Dr. Vanessa Lapointe is a mom, registered psychologist, parenting educator, best-selling author, international speaker, and a regularly invited media guest. Founder and director of The Wishing Star Lapointe Developmental Clinic, she has been supporting families and children for almost 20 years and has previous experience in community mental health and the school system. She is also a connoisseur of all things to do with stunning footwear.
While navigating the journey of parenting her own two children, including the restructuring of her family through divorce, Dr. Vanessa has been challenged to grow herself up. Rather than hiding behind the glossy façade, she acknowledges how much she is in the muck of it just like everyone else. From this awakened place she journeys along on a path that lands for herself and her family, all of which has profoundly changed her life and is a significant influence on her speaking and practice.
David Loyst
David Loyst, MSc.
David has been studying and teaching about parenting for over 30 years as a Speech Language Pathologist and Autism Consultant and has been practicing with his own children for more than 20 years. Mr. Loyst noticed that the common behaviourist parenting techniques of consequences and time-outs (that he initially advocated!!) did not work for the children he worked with or for his family. Instead they seemed to cause an increase in anxiety and stress, and a breaking down of relationships, ultimately leading to a shutting down of their social/emotional development. These observations led Mr. Loyst to the study of developmental attachment parenting and the implications for educational environments.
Beyond his professional practice, Mr. Loyst noticed as a parent that he didn’t always implement what he intended. He would catch himself suddenly doing or saying something to his children that he knew was not right. He was inspired by his own challenges to learn about the workings of his mind and how to care for himself so that he could truly lead and care for his children. Over the past 5 years David has continued to do his own inner work. As part of this he is a senior team member of the Work of Gila Golub, where he has supported hundreds of Gila’s clients to transform their personal challenges and create peaceful, loving relationships with their partners and their children.
Dr. Vanessa and David trust that sharing their unique personal and professional perspective will help you find your path, for your own growth and for the growth of your children who are counting on you.
Dr. Vanessa Lapointe is a mom, registered psychologist, parenting educator, best-selling author, international speaker, and a regularly invited media guest. Founder and director of The Wishing Star Lapointe Developmental Clinic, she has been supporting families and children for almost 20 years and has previous experience in community mental health and the school system. She is also a connoisseur of all things to do with stunning footwear.