Trauma & EMDR counsellor, online
Katie Sawyer, MA, RCC, CCC
BC Registered Clinical Counsellor & Canadian Certified Counsellor
The ways you adapted to hard experiences made sense at the time. I’ll help you understand them, notice how you’ve already stood up to what happened and move forward at a pace that feels safe.
Accepting new individual clients
- Free 20-minute consult
- Online by video or phone
Counselling for trauma, attachment wounds and the patterns they leave behind
I see individuals online, by video or phone, so you can join from home or anywhere you feel safe.
Much of my work is with people living with the effects of complex and developmental trauma, childhood abuse and painful relationships. I also support people through anxiety, depression, grief and big life changes.
My approach
I bring a relational, integrative and non-pathologizing approach to counselling, informed by an anti-oppressive framework.
I have deep respect for people’s resourcefulness and the ways they’ve adapted to their experiences. I’m interested in the meaning and purpose of the patterns you’ve developed, rather than seeing them as symptoms or deficits.
Drawing on Narrative Therapy, I pay attention to the often-overlooked moments in your story that show your strengths, your values and the ways you’ve stood up to what you’ve faced. Those moments can help you reconnect with yourself and see your experiences and identity more fully.
I also draw on EMDR, parts-based approaches including Trauma Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST), and somatic and attachment-oriented work. Throughout, I pay close attention to pacing, safety and the different ways people make sense of what has happened to them.
How I work
- Narrative Therapy
- EMDR
- Parts-based approaches, including TIST
- Somatic & attachment-oriented approaches
- Integrative, strengths-based counselling
Trauma counselling
Healing from trauma, at a pace that feels safe
Trauma that starts early, or happens inside close relationships, can shape your nervous system, your relationships and how you see yourself. The ways you learned to cope protected you. I’m curious about what those responses have been doing for you, rather than treating them as problems to fix.
We’ll start with safety and stabilization. Narrative Therapy brings forward the moments of strength and resistance that often get lost in trauma stories, and EMDR and parts-based work help your mind and body process what happened.
Not sure Katie’s the right fit?
Ask your questions first, for free
Book a 20-minute consult with Katie, or answer a few quick questions and we’ll suggest the counsellor who fits best.
My own healing began through the body, then continued through movement, art, writing and therapy.
My story
My path to counselling has been shaped by my professional learning and by my own experiences of trauma, growth, change and healing. Those experiences gave me a deep appreciation for the many ways people come to understand themselves, make meaning of what they’ve lived through and find their own way forward.
Before becoming a counsellor, I taught yoga for more than 20 years and lived and travelled internationally. Over time I grew more interested in the cultural and social contexts healing happens in, including how power, identity and dominant ideas about health and wellbeing shape our experiences. My background in Comparative Religion and Peace & Conflict Studies deepened that interest.
I bring all of this to my work with humility, curiosity and respect for your knowledge of your own life. I welcome people of all identities and offer a 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming space.
Have a question first?
Send Katie a message
Ask about availability, fit or anything else. Our admin team reads every message, passes it to Katie and gets back to you as soon as they can.
Please don’t send urgent or crisis information here. If you need help right now, call or text 9-8-8.
Questions about working with Katie
Is Katie accepting new clients?
Yes. Katie is accepting new individual clients online, by video or phone.
Can Katie help with childhood or complex trauma?
Yes. Complex and developmental trauma, childhood abuse, sexual abuse and attachment injuries are at the centre of Katie’s work. She starts with safety and stabilization and moves at a pace that works for you.
Does Katie offer EMDR?
Yes. Katie is trained in EMDR Levels 1 and 2, as well as EMDR for attachment injury, and uses it alongside Narrative Therapy and parts-based work.
What is Narrative Therapy?
Narrative Therapy looks at the stories we tell about our lives and pays attention to the moments that often get overlooked, such as times you resisted or stood up to what was happening. Katie draws on it extensively to help clients reconnect with their strengths and values.
How much does a session cost, and will insurance cover it?
Sessions with Katie are $KATIE-RATE per hour. Most extended health plans cover counselling with a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), but check your plan first. We offer direct billing to most major insurers.
How do online sessions work?
Sessions happen by video or phone, so you can join from home or anywhere private. Read more about online counselling.
What happens in the free consultation?
It’s a 20-minute call to ask questions, share a little about what’s going on and see whether Katie feels like the right fit before you book a full session.