Meet The Team
Watermelon's commitment to inclusivity and support for neurodivergent individuals is commendable. By providing job opportunities and volunteer positions tailored to the unique strengths and needs of neurodivergent people, Watermelon fosters a diverse and dynamic work environment. Fostering an inclusive environment not only supports neurodivergent employees but can also contribute to a more dynamic, empathetic, and well-rounded company culture.
Sasha Lebedeva received her Master’s Degree in Speech Language Pathology and Child Psychology at the Wallenberg Institute of Special Education and Psychology, St Petersburg, Russia. She has been working with children and adults as a speech pathologist since 2010.
In 2013 Sasha moved to Canada and focused on working with individuals with diverse abilities. Watermelon Sessions was created by Sasha in 2017 to nurture independence; helping those with communication difficulties and teaching them how to interact with the world on their own terms.
Owner and Operator
Sara is a Pediatric Speech Language Pathologist. She has worked with various populations ranging from little babies and families in the neonatal intensive care unit up to teenagers and youth with traumatic brain injury. Additionally she has worked extensively with autistic children and youth over the past twelve years first in the capacity as a special education teacher, then an educational psychologist, and speech language pathologist.
During her free time, she enjoys hiking, running, playing basketball, and going to the gym.
Speech and Language Pathologist
Jocelyn Lundberg is registered occupational therapist with over a decade of experience working in pediatrics, specializing in autism and sensory processing. She graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Human Kinetics (BHK) in 2009, and later a Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) in 2013. Jocelyn is also a registered provider on the RASP (Registry of Autism Service Providers).
Originally from Vancouver Island, she has always been passionate about supporting children and families in meaningful, compassionate, and practical ways. Her approach is relationship-based and child-centered, grounded in the belief that every child has the potential to thrive when given the right tools and environment.
Occupational Therapist
Ieva, originally from Lithuania, finished her master's in social work at Vilnius University in 2019. She discovered her passion while helping neurodiverse teenagers at Mentor Peers in Durango, USA, during her 2017 social work practice. Throughout her five-year career supporting the neurodiverse community, Ieva organized social groups, camps, and offered one-on-one support to kids of different ages and their families. In 2022, she moved to Canada and joined Watermelon Sessions. Ieva strongly believes in embracing neurodiversity rather than trying to cure it.
DIR Floor Consultant
Case Manager
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Speech and Occupational Therapy Assistant
Counsellor
Irina Yurchenko finds joy in the company of children and in aiding others. Joining Watermelon Sessions in 2024 as a case manager, she brings a wealth of experience from her educational background. Always eager to expand her knowledge, Irina continually seeks to enhance her ability to assist families and children. Fluent in English, German, Spanish, Ukrainian, and Russian, she values communication across cultures. Outside of work, Irina cherishes moments with her family and relishes beach outings during her leisure time.
Chelsea Zhou received her Bachelor of Science at McMaster University in 2023, specializing in sensory motor systems and minoring in psychology. With a background as a competitive swim coach, lifeguard and swim instructor for children of all ages and abilities, Chelsea brings a unique blend of academic knowledge and practical skills to her role as a behavioural interventionist. Her competitive swimming background has instilled in her a deep appreciation for the positive impact of mentorship and guidance. Chelsea is passionately dedicated to enhancing the lives of neurodivergent individuals through personalized interventions rooted in patience, understanding, and continuous learning.
Tanya (Tatyana) Finkelshtein (Gendalf) holds a Master of Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University in Canada and is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC).
She specializes in working with adults. Her areas of expertise include trauma, grief, immigration, relationships, parenting, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, neurodiversity, loneliness, life transition, and more. With over ten years of experience supporting individuals with their mental health journey, her approach is person-centered, solution-based, and non-judgmental. She believes each person is unique in their strengths. She works with people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, races, religions, and languages, providing therapy in English, Russian, and Hebrew.
Message Copilot
Tina Punzo attained a Social Services Worker diploma in 2007. She has an extensive amount of experience working directly with children and adults with special needs. She currently works as Student Support Assistant with the Vancouver School Board and as a support worker at Watermelon Sessions. She is committed to supporting neurodivergent children and adults to best integrate them into living independently, as members in their community. On her spare time I like dancing, paddle boarding, hiking and spending time with family and friend’s.
Group Classes Coordinator
Simran Kang born and raised in Vancouver, and have completed Community Support Worker Diploma.
Recently diagnosed that with Autism and really enjoy helping
children and youth at Watermelon Session. Speaks Punjabi and English. On spare time likes to walk around the neighborhood, Pacific Spirt park, go to beaches, gardening, volunteering and
watching movies.
Autism Therapist
Jeremy Tobin, with a background in philosophy, approaches challenges with empathy, creative thinking, and a focus on finding solutions that work for everyone involved. He believes in understanding different perspectives to drive positive outcomes.
When not working, Jeremy enjoys unwinding with a good video game, tapping into some strategic thinking.
Always open to collaboration and new ideas, Jeremy welcomes connections from those who wish to reach out.
Autism Therapist
Rita has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Ukraine and is currently studying Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) at Capilano University. After years of working with neurodivergent kids, she believes in the importance of building strong connections and supporting each child in their unique journey while celebrating their strengths. Outside of work and study, she loves to spend time with my Abyssinian cat and enjoy simple pleasures - like a scoop of Earnest salted caramel ice cream.
Speech and Occupational Therapy Assistant
Dhriti has graduated from UBC with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and previously worked with the Early Development Research Group, which grew her love for understanding how kids think, learn, and communicate. She has worked with children of all ages and always try to meet them with patience, creativity, and a genuine celebration of who they are. In her free time, she volunteer as a youth crisis responder and loves playing the piano and ukulele. She tries to bring that same mix of calm and creativity into every session.