Nicole Hotson

H.B.A. Psych., M.S.W., R.S.W., C.P.T., C.P.T.S.
Registered Social Worker
Psychotherapist
Certified Play Therapist
Certified Play Therapy Supervisor

Nicole Hotson is the Owner/Executive Director of Hope Child Therapy. Nicole is a Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist, and the only Certified Play Therapist/Supervisor in Northern Ontario & Northern Minnesota. Nicole was born and raised in Thunder Bay and is a Status First Nations person. Nicole has worked in the mental health field for over 20 years.

Nicole graduated from Lakehead University with the following degrees; Honors Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), Honors Bachelor of Social Work, and a Masters of Social Work. Nicole is a Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. Nicole is a member in good standing with the Ontario Association of Social Workers.

Nicole’s past experience includes; children’s mental health treatment at Dilico Ojibway Child & Family Services, adult addictions and family violence treatment at the Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre, and over 14 years of children’s mental health counselling at Children’s Centre Thunder Bay as a Social Worker and Certified Play Therapist.

Nicole is a Certified Play Therapist/Supervisor with the Canadian Association for Play Therapy. Nicole’s areas of training include: Understanding Trauma, Attachment Theory & Therapy, Brain Research & Child Development, Filial Therapy, Theraplay (Level One), Puppetry & Storytelling, Sandtray Therapy, Art Therapy, Treating Disruptive Behaviour Problems, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Treating Anxious Children, Treating Sexually Abused Children, Treating Children with Sexual Behaviour Problems, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Bereaved Children, Children of Separation/Divorce, Adoption Issues, TelePlay, Gender affirming Services & Play Therapy, Multicultural Competence in Play Therapy, and Play Therapy Supervision.

Nicole provides Certified Play Therapy Supervision under the Canadian Association for Play Therapy as well as Supervision and Consultation to Social Workers, Psychotherapists and other Mental Health Clinicians.

Rebecca Campana (On Leave)

H.B.A., M.S.W., R.S.W.
Registered Social Worker
Psychotherapist

Rebecca has an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Child and Youth Studies from Brock University, and an Honours Bachelors of Social Work degree and Masters of Social Work degree from Lakehead University.

Rebecca is registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers as a Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist and is a member in good standing with the Ontario Association of Social Workers.

Rebecca has worked with diverse populations such as; survivors of violence/abuse, children and youth, children and youth with disabilities, and adults. Rebecca’s past work experience included the following roles; Child and Youth Worker, Case Manager, Group Facilitator and Social Worker/Counselor. Rebecca has also attended events as a guest speaker and presented talks on Women’s Empowerment and Self-Care.

Rebecca has completed training in; ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training), Post-Traumatic Stress, Childhood Trauma & Developmental Trauma, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, Grief & Loss in Children, StoryTelling, Art Therapy, TelePlay, Theraplay, Sandtray Therapy, Childhood Anxiety, Brain Research & Childhood Development and Diversity Training.

Rebecca’s guiding theories in practice are; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Informed Theory, Client Centered Theory, Narrative Therapy, Solution Focused Theory, Psychodynamic Theory, and Directive and Non-Directive play therapy techniques.

Rebecca has completed all three levels of the Play Therapy Foundations Program through the Canadian Association for Play Therapy. Rebecca is under Supervision and mentorship to become a Certified Play Therapist.

Tyler Hamre

H.B.S.W., M.S.W., R.S.W.
Registered Social Worker
Psychotherapist

Tyler has an Honours Bachelor of Social Work degree and a Masters of Social Work degree from Lakehead University.

Tyler is registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers as a Registered Social Worker/Psychotherapist and is a member in good standing with the Ontario Association of Social Workers.

Tyler has worked with diverse populations such as; youth involved in the justice system, high risk youth, and children and youth with disabilities. Tyler's past work experience included the following roles; Case Manager, Child and Youth Worker, Group Facilitator and Psychotherapist.

Tyler has completed training in; ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training), TF-CBT (Trauma Focused - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), DBT Skills (Dialetical Behavioural Therapy), OCD in Children, Anxiety in Children, Mindfulness for Children, Bullied Children and Trauma in Adolesence.

Tyler’s guiding theories in practice are; Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma-Informed Theory, Client Centered Theory, Systems Theory, and Strengths Theory.

Jennifer Wyman

H.B.A. Psych., H.B.S.W., R.S.W.
Registered Social Worker
Psychotherapist

Jennifer has a Specialized Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and an Honours Bachelor of Social Work degree from Lakehead University. Jennifer is currently completing her Master of Social Work degree at Lakehead University, with an expected completion date of October 2026.

Jennifer is registered with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers as a Registered Social Worker and is a member in good standing with the Ontario Association of Social Workers. Jennifer is also a member of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology, through Lakehead University.

Jennifer has experience working with diverse populations, including children and youth, adults experiencing mental health concerns and crisis, survivors of violence and abuse, and individuals requiring emotional and supportive counselling. Jennifer's past work experience has included roles in crisis intervention, supportive counselling, residential support, research, and clinical social work.

Jennifer has completed training in ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training), Mental Health First Aid, Non-Violent Crisis Intervention, Strengthening Indigenous-Led Trauma-Informed Care, and First Aid and CPR-C. Jennifer has training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and is currently completing her EMDR-Trained certification.

Jennifer's guiding approaches to practice include Trauma-Informed Practice, Client-Centred Theory, Strengths-Based Practice, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Jennifer values collaboration and believes that client comfort and safety are essential to the therapeutic process. She strives to create a non-judgmental and supportive therapeutic environment where clients feel comfortable actively participating in their care and working toward goals that are meaningful to them.

Sandy Ali

B.A., M.S.W., R.S.W.
Registered Social Worker
Psychotherapist

Sandy has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a minor in German and French from Concordia University in Montreal, and an Honours Bachelor of Social Work degree and Masters of Social Work degree from Lakehead University.

Sandy is a Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers and is a member in good standing with the Ontario Association of Social Workers.

Sandy has experience working with diverse population groups including; newcomers and refugees, adults and youth in crisis, high-risk parents, and children. Sandy’s past work experience includes; Family Wellness Worker (Case Manager), Child Welfare, Crisis Response Counsellor, and Support Group Co-Facilitator.

Sandy has completed training in; ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training), Mental Health First Aid, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Childhood Development, Autism and Play, Autism and Anxiety, Foundational Autism and Mental Health training, Indigenous Grief and Loss, Anger Management, School Refusal, Childhood Trauma, Attachment, Complex Trauma, Anxiety, Depression, Non-Verbal Communication, ARC Model for Assessing Trauma and Attachment, LGBTQ & Gender Diversity, and Digital Play Therapy, and Parent Child Interaction Therapy.

Sandy implements techniques and strategies from the following theories: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma-Informed Theory, Client-Centred Theory, Systems Theory, Strengths Theory, Psychodynamic Theory, Narrative Therapy, Attachment Theory and Directive and Non-Directive play therapy techniques.