Shelly Dornian
Occupational Therapist | Commercial Drive, Vancouver
Areas of Expertise: Persistent Pain, Mental Health & Trauma, Concussion & Brain Injury, Cancer Rehabilitation, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Home Safety Equipment Prescription, Return to Work, Functional Capacity Evaluation, Ergonomic Assessment, Complex Case Coordination
I am an enthusiastic and compassionate occupational therapist who is dedicated to helping people participate in the activities that give their lives meaning. I believe recovery works best when it is practical, collaborative, and connected to real life. My approach is client-centred, and I am passionate about supporting people to enhance and restore their quality of life by focusing on what matters most to them.
I have over a decade of experience working in clinic, community, workplace, and acute care settings, with particular interest in persistent pain, mental health, concussion, chronic illness, and return to work after injury or illness. I am especially drawn to complex situations that require clear communication and thoughtful coordination between clients, families, employers, and insurers. When things feel overwhelming, I aim to bring structure and clarity so people can move forward in a way that feels safe, manageable, and meaningful.
Beyond clinical work, I care deeply about improving the systems that support health and recovery. I value mentoring other clinicians and am always looking for ways to strengthen the care we provide. I believe healthcare works best when it feels thoughtful, collaborative, and supportive for everyone involved.
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Persistent Pain: supporting functional restoration using pacing, graded return to activity, and self-management strategies to help individuals rebuild tolerance and confidence in daily activities.
Mental Health & Trauma: facilitating gradual re-engagement in meaningful roles and routines, including for people with anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Interventions included graded exposure therapy, behavioural activation, and self-management techniques.
Concussion & Brain Injury: guiding structured return to activity, including comprehensive assessment of physical, affective, and cognitive symptoms, cognitive and vison rehabilitation, self-management, pacing, and return-to-work planning.
Cancer Rehabilitation: addressing fatigue, deconditioning, cognitive changes, and role disruption to support participation during and after treatment.
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS): supporting activity pacing, energy optimization, managing fluctuating symptoms, and gradual functional progression to improve tolerance for daily routines, work, and community participation.
Home Safety Equipment Prescription: enhancing home safety and mobility through adaptive equipment, including home safety assessments and coordinating with equipment vendors.
Return to Work: developing and monitoring graduated return-to-work (GRTW) plans, job site visits, job demands analyses, coordinating with employers and insurers, and aligning job demands with current abilities to support durable outcomes.
Functional Capacity Evaluation: conducting objective assessment of physical and cognitive abilities to inform treatment planning, workplace decisions, and safe return-to-work strategies.
Ergonomic Assessment: evaluating home and workplace environments and recommending equipment and strategies to optimize posture, reduce strain, and support sustainable function at work.
Complex Case Coordination: bringing structure and clarity to cases involving multiple partners, medical providers, and systems to ensure aligned goals and clear next steps.
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Occupational Therapy Assessment & Treatment
WorkSafeBC Services
ICBC Services
Return-to-Work Planning & Support
Hospital Discharge and Equipment Prescription
Functional Capacity Evaluation
Job Demands Assessment
Ergonomic Assessment (Home & Workplace)
Concussion Management
Cognitive Rehabilitation
Behavioural Activation
Prolonged Exposure Therapy
Persistent Pain Rehabilitation
Chronic Illness Rehabilitation
Complex Case Consultation
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Master of Health Quality – Queen’s University (2023)
Master of Occupational Therapy – University of British Columbia (2014)
Bachelor of Science in Biology – University of British Columbia (2010)
Member of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT)
Ongoing professional development in pain science, mental health, concussion management, and return-to-work planning.
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