Hi I’m Sabine,

I received my Masters degree in Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy from Wilfrid Laurier University and have been a practicing therapist since 2015. Before becoming a therapist, I have enjoyed two previous careers, and I love how life has evolved to offer me a beautiful career path spanning 3 careers! The interests and skill sets I developed in my former work as an investment advisor and subsequently leadership coach inform and enrich the work I do with my therapy clients. A rich life experience helps to be able to examine situations from various perspectives.

My life experiences go far beyond my career.

I grew up in Germany in a small village, far away from where I live now (in Canada). To this day, if I was blindfolded I could still tell you what time in the season it is according to the smell of the air. I spent my days almost always outside in my childhood. My father was a school teacher and as was the custom, we visited our neighbors when they were ill, grieving, or simply elderly folks in need of company. Even at a very young age, I enjoyed these visits. I loved listening to people’s stories, and obviously wouldn’t turn down a cookie if it was passed my way!

As a teenager, my family immigrated to Canada

I finished my final year of high school in a new school as well as in a new country. This was quite the experience. A mixture of adventure and feeling terrified all mixed together. To this day I feel great empathy for young people who immigrate when they are in school, and I know that families can experience many challenges as they try to settle in an unfamiliar environment.

After graduating from university, for several years I worked in investment finance. I loved learning how economics moves and impacts our financial realities.

Before I became a therapist, I was an executive coach.

I made this move after I became interested in how companies often improved when their leadership learned to harness certain skills of their employees to create a healthy company culture. I began to coach individuals on improving those skills, but I started to notice a specific subset of obstacles people struggled with that kept them from achieving success. Sometimes it would be past trauma, regrets, or grief. Coaching is very present or future oriented and so I wasn’t sure how to help people with these challenges. At the time I was not trained to support someone who was negatively impacted by their past. I began to see the limits of coaching. I did not know how to speak to my clients or their managers (those hiring me for the leadership coaching) about mental health issues – nor did I know how to interpret the behaviors/patterns I was noticing.

My path was leading towards a career in mental health.

During a conversation with a friend, I learned about the Spiritual Care and Psychotherapy program. I looked into it and loved it, and went back to university in my fifties! Wow – what a change..but a welcome one! With my children and late husband being supportive, and me thriving on learning new things, I proudly graduated with my younger peers.

In my role as a counsellor I am curious, compassionate, and client focused

My approach is one of holistic healing, by developing a healthy lifestyle and taking a forward looking focus. I believe that you are the one who knows yourself best. I am here to help you heal from old trauma and to explore/discover what excites you and supports the next steps you’d like to take as you design the next phase of your life.