Nivatha (Ne-vai-tha) Moothathamby is a Tamil-Canadian, who recently completed her PhD in Developmental Psychology and Education, at the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto. In addition to her work at Step Stone, she is also a postdoctoral research fellow at Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, within PsychoSocial Oncology Wellness in Supportive Care. Nivatha’s research has focused on exploring the psycho-social and educational experiences of racialized, South Asian emerging and young adults. Being raised by parents and grandparents who sought asylum in Canada, as refugees in the 1980s, Nivatha strongly and proudly identifies as a racialized, Tamil-Canadian. Escaping the abominable civil war, her family came to a new country, where they were welcomed with open arms by some, however, faced racism and discrimination by many more. Being brought up by a family who had faced social injustices in their lifetime, due to systemic oppression and colonialism, Nivatha was enticed by the system of equity and social justice. All leading to her decision to take a firm stand towards decreasing intergenerational trauma and varying forms of discrimination. Her main focus is on mental health, healthcare and educational experiences, childhood disability, race, and social inequality.

At Step Stone, Nivatha is an Executive Functioning Coach who works to support children, youth, and young adults in navigating life’s demands with greater ease and effectiveness. As an Executive Functioning Coach, Nivatha is a partner who helps clients develop essential cognitive skills to focus on areas like planning, organization, time management, task initiation, and self-regulation. Through taking a client-focused approach, Nivatha provides personalized strategies and support to help clients of all ages overcome challenges, achieve their goals, and build long lasting habits for positive life outcomes.  Nivatha is fluent in communicating in Tamil and English.