Sasha Pivarnyik
(she/her)
Registered Social Worker/ Psychotherapist
Sasha came to us in January 2022. At CCP we see many individuals who experience trauma and are looking for an experienced and safe therapist to help them navigate the impact of trauma in their lives. Sasha came to us just at the right time and we are so grateful.
Sasha brings warmth and skill to her work and enjoys the team atmosphere here at CCP. Sasha has made an incredible impact on our clients and team already and we are grateful to have her as part of our team.
Sasha is with us in-person on Mondays and Thursdays and works virtually the rest of the week. Sasha currently is accepting clients for her wait list.
About Sasha
I offer counselling to those dealing with anxiety, depression, past trauma, relationship difficulties, and grief. Using therapeutic interventions, I support clients so that they can understand their thoughts and feelings in new and more helpful ways, a process that can help lead to healing. At times therapy can be tense and anxiety-provoking; to mitigate this, I strive to create a safe and comfortable environment for reflection and productive interaction during both in-person and online sessions.
Though I primarily work from a cognitive stance, I also incorporate elements of narrative and acceptance therapy as therapeutic frameworks. Valuing the knowledge and insights of people experiencing trauma, I approach all clients from a strength-based point of view and strive to function as a collaborator and facilitator that works closely with clients to identify their strengths and achieve positive outcomes.
I have a master’s degree in social work with over 15 years of experience providing counselling and relative services across a variety of settings. I have specialized experience working with people who have suffered childhood abuse and neglect, sexual abuse and domestic violence. I engage in professional development and am interested in the most recent and relevant research in the field.
What Made you want to work with CCP?
After almost two years of working in relative isolation throughout the pandemic, I was longing to connect with other therapists and work within a team environment, which I was lucky enough to find at CCP. After meeting with Carly, and then her team, I felt strongly that I wanted to be a part of this dynamic and passionate group.
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
I find that people are so hard on themselves, and often have very negative thoughts about themselves and their behaviours. I really encourage clients to challenge those negative thoughts and to try and be more forgiving toward themselves and the decisions they have made. I find it so rewarding when a client is able to ‘go easy’ on themselves, often for the first time in their life.
What is the most surprising thing about you?
Sometimes I find self-care to be really challenging, and it is something I must work on each day. I really encourage clients to engage in self-care, which can mean so many different things. I like to think of both ‘big’ and ‘small’ self-care. For example, there is a difference between going on a hike (big) and drinking your favourite coffee (small). But, if it makes you feel even 1% better, then it is worth doing! This is something that I think is so important, however I found myself neglecting. Now I try and make a concerted effort each day to engage in something that is good for me, whether that’s reading a book for 15 minutes, getting a coffee, or doing some embroidery.
