Dr Vanessa Lapointe
Dr. Vanessa Lapointe is a mom, parenting educator, best-selling author, international speaker, and a regularly invited media guest. She holds a doctoral degree in psychology, and practiced as a psychologist for nearly 20 years, before devoting her full-time energy to connecting with parents and other “big people” around the globe in 2023. Founder of The North Star Developmental Clinic, Dr. Vanessa has long been supporting families and children in her developmental clinic alongside her team, and has previous experience in community mental health and the school system. Dr. Vanessa is known for bringing a sense of nurturing understanding and humanity to all of her work. Her passion is in walking alongside parents, teachers, care providers, and other big people to really see the world through the child’s eyes. She believes that if we can do this, we are beautifully positioned to grow up our children in the best possible way.
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.