ABOUT
Gurleen Dhaliwal
Gurleen Dhaliwal is a registered Occupational Therapist (OT Reg. Ont.) with a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from McMaster University and an MBA from Smith School of Business, Queen’s University.
Her career spans acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, community mental health, and enterprise accessibility strategy — following the patient, in a sense, out of the hospital and all the way into the workplace. Most recently she served as an occupational therapist embedded in accessibility strategy at Scotiabank, consulting with employers and insurers on functional return-to-work planning, workplace accommodations, and disability inclusion. She also holds an appointment as an Adjunct Lecturer in the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program at the University of Toronto.
A message from Gurleen:
Some of the most challenging moments in life happen in the spaces between.
Between work and rest. Between illness and recovery. Between who we were and who we are becoming.
I’ve seen these moments across the full arc of healthcare: at the bedside in acute care, in inpatient rehabilitation, in community mental health, and inside a corporate environment at one of Canada’s largest organizations, working on enterprise accessibility strategy.
What struck me, in every setting, was the same thing: when someone was struggling, the instinct was to label the behaviour. The patient who wasn’t progressing. The employee who couldn’t keep up. Too often, what looked like resistance was actually a person without the right supports in a system that had never been built with them in mind.
Occupational therapy gave me a different lens: not what’s wrong with this person, but what’s getting in the way, and what would it take to remove it.
Third Space OT exists for people in exactly these transitions. People who feel stuck, unseen, or unsupported in the space between where they’ve been and where they’re trying to go.
This is a space defined not by productivity or pressure, but by possibility.
Practice Philosophy
Vision
A more equitable and inclusive society where individuals of all abilities can fully participate in meaningful work, relationships, and daily life, supported by accessible, timely, and functionally focused occupational therapy.
Mission
To deliver evidence-informed, client-centered OT that empowers individuals living with mental health challenges, chronic conditions, and neurodivergence to thrive at home, in the workplace, and in the community.
Values
Accessibility
Everyone deserves timely, practical occupational therapy that fits their life. We offer flexible delivery options, transparent pricing, and a sliding scale to reduce barriers to care.
Function First
Therapy should translate into real life. We focus on building routines, strategies, and systems that improve how you function day-to-day—not just how you feel in session.
Dignity & Inclusion
Care is grounded in respect, safety, and understanding. We provide trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming, and culturally responsive support that meets you as you are.
Collaboration
You are the expert in your life, we bring the clinical lens. We work alongside you, and when appropriate, your care team, to create plans that are realistic, relevant, and sustainable.
Integrity
We practice with transparency, professionalism, and accountability. Your privacy is protected, recommendations are evidence-informed, and care is always aligned with your best interests.
Innovation
Modern life requires modern care. We use flexible, hybrid models and evolving tools to make occupational therapy more accessible, responsive, and effective.