I’m a trauma therapist who understands how overwhelming it can feel to be stuck in patterns that don’t seem to change.
When I’m not working, you’ll usually find me at home reading a good book, or outside hiking and spending time with my dogs. I value a slower, more grounded pace in life — something I’ve learned is really important both personally and professionally.
I’m someone who cares deeply about people and the work I do. I’ve always been drawn to understanding why we feel the way we do — especially when it comes to relationships, emotional patterns, and the impact of our past.
Over time, I’ve come to believe that healing isn’t about fixing yourself. It’s about understanding yourself, feeling safe in your own body, and creating real, lasting change.
Hi, I’m Sarah!
My Approach to Therapy
Therapy with me isn’t just about talking — it’s about real, lasting change.
I specialize in working with trauma, attachment wounds, and the impact of difficult or overwhelming relationships.
You might feel stuck in anxiety, overthinking, emotional triggers, or patterns that don’t shift — no matter how much insight you have. That’s not a failure on your part. It’s often your nervous system doing exactly what it learned to do.
My approach goes beyond coping strategies. Together, we gently explore what’s underneath these patterns while building the safety and stability needed to actually process and heal.
Using approaches like EMDR and Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR), we work with both your mind and your body — so healing doesn’t just make sense, it feels different.
Everything we do is paced, collaborative, and grounded in helping you feel safe — both in our work together and within yourself.
Education & Training
I have been working with individuals experiencing complex mental health concerns for nearly 20 years, including in clinical and community settings. I hold a strong academic and clinical foundation, and I specialize in trauma, dissociation, and attachment.
Master of Social Work (MSW)
Wilfrid Laurier University | 2024
Clinical training focused on trauma, mental health, and complex presentations, with 900 hours of clinical practicum experience in a private practice setting.
Diploma in Addiction Studies
McMaster University | 2021
Specialized education in substance abuse, addiction, and related mental health concerns
Honours Bachelor of Arts, Psychology,
University of Guelph | 2009
Professional Training & Certifications
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Training, 2025 (EMDRIA-approved training; approx. 50+ hours)
Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR), Levels 1&2, 2026 (80 hours total; trained by Dr. Frank Corrigan, developer of DBR)
Level 1 training, International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), 2026
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) training, 2024
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) training, 2024
I also have specialized training in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), mindfulness-based approaches, and concurrent disorders.
I engage in ongoing professional development in trauma, attachment, and nervous system-based therapies to ensure my work remains current, effective, and aligned with best practices.
Who I work with
I work with people who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected from themselves — often after years of trying to cope, push through, or “figure it out” on their own.
I offer affirming, trauma informed therapy for:
people navigating complex trauma or C-PTSD
individuals experiencing dissociation, identity confusion, or internal disconnection
those living with DID, OSDD, or chronic shutdown
neurodivergent folks, including those with ADHD or Autism
survivors of sexual trauma, religious trauma, or childhood abuse
LGBTQ+ individuals seeking a space that affirms all identities and expressions
people exploring gender, navigating transition, or recovering from gender-based life transitions or a sense of not feeling like yourself anymore
anyone who feels “too much”, “too scattered”, or like they don’t fit into typical therapy spaces
Many of the people I work with are thoughtful, self-aware, and used to holding a lot on their own — but are ready for something deeper to actually shift.
This is a space where your whole self — your thoughts, your emotions, your body, and your experiences — is welcomed and respected.
You don’t need a diagnosis to be heard.
You don’t need to be okay to be welcomed.
Why I’m not your typical Therapist
I understand what it feels like to be stuck — and what it takes to move through it.
Alongside my professional training, I’ve also done my own personal work — healing from childhood trauma, working through attachment wounds, anxiety, depression, and unhealthy relationship patterns. That experience shapes how I show up; with depth, empathy, and a genuine understanding of how hard this work can be.
Therapy is deeply personal. You deserve someone who sees you as a whole person — not just your symptoms — and who creates a space where you feel safe, understood, and supported.
Here’s what you can expect when we work together
A safe, grounded space: You can bring whatever you’re carrying — nothing is too much or too messy.
A focus on real healing: We go beyond surface-level coping and work through what’s actually underneath.
Body-based, trauma-informed work: We don’t just talk about your experiences — we help your nervous system process them.
A collaborative approach: We move at your pace, in a way that feels safe and manageable.
Genuine, down-to-earth connection: Therapy with me feels human, not clinical or scripted.
At Grounded Healing Counselling, therapy is a relational, anti-oppressive, and deeply respectful of your story. We move at the pace of trust.