Business Details
20 Years
experience
Trusted Psychological Assessments & Therapy in Hamilton
Dr. Sala & Associates has provided psychological assessments and therapy for over 20 years, serving children, teens, adults, and families in a supportive, confidential environment. Our team of registered psychologists, therapists, and associates deliver individualized mental health support tailored to client needs, with evidence-based care across the greater Hamilton area. We specialize in psychoeducational evaluations, autism and ADHD assessments, and therapy services, offering bilingual support in English and French. Our compassionate, client-centered philosophy ensures clients feel supported throughout their journey, with flexible scheduling and payment options to accommodate diverse needs. 
Services
Psycho-Educational Assessments
Socio-Emotional Assessments
Autism Assessments
ADHD Assessments
Therapy & Counselling
Details
- Year established: 2006
Highlights and features
- We have over 25 years of experience in psychological assessments and therapy.
- Our team provides evidence-based, client-centered care tailored to individual needs.
- Bilingual services available in English and French for broader accessibility.
- We offer collaborative care coordinating with families, schools, and community partners.
- Our clinicians use proven research techniques while prioritizing personalized treatment plans.
Services
Psycho-Educational Assessments
Comprehensive evaluations identifying learning disabilities, processing disorders, and intellectual strengths. Our assessments provide actionable recommendations for academic accommodations and personalized learning strategies. Services target children, teens, and adults struggling with academic performance or suspected giftedness.
Autism Assessments
Thorough evaluations exploring developmental, behavioral, and social-communication patterns for autism spectrum disorder. Our affirming process helps individuals understand themselves better through standardized testing and structured interviews across multiple sessions.
ADHD Assessments
Detailed evaluations analyzing attention, executive functioning, and behavioral patterns to diagnose ADHD. We provide targeted strategies for managing symptoms at school, work, and home through cognitive testing and clinical interviews.
Therapy & Counselling
Evidence-based therapy for anxiety, depression, trauma, and life transitions. Our client-led approach combines cognitive-behavioral therapy, EMDR, and mindfulness techniques to address emotional challenges for children, teens, adults, and families.
Socio-Emotional Assessments
Evaluations focusing on emotional well-being, coping skills, and interpersonal patterns. This service helps identify root causes of emotional challenges through structured interviews and standardized testing for children and teens experiencing behavioral difficulties.
People
Dr. Michelle Sala
Clinical Psychologist
Bilingual clinical psychologist with 25+ years experience specializing in learning disabilities, ADHD, and autism. Provides CBT and mindfulness-based therapy, certified hypnotherapist, and clinical supervisor for doctoral students.
Charlene Forde-Smith
Counsellor
Registered Social Worker using trauma-informed care with EFT, Motivational Interviewing, and EMDR. Holds Master's degrees in Social Work and Psychology from University of Toronto and McMaster University.
Jose Labont
Psychological Associate
Bilingual Psychological Associate with 20+ years experience in psychoeducational assessment and therapy. Specializes in learning, attention, and emotional challenges for children and families.
Dr. Joshua Wyman
Registered Psychologist
Bilingual psychologist specializing in learning differences, ADHD, and autism. Uses eclectic, client-centered approach combining CBT, behavior therapy, and mindfulness practices for children and youth.
Dr. Debbie Nifakis
Registered Psychologist
35+ years experience in clinical psychology, integrating CBT, DBT, and ACT. Former Associate Director of Counselling at McMaster University's Student Wellness Centre and RCMP Regional Psychologist.
Questions
Do I need a doctor's referral for services?
No referral is required for most services. Contact us directly for assessment or therapy options.
What assessment process duration should I expect?
Assessments typically involve intake interview, 3-4 testing sessions, and feedback meeting. Reports completed within 4 weeks.
Are services covered by insurance?
Most extended health plans cover our services. We provide itemized billing and free cost estimates for claims.
What therapy options are available?
We offer CBT, DBT, EMDR, play therapy, family systems therapy, and specialized approaches for anxiety, trauma, and life transitions.
Do you offer virtual appointments?
Yes, we provide secure virtual therapy sessions alongside in-person options for client convenience.
Reviews (3)
Sera M.
Dec 20, 2017
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Thanks to Dr. Sala, my family is whole again. I was reluctant to seek help but upon the urging of my friends I tried an initial consultation and from there started having regular sessions. She was professional, caring and objective. I would without hesitation refer a friend to her!
Nancy Kohen
Nov 11, 2017
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My daughter was diagnosed by another psychologist with an LD. I was never comfortable with the diagnosis and decided to get a 2nd opinion. Dr. Sala, who has 20 years eperience in this field was kind and patient in helping me through understanding what I had to do to help my daughter. She has helped guide her through her years of high school and given unequivocal support and knowledge. She really is focused on what is best for her patient and made me comfortable to ask many questions. I would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone.
Charles Small
Jun 23, 2017
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If you are planning to consult Dr Sala, you should be aware that the College of Psychologists of Ontario has issued a caution with respect to her standard of professional practice. While the policy of the CPO, at present, is not to post information regarding such cautions on their Web site, the issuance of a warning of this kind to the practitioner is nonetheless a serious concern, and it should also be considered as a warning to potential clients. The case in question involved a couple who through a Children's Aid Society action were in imminent danger of losing their child permanently to Crown
