth with complex medical profiles, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), genetic conditions, and developmental delays. She has also completed advanced Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Diagnostic Training, helping families seek clarity and targeted developmental intervention. To provide deeply individualized care, she integrates specialized competencies in attachment and co-regulation. Elissa acts as a dedicated advocate for her clients, ensuring every child can safely build confidence, master fine motor tasks, and reach their developmental milestones. Outside of the clinic, Elissa loves exploring the outdoors with her family.
Pediatric Occupational Therapy Services
Elissa provides deeply individualized care to help children safely build independence, master daily routines, and reach their developmental milestones. Her specialized child-focused services include:
Infant Feeding & Transition to Solids
Supporting families navigating the milestone of introducing solid foods. Whether you choose traditional purees, Baby-Led Weaning (BLW), or a hybrid approach, Elissa evaluates developmental readiness and oral-motor mechanics to ensure safe, stress-free, and independent feeding.
Infant Bodywork for Feeding Support
Providing specialized pre- and post-op bodywork to support infants experiencing feeding challenges related to tongue and lip tie releases.
Picky Eating & Selective Feeding (SOS Approach)
Using the evidence-based, play-based Sequential-Oral-Sensory (SOS) Approach to Feeding. This gentle method removes pressure from the dinner table, systematically desensitizing children to new food textures, smells, and tastes to expand limited diets naturally.
Self-Regulation & Sensory Processing
Helping neurodivergent children and youth—including those with Autism (ASD), FASD, and developmental delays—understand and organize sensory information, utilizing supportive attachment and co-regulation strategies to navigate daily routines peacefully.
Fine Motor & Gross Motor Skill Development
Building the foundational strength, hand-eye coordination, and dexterity needed for functional independence, from grasp development and scissor skills to overall milestone tracking.
Parent & Family Support Services
In addition to pediatric services, Elissa is able to work with and support parents and families directly.
Parenting can be hard and there’s no handbook! Sometimes you need to chat through a tough stage or just need to hit pause to take a step back to see the big picture. We're here to help and offer specialized family support:
Parent Coaching Sessions
Book a dedicated session with Elissa to problem-solve an area of development you are struggling with or to discuss customized approaches to life skill development.
Common Coaching Focus Areas
- Toilet training and navigation
- Nighttime wetting challenges
- Transitioning to solid foods
- At-home co-regulation strategies