Sasha Pivarnyik (she/her)
Social Worker, Psychotherapist
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.
"One thing I hear over and over from clients, if that they felt their problem wasn't 'big enough' for therapy, and therefore they put it off. My answer to this is that if anyone is experiencing an issue that is affecting their life in a negative way, big or small, then therapy could quite possibly help them! "
Sasha started with us in January 2022. At CCP we see many individuals who experience trauma and were looking for an experienced and safe therapist to help us fill this need in our comnunity here. Sasha came to us at just the right time and we are so grateful. For the last two years, Sasha has been able to help over one hundred clients from various backgrounds, and has made an incredible impact on their lives.
Sasha brings warmth and skill to her work and enjoys the team atmosphere here at CCP. She works hard to accomodate hours for clients on Thursday evenings and keeps us company in-person on Mondays during the day. Sasha works with us online when she's not here in person.
Sasha is a huge supporter of our vision and we look forward to you meeting her.
What areas of practice and populations do you enjoy working with?
I feel like I'm best suited to help those suffering from depression, trauma, and relationship difficulties. More recently, working with women experiencing perinatal and postpartum mood disorders has become a larger part of my practice.
What prevents people from coming in and doing this work?
One thing I hear over and over from clients, if that they felt their problem wasn't 'big enough' for therapy, and therefore they put it off. My answer to this is that if anyone is experiencing an issue that is affecting their life in a negative way, big or small, then therapy could quite possibly help them!
What modalities do you use? How would you describe your approach/style to this work?
Although I use a variety of modalities when working with clients, I feel like it is always important to use a 'two-pronged approach' as the base with any client. What this means is that I think both past and present circumstances are important to understand if we want to move forward. The past tells us why we may be thinking/behaving the way we are, and the present is the space where we can practice making changes.
How do you know you're the right fit for a client?
The therapuetic relationship is so important - if you don't have that, than any work will be really challenging. For me there is a fit when we can comfortably speak together, and often there is some laughter as well.
"As a clincian I am absolutely dedicated to the ethics of this work. This includes seeing each client as an individual who is worthy and deserving of the best life possible. "
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.
What phrases or sayings have people used to describe their work with you?
People have told me they can tell I'm a pretty fervent feminist, and I would definitely agree! I think that is just such a big part of my life and it comes out in therapy sessions. Clients have also told me that at first they didn't have faith in the power of small changes, but I was able to convince them!
Why are you in this field of work?
So many reasons! I love hearing people's unique stories, I want people to understand they have some control over their lives, that negative experiences don't mean we have to have negative lives, and because it is so important to have skilled and ethical therapists for those who are asking for help.
How do you help people who are not sure what to talk about in therapy?
I often ask clients to tell me what exactly made them reach out for a first session - they have likely thought about it for a long time, but why now exactly? I also ask clients to keep small notes throughout the week, whenever they think of something they want to bring up in therapy.
