My Approach

I’m Sarah Monaghan. As a retired registered massage therapist (RMT), I have extensive experience with the interconnection between body, mind, and spirit. I bring a holistic, person-centred, trauma-informed approach to clinical counselling, and I draw from a variety of counselling modalities, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), internal family systems (IFS), and narrative therapy.

We are all unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to counselling. I possess the experience and flexibility necessary to adjust my approach to meet you where you are.

My primary areas of focus are life transitions, grief and loss, self-esteem, relationships, and well-being.

Coming to counselling takes courage…

… and a willingness to be vulnerable.

Our thoughts and feelings can be overwhelming, often looking and feeling like a ball of wool after a kitten attack, a seemingly hopelessly tangled mess.

But with a gentle approach and patience, untangling is possible, which leads to less overwhelm, more breathing room, and more clarity. You do not have to do this work in isolation, I consider it a privilege to walk beside you on this journey.

In the counselling room, it is all about you, which is very different from conversations with friends or family members in which you may feel the need to edit, minimize, or dismiss your feelings.

In those relationships, there is often an unspoken expectation that once they have listened to you, you will listen to them. Your counsellor is not part of your everyday life, and you are not required to take care of us, which leaves you free to feel, talk, or cry without fear of judgment or criticism.

So often we hide parts of ourselves, afraid of how people will respond if they know the things we have done, said, or thought that we believe are wrong, bad, or shameful.

It can be profoundly healing and transformative to bring all those hidden parts out of the darkness into the light to be acknowledged and held in a non-judgemental space.

I am honoured to have the opportunity to create and hold that space for my clients. Every part of you is invited and welcome in my counselling room.

I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness,
the astonishing light of your own being.      – Hafiz

Coming to counselling takes courage…

… and a willingness to be vulnerable.

Our thoughts and feelings can be overwhelming, often looking and feeling like a ball of wool after a kitten attack, a seemingly hopelessly tangled mess.

But with gentle hands and patience, untangling is possible, which leads to less overwhelm, more breathing room, and more clarity. You do not have to do this work in isolation, I consider it a privilege to walk beside you on this journey.

In the counselling room, it is all about you, which is very different from conversations with friends or family members in which you may feel the need to edit, minimize, or dismiss your feelings.

In those relationships, there is often an unspoken expectation that once they have listened to you, you will listen to them. Your counsellor is not part of your everyday life, and you are not required to take care of us, which leaves you free to feel, talk, or cry without fear of judgment or criticism.

So often we hide parts of ourselves, afraid of how people will respond if they know the things we have done, said, or thought that we believe are wrong, bad, or shameful.

It can be profoundly healing and transformative to bring all those hidden parts out of the darkness into the light to be acknowledged and held in a non-judgemental space.

I am honoured to have the opportunity to create and hold that space for my clients. Every part of you is invited and welcome in my counselling room.

Coming to counselling takes courage…

… and a willingness to be vulnerable.

Our thoughts and feelings can be overwhelming, often looking and feeling like a ball of wool after a kitten attack, a seemingly hopelessly tangled mess.

But with gentle hands and patience, untangling is possible, which leads to less overwhelm, more breathing room, and more clarity. You do not have to do this work in isolation, I consider it a privilege to walk beside you on this journey.

In the counselling room, it is all about you, which is very different from conversations with friends or family members in which you may feel the need to edit, minimize, or dismiss your feelings.

In those relationships, there is often an unspoken expectation that once they have listened to you, you will listen to them. Your counsellor is not part of your everyday life, and you are not required to take care of us, which leaves you free to feel, talk, or cry without fear of judgment or criticism.

So often we hide parts of ourselves, afraid of how people will respond if they know the things we have done, said, or thought that we believe are wrong, bad, or shameful.

It can be profoundly healing and transformative to bring all those hidden parts out of the darkness into the light to be acknowledged and held in a non-judgemental space.

I am honoured to have the opportunity to create and hold that space for my clients. Every part of you is invited and welcome in my counselling room.

I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness,
the astonishing light of your own being.      – Hafiz

Our Work Together

During our work together, you will discover your truly authentic self by peeling back the layers of who you thought you were and who you have been told you are or should be.

By shining a light on your unconscious thoughts, beliefs, patterns, and behaviours, my intention is to assist you in making the unconscious conscious since you cannot change what you are not aware of. My goal is that our work together will reframe the way you see yourself, your life, and the challenges you face.

As you recognize your uniqueness, strength, beauty, and resilience, you will develop self-compassion, love, and acceptance.

You’ve proven you can survive – are you ready to thrive?

We are all just walking each other home

~ Ram Dass

 Next Steps

Sessions are 50 minutes, cost $150, and take place via Zoom or telephone. Finding the right counsellor can be challenging. If you already know you’d like to work with me, please click the Book a Session button below, and if you’re not 100% sure, that’s absolutely fine – you can book a free 15 minute chat to meet me via Zoom. If none of the available dates and times fit your schedule, please let me know and we’ll work something out. (My email address is listed in the contact info just to the right of the scheduling calendar.)

Also, please note: I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC). Insurance companies in some provinces of Canada will accept this designation for coverage purposes while others may not. If insurance is a concern for you, please check your plan to see if your coverage applies.