About Juanita - Skills To Thrive

Hi there!

I’m honored that you’re interested in working together. I’m Juanita Gnanapragasam, Counselling therapist, OT.R (AB), MPH, BSc and owner and sole therapist of Skills To Thrive.

As the name suggests, I started Skills To Thrive to support individuals and organizations in building skills to achieve their wellness goals related to activities that bring meaning and joy. My interest in occupational therapy was sparked after I worked on projects where I created social spaces for individuals of different abilities to be empowered to explore their connection, identity, and community using food.

Based on my previous frontline experiences, I have seen that mental health is at the core of thriving and resiliency. Thus, I’ve dedicated my career to understanding how we can create and promote mental health through our daily interactions and occupations.I’m a public health practitioner (MPH) and a registered occupational therapist (OT) specializing in mental health. My public health interests lie in creating virtual and in-person spaces that maximize abilities to form social connections and mental well-being among diverse communities.

As a mental health OT, I focus on helping those with and without a mental health diagnosis thrive in their environment by achieving goals related to different domains of wellness, such as relationships, self-care, recreation, leisure, employment and education. I have additional training in Prolonged Exposure Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance Commitment Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Accelerated Resolution Therapy and Solution Focused Therapy to support my clients.

Outside of work, I’m an avid baker, gardener, potter, and I sometimes dabble in coding. I also run the non-profit Converse and Cook and am the Cooking and Culture Columnist for CBC Edmonton Morning AM.

What’s it like working with me?

My approach is functional, which is a fancy way of saying that the work always points back to your daily life. The question isn’t just why do you feel this way? but what is this stopping you from doing, and what would it take to get you back to a life that feels like yours? Sometimes the answer involves processing something painful. Sometimes it involves changing your environment, your routines, or how you spend your energy. Often it’s both.

I’m both a registered counselling therapist and an occupational therapist, which means sessions can move between the inner work (emotions, identity, processing past experiences) and the outer work (routines, sensory environment, what you’re actually doing day-to-day). Most therapy keeps these separate. I don’t think they should be.

The work is also neurodivergent-affirming. If you’re autistic, ADHD, or somewhere on the “wait, am I…?” spectrum, I’m not going to ask you to mask, conform, or push through in ways that cost you. We start from how your brain actually works and build from there.

I draw from a few different evidence-based approaches and choose what fits you, not the other way around:

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) for visual or sensory flashbacks and trauma that’s getting in the way of daily life
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for thoughts, emotions, and values-based change
Sensory and environmental strategies for regulation, executive function, and energy management
Activity analysis and modification when an activity itself needs to change to make success possible

You’ll be an active partner in this. I’ll ask what’s working and what isn’t, and I expect you to tell me honestly when something feels off, because therapy that doesn’t fit is worse than no therapy at all. If we’re stuck, we’ll change tools. If we’re not the right match, I’ll help you find someone who is.

What you can expect from me: showing up as a real person and staying committed to your goals even when the work is hard. What I’ll ask from you: honesty about what’s actually happening in your life, willingness to try things between sessions, and the courage to tell me when something I’m doing isn’t landing.

This is collaborative work. We’re building your thriving life together!

Education

Master of Occupational Therapy, University of Alberta
Master of Public Health, Specialization Health Promotion, University of Alberta
Bachelor of Science, first class honors, Biological Science Major and Music Minor

Clinical Training

I’ve been lucky enough to work with and be mentored by occupational therapists, recreational therapists, psychologists and psychiatrists across various settings.

Cross Cancer Institute, Palliative Care
Alberta Hospital Edmonton, Psychiatric Community Rehabilitation unit
Chrysalis, society for supporting people with disabilities
Edmonton Mental Health Clinic

Areas of Occupational Therapy Specialties/ Interests

Note this list isn’t exhaustive of everything I can support with. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, feel free to connect with me to see how can support you. If I can’t help, I have some fantastic connections to other therapists in the city I can refer you on to.

Managing symptoms of mood disorders to better engage in daily activities and tasks
Dealing with visual or sensory flashbacks that impact your ability to engage in meaningful occupations. (For example, a traumatic work or life experience that you keep visualizing that makes it hard to return to work). This is done through Accelerated Resolution Therapy.
Achieving occupational balance. This means ensuring you are engaging in activities that energize you and give you meaning and purpose. Some ways occupational balance can be achieved through therapy include: managing burnout, dealing with being overwhelmed, engaging in recreational activities, or implementing a healthier habit or routine.
Career and life transitions (including transitions from high school to university and university to career, changing career paths, retirement, unexpected loss or change of career)
Engaging and cultivating meaningful social relationships
Returning to work or re-exploring productive or work occupations or identity
Improving self-confidence, self-worth, self-esteem
Supporting first, second and third-generation Canadians with managing cultural expectations and navigating occupational injustices due to racism
Overcoming trauma triggers to engage in occupations (or the activities that occupy your time) that provide meaning and purpose
I primarily work with ages 14+

Media Features

I’ve been fortunate to be featured for some of the community programs and initiatives I’m involved in within Edmonton. If you’re interested or want more details take a read below or connect with me.

CBC Morning AM Segments

If you’re a foodie and have a knack for cultural mysteries around food, here are some of my current segments from CBC Edmonton Morning AM