We provide virtual services in Niagara & across Ontario
Meet the Circle of Support
Our team is composed of Social Workers; Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist; Registered Nurse; Lactation Consultatnt (Ibclc); Sleep Educator; Parenting Coach.
Emily Pollak
Emily Pollak, Msw, Rsw (She/ Her)
Emily founded Maternal Health Niagara with the vision of building the circle of support for individuals and families during the reproductive period and beyond. Emily's clinical focus is infertility, pregnancy loss, pregnancy, birth trauma, postpartum anxiety, and postpartum depression. She coaches women through “mom guilt” and managing the mental load of motherhood.
Emily's passion for Maternal Mental Health was sparked during her own journey. Emily had hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) which took a toll on her physical and emotional wellness. During that time, Emily recognized the gap in services and was determined to build the circle of support for others. The combination of lived experience and extensive professional development allows Emily to bring a unique clinical lens of empathy and validation to her clients. She is down to earth with a practical and accepting therapeutic style.
Emily has her Masters in Social Work from The Ohio State University (2007) and she is Registered Social Worker in Ontario. Emily’s professional affiliations include Postpartum Support International (PSI) and Ontario Association of Social Workers (OSAW). In 2018, Emily sat on the OASW board for the Niagara branch.
Emily is part of Baby's Breath Canada which is a non-profit agency supporting individuals through miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss. She is a passionate maternal mental health advocate and has been part of the Women's Health Concerns Clinic, Patient Advisory Committee at St. Joes Hospital in Hamilton.
Building community capacity and awareness is essential in helping individuals and families build their circle of support. Emily has facilitated perinatal mental health training for health care professionals. She provides clinical consultation and mentorship to other therapists in the field of maternal mental health.
When she is off work, Emily enjoys spending time with her family and having time to herself for self-care. Her favourite thing to do is go for walks and write hand written cards.
Taylor Burciull
Taylor Burciul, Msw, Rsw (She/Her)
Taylor Burciul has completed her Masters of Social work from University of Toronto and Bachelors of Social work from Wilfred Laurier University . She is Registered Social Worker and member of Ontario Association of Social Workers. Taylor's clinical passion for perinatal wellness has evolved through her role as a trained and certified labour and birth doula. She has bereavement training through Home Hospice Association and has supported families through infant and pregnancy loss. She displays a strong compassion for the development and support of families from all walks of life, and specializes in supporting those experiencing mental health adversities, grief and loss, disordered eating, sexuality and gender identify and self-esteem struggles. Taylor is part of the LGBTQ2S+ community.
In addition to her practice at Maternal Health Niagara, she is a social worker with Niagara Catholic District School Board and is an active volunteer at her family’s non-for profit Heartland Forest.
Marie-Eve Nackers
Marie-Eve Nackers, PT (She/Her)
Marie-Eve Nackers, is a registered Physiotherapist in Ontario since 2012. She has a clinical focus on pelvic health and chronic pain. She uses an approach of connecting the mind and body as a key component of her assessment and treatment. Marie-Eve provides a trauma informed care to create a space where her patients feel supported. Her natural and down to earth approach makes her patients feel at ease. She utilizes breath work to build core stability and to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system. Marie-Eve is passionate about providing her patients with education to understand their bodies and functioning. She is a member of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association. Marie-Eve is francophone and can provide services in English and French.
Camilla Aviss
Camilla Aviss, Rn, Ibclc (She/Her)
Camilla Aviss is Registered Nurse (RN), International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), certified Baby-led Sleep and Wellness Consultant, Registered Circle of Security Parenting Facilitator and Perinatal Mental Health Psychotherapy certified.
Camilla has been a RN for 25 years, an IBCLC for over 10 years in hospital, community clinics and private practice as well as, a parent educator for ages 0-6 most recently at a lead children’s mental health agency. Camilla's experience as a mother of twins in combination of her clinical specialty brings acknowledgement and validation to parents. She helps parents navigate the hardest job anyone will ever have with down to earth practical approaches that focus on the parent-child relationship for ages birth through school age.
She is a strong advocate for maternal and infant mental health and truly believes that if mom isn’t happy, then nobody’s happy!
Eleni Opperwaal, Msw, Rsw (She/Her)
Eleni completed her MSW at the University of Michigan School of Social Work in 2007, with a specialty in Child and Family Counselling. She is a registered member of OCSWSSW and CASW.
Eleni has extensive experience with womens’ adjustment to motherhood, caring for their own mental health, and understanding their children’s needs as well as their own. She has particular expertise in the parent-child attachment relationship and ways that this bond can be enhanced, developed or repaired. She has worked with parents and caregivers who have had significant experiences which have impacted their attachment relationships, including struggles with perinatal mental health, kinship, foster and adoption placements, and trauma. She has co-facilitated groups on attachment and perinatal mental health for the past five years.
Eleni has a deep passion for encouraging mothers and all caregivers to explore their relationships with their children without blame or shame, and to reflect on their own journey from a place of curiosity, nonjudgment and self-compassion.
When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her three children, having a run while listening to a good podcast, and drinking a warm cup of tea.
Rebecca Reed, Virtual Assistant (She/Her)
Rebecca graduated from the Office Administration - Medical Program at Niagara College in 2014. She has been working in various medical offices since graduating. She values patient-centred care. Rebecca is friendly and warm which makes her a perfect fit for our team.
Rebecca will be providing virtual support at Maternal Health Niagara. When she is not working she is spending time with her 2 fur babies or doing something creative.