Anastasia Machan
RECE, BA, MA; Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Mother, Educator, Clinician
My name is Anastasia and I am the Owner of Second Nature Family Health & Wellness Centre and Second Nature School. More importantly, though, I'm a mother of three little, neurospicey children.
I know the struggle of trying to positively parent in a world that doesn't always celebrate children and adolescents who operate outside of the box.
I also know the feeling of navigating a diagnosis, of carrying the mental load, and of yearning for the instruction manual that was supposed to come with your kid!
At Second Nature, we specialize in working with children, youth, and adults who would benefit from a space that understands neurodiversity and is accepting of multiple identities. Our space is home-like and offers safety for families who are looking for holistic care. We are honoured to provide services in person at our centres and online, and we happily accept clients both in-person and virtually across Ontario.
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Second Nature was never meant to be just a school or a clinic. It was born out of something much deeper: a knowing, a need, and a refusal to accept that children and families should have to struggle so hard just to be understood.
As a psychotherapist, educator, and parent of neurodivergent children, I have lived on both sides of the system. I have sat in professional rooms where children were discussed in terms of deficits, and I have sat at kitchen tables, holding my own children through moments when the world felt too overwhelming for them. I know what it feels like to advocate tirelessly, to search for answers, and to feel like there should be something better out there.
Second Nature is that “something better.” I created this space because I believe, deeply, that children do well when they feel safe, seen, and connected. I believe that learning should not come at the cost of a child’s mental health, and that families deserve support that wraps around them, not systems that push them out.
Here, we have built something different. A place where relationships come first. Where therapy and education are not separate, but woven into a child’s daily experience. Where nature, movement, curiosity, and connection guide the way. Where professionals from different disciplines come together with one shared purpose: to truly support the whole child and the whole family.
This work is deeply personal to me. It is rooted in my own family, in the families I have had the privilege of walking alongside, and in a vision of what is possible when we choose compassion over compliance, and connection over control.
If You Have Found Your Way Here, I Want You To Know This: You Are Not Alone, And There Is A Place Where Your Child Can Belong Exactly As They Are.
With Care
Anastasia
We Celebrate Neurodiversity
Attachment-Based
Building strong, trusting relationships as the foundation for growth and healing.
Strengths-Based
Focusing on what makes each child unique and capable rather than what they struggle with.
Child-Led
Allowing children to guide their own therapeutic journey at their own pace.
Holistic Care
Supporting the whole family with comprehensive mental health and wellness services.
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