Sarah Sage specializes in children, youth, individuals, families, parenting, attachment issues, stress management, emotional dysregulation, depression, anxiety, anger, addictions, trauma, and life changes/transitions.
Sarah completed her Master degree in Counselling Psychology through Yorkville University. She has a Bachelor degree in Social Work with a specialization in First Nation studies. She is a Registered Social Worker with the British Columbia College of Social Workers and a Certified Clinical Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. Sarah is also a Clinical Counselling Hypnotherapist and has specialized training in working with mindfulness, CBT, attachment, various special needs, play therapy and complex trauma. Sarah enjoys individual as well as family therapy and can be booked for either.
Sarah began to take an active interest in meditation while living in India in the 1990s. At the time, she was moved by how meditation impacted herself, the people she met and the cultures she was immersed in. Sarah returned to Canada in 1999 and has spent the majority of her career working in the Northern Territories. She worked with the Learning Disabilities Association, Family and Children’s Services and the Child Development Centre. Dedicated to affecting positive outcomes for children and families, Sarah began creating her own programs, designed and operated to help children and families with diverse special needs meet their full potential. These programs were unique at the time, as they integrated daily meditation practices in with wilderness experiences, wholesome food, physical activity and art. She opened a specialized care home and leadership camp with spaces for children living in government care and an integrated preschool and family centre, with spaces held for children with diverse special needs. She developed and delivered psycho-education for families, as well as training and support for professionals working with children and youth to improve mental health outcomes, always with a special focus on mindfulness. Sarah has worked intensively with biological, foster and adoptive families involved in the child welfare system as well as with families supporting children who have special needs. She continues to work with individuals and families healing from profound and intergenerational traumas. Sarah works in the Arctic (as well as North Vancouver), offering regular counselling clinics to individuals and families impacted by residential school experiences, as well as by murdered or missing Indigenous women.
Sarah is thrilled that the field of psychology has been growing a strong evidence base for mindfulness practices, as this both supports her experiences with meditation as healing and promotes the development of simple and accessible practices for anyone interested in personal development. Sarah recently became a certified hypnotherapist, discovering that hypnosis is a strong compliment to mindfulness, similar in ways to guided meditation and accessible to both novice and experienced individuals interested in increasing their mental, physical and spiritual well being.
Sarah has raised two daughters and helped to raise two foster daughters. She recently moved to North Vancouver so she could thoroughly enjoy being a grandmother. Internationally, Sarah and her family have worked in orphanages and outreach programs, offering direct support and facilitating volunteer training. Sarah maintains a daily qigong practice and is a certified practice group leader. She enjoys long walks in nature and sailing. She deeply values diversity and cross-cultural experiences. Her life purpose is to support people to heal in order to experience greater happiness, joy, peace, contentment and gratitude.
