 Victoria Office:
Acacia Health Clinic Dockside Green Building
#101-391 Tyee Road
Phone: 250-475-1522
Email: sarahcorrin@gmail.com Philosophy
I believe that the therapeutic relationship facilitates the process of change and growth, and therefore a good fit between both client and therapist is essential to the psychological and emotional work that takes place between the two. In our initial session we will explore what it is that brought you to therapy and work together to find an approach that you feel will help to resolve your concerns. Each individual has the intrinsic capacity for growth and change. Therapy can be a supportive process, offering structure and guidance through the process of change and transformation. Therapy can be helpful in shifting cognitive, emotional, or behavioural patterns that are no longer useful strategies for living fully. In my practice, I draw from a somatic approach to the resolution of trauma. This is a counselling approach that draws on the wisdom of the body, neurobiology, and attachment studies to resolve shock and developmental traumas that can result in depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, stuck relationship patterns, addiction, emotional dysregulation, and a diminished life force. The resolution of trauma can free up one's emotional, creative, and spiritual energies.
Essentially, paying mindful attention to the wisdom of the body, and attuning to the language of our body, naturally facilitates the very healing we are seeking. It is a process that allows us to live more authentically and further frees up our life force to be more of who we are in the world.
Areas of Specialization and Professional Training Somatic Transformation – a process of attuning to the innate healing processes of the body-mind. This approach draws from the fields of attachment, life-span development, mindfulness, interpersonal neurobiology and recent brain research. It integrates left-brain processes (logic, cognitions) with right-brain ones (sensations, emotion, images, kinesthetic gestures and experiences) to regulate the nervous system to heal emotional patterns (overwhelm, emotional numbness or reactivity, anxiety, depression) and physical symptoms (migraines, pain, syndromal illness). Somatic work is helpful in healing acute trauma (accidents, injury, medical procedures) and chronic-stress/relational trauma (loss, violence, abuse, neglect). Cognitive Behavioural Therapy – an approach that examines faulty assumptions and beliefs people carry about themselves, others, and the world. By focusing on understanding the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours a person can consciously shift thought and behavioural patterns that are linked to relational conflict, and emotional states such as anxiety and depression. Relaxation techniques and problem-solving skills are also part of this therapeutic approach. CBT is a therapeutic approach that is well researched as an effective treatment for depression, panic, social anxiety, general anxiety, and patterns of perfectionism and procrastination. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy – a behavioural approach to therapy that combines both acceptance and change strategies to build emotion regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness skills. This therapeutic approach was developed for those with a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder, and can be helpful for people with patterns of intense emotional dysregulation, interpersonal chaos, and self-harming or suicidal behaviours. (also see Marsha Linehan) Emotion Focused Therapy - an emotion-focused framework that aims to develop understanding and enhancement of couple and family relationships through an emphasis on emotions and their interpersonal impact. EFT is predicated on the belief that all people can maximize their potential given a nurturing social environment.
I work with adults in the following areas: relationships, acute and chronic stress, life-transitions, grief-loss, depression, anxiety, self-harm, attachment, trauma, personal growth, identity, and mind-body health. I also offer groups and workshops on these topics.
Education and Certification
MA - Counselling Psychology, University of Victoria, 2003.
Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) - licensed with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors
Fees and Funding
Individual Sessions – 60 minutes/$110
Couples Sessions – 75-90 minutes/$130
Third party billing through WCB and ICBC may be an option. Other Funding may be available through your extended health benefits plan or with the Crime Victim Assistance Program. |