Embracing the messiness of being human
Hi, my name is Sarah (she/her).
I’m a registered social worker, psychotherapist and clinical hypnotist.
Guided by my personal experiences with chronic illness from a young age, and professional roles in health care, I run a therapy practice focused on creating a space where you can discover, ground and grow in the directions you choose.
I specialize in mental health concerns related to health, illness, pain & disability, but also welcome clients seeking person-centred support in a variety of areas.
Schedule a free 20-minute discovery phone call to learn more and get started.
By making space for the peaks & valleys in life & in health, deep meaning, connection and joy can be found even in the midst of pain, uncertainty and challenge.
What would living a meaningful life with illness and pain look like for you?
45% of Canadians are living with at least one chronic disease and 27% of Canadians 15 or older identify as having one or more disabilities. And yet, so many of us are taught that a key ingredient to a life well-lived is good health – the absence of disease and impairment.
What if there was another possibility?
I will meet you where you are in these uncertain times and support you as you face what you may not be able to control about your self, your body, your circumstances and the world around you.
This meaningful work frees us up to direct our precious time and energy towards what matters most to each of us.
It offers us ALL a path towards increased fulfilment and quality of life regardless of our physical health status.
You don’t have to travel this path alone.
Let’s work together
Virtual individual therapy is available for adults across Ontario, Canada. Each session is tailored to suit your unique circumstances, needs and goals.
Attend your video or telephone session from wherever works best for you. I offer a come-as-you-are approach. For some folks that might be laying in bed with a heating pad, reclined in a chair, cozied up on the couch with their dog, alone in their parked car on their lunch break or out for a walk in a quiet park.
Values-Guided Therapy
A collaborative and empowering process that helps you build a compassionate relationship with your difficult experiences inviting increased ease and flexibility into your daily life.
Hypnotherapy
A mind-body approach that works at the subconscious level to promote relaxation, self discovery, positive change and overall well-being.
You are not alone with your very human struggles.
Chronic and serious illness
Something unexpected has happened – you’ve received a new diagnosis or encountered a health crisis. Perhaps you’ve been living with visible or invisible disabilities for quite some time but you’re feeling stuck, unable to move forward in your life. Maybe you are anticipating a flare up of symptoms, a decline or a change in your abilities and aren’t sure how you’ll cope. It can be exhausting and lonely to manage the ups and downs of your health and frightening to imagine what the future may hold. Whether you are struggling with adjusting to a new reality or have decades of illness and disability experience behind you, you may feel like a more multidimensional understanding of health and wellness is needed.
Persistent pain
Dealing with ongoing pain, physical discomfort and fatigue, whether stemming from an illness, disability or injury, can be a lonely experience. We may struggle to plan our daily activities, not knowing how we will feel at any given moment and important long term goals may feel out of reach. Because pain is often invisible and subjective, people in our lives (including healthcare providers!) may not understand what we’re going through. Our lives can start to feel very restrictive and small as the activities we used to enjoy or did easily are increasingly difficult. Much of our focus goes to seeking treatments and strategies to get rid of the pain yet relief tends to be temporary and it’s hard to imagine any other option.
Loss & grief
Loss comes in so many forms. Sometimes it’s sudden and unexpected, or we may anticipate, fear and worry about its arrival. We may even struggle to recognize our experiences of grief, particularly if our losses go unrecognized or invalidated by those around us. Or because grief, our response to loss, can look and feel different for everyone. Changes in our bodily functions, sense of self, social and family roles, independence, financial stability, career aspirations or hopes and plans for the future are just a few of the losses we may experience throughout life. In some cases, losses may pile up with more on the horizon leaving us to continually revisit and attend to our grief when we just wish we could find a refuge from the pain.
Emotional distress & trauma
Apprehension and worry about the future, hypervigilance of physical sensations, feeling disconnected in your body and re-living the past are common distressing patterns. Research tells us that rates of anxiety, depression and chronic stress are increasing and commonly go hand in hand with physical illness but can also be overlooked or we may feel unsure about how to address them.
Some of us also experience medical trauma, sometimes from a sudden health crisis or medical intervention, or from repeated interactions with the healthcare system. The effects of ableism, discrimination and systemic oppression can feel heavy and lasting.
Existential questions & fears
There are points in our lives where we may find ourselves wondering “who am I now?”, “what am I meant to do?”, “is this how I want to show up in my life?”. We may grapple with a yearning to be truly understood by the people around us, a desire to make sense of the suffering we’ve experienced and are facing deep set fears and anxieties about illness, pain and death. We may feel fundamentally different compared to others or who we used to be, leaving us unsure of ourselves, our needs and our interactions. Different stages of illness and periods in our lives may also bring on new questions and concerns for us to explore.
Climate anxiety & eco-grief
Our world is changing and sometimes we can feel powerless to do anything to stop it. We may experience distress at thoughts of our future and what may be in store for our planet. We may put off making important decisions, doom scroll the news or avoid reminders of climate change in an effort to deal.
We may also grieve the losses our community, or communities around the world, have sustained through extreme weather events (storms, wildfires etc.). Perhaps we also fee hopelessness regarding gradual environmental changes like changing weather patterns, loss of natural habitats, wildlife and biodiversity as well as increased pollution.
“Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.”
Brené Brown
I honour your courage.
And look forward to speaking with you about your hopes and needs.
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Land acknowledgement
I wish to acknowledge that I am hosted on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat. Today, this meeting place is still home to many First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples. I am grateful to have the opportunity to live with, work upon and care for this land, water and all of its many beings
Sarah Elizabeth McMillan MA MSW RSW 