Sarah Chouffot, RSSW
BSW Student

I understand how it feels to battle anxiety, stress, depression, trauma, and loneliness. Life often throws curveballs that leave us feeling less than great about ourselves. But remember, YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

 

When you work alongside me, I’ll guide you in learning about yourself, uncovering valuable mental health insights, and taking steps to feel better.

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Everything I share and suggest comes from personal experience—methods I’ve learned, practiced, and can confidently say have made a significant impact on my life.

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My story:
I grew up as a highly anxious and sensitive child. Unfortunately, no one around me truly understood what children like me needed to overcome the debilitating symptoms of anxiety. My constant worry drove my parents crazy, and I was often told to "suck it up." As I got older, I learned to suppressed my emotions and took pride in hardly ever crying.

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Life became even harder at the age of 14. I had a wonderful boyfriend, but a few days after a fight where I said very hateful things, he tragically drowned during a camping trip. He was missing for a week before being found by a fisherman. As you can imagine, the guilt, shame, debilitating grief, and anger were overwhelming, especially for someone already struggling with anxiety.

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At 17, I was kicked out of my family home for being "difficult." This was another blow to an anxious, grieving, and traumatized teenager. The following two decades were a fight for survival through more relational traumas, worsening anxiety, panic attacks, and a lot of unexplained physical pain and symptoms. 

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7 yeas ago, I finally decided enough was enough and began advocating for myself. I devoured hundreds of self-help books, obtained my Social Service Worker diploma, and completed numerous certifications and webinars. Through this process, I discovered the underlying causes of my struggles—Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, a condition that was overlooked for most of my life. One doctor had even told me to “just exercise more", despite the fact that I was forever moving and working a very physically demanding job. It turns out that what I truly needed was to learn how to soothe my nervous system and nurture my self-compassion.

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Through relentless self-work, I gained profound insights into the major effects that nervous system dysregulation causes and how to listen to my body and slow down. 

 

What I believe:
There’s vital mental health knowledge we often miss while growing up. I believe that if kids and teens understood the biology of mental health, they’d be better equipped to handle life’s challenges as adults. Thankfully, it’s never too late to learn.

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If you’ve been struggling—even just a little—and are wondering what to do, please reach out. Together, we’ll uncover the roots of your mental health challenges and address any unexplained physical symptoms you’ve been facing. Change and better health are possible.

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My commitment to you:
I am dedicated to continuously expanding my knowledge and skills to provide effective mental health support tailored to your unique needs. I am currently upgrading my licensing designation by obtaining a Degree in Indigenous Social Work, with a minor in Psychology. As a non-Indigenous person, this training has deepened my appreciation for holistic healing and the balance between Physical, Mental, Emotional and Spiritual health. Mental health care isn’t “one size fits all”​, so I use an eclectic approach to Counselling and Psychotherapy. 

 

I offer a warm and direct approach filled with humor and compassion!

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Member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers - RSSW - License # 837797

(RSW License in the works!)

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- Social Service Worker Diploma - Durham College

- Bachelor of Indigenous Social Work Laurentian University (In progress)

- Play Therapy - Canadian Association of Play Therapy (In Progress)

- Somatic Stress Response Practitioner - The Embody Lab (In Progress) 

- SMART (Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation Treatment) Foundations - SMART Moves (In Progress)

- Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy - DDP Network - Level 1 (Coming soon)

- Certified Clinical Trauma Professional - PESI

- Anxiety Certification - PESI

- Children's Mental Health Certification - PESI

- Integrative Mental Health - PESI

- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - Wilfrid Laurier University

- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy - The Association for Psychological Therapies

- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - The Association for Psychological Therapies

- Internal Family Systems Therapy Immersion - PESI

- Neuro-Based Self Regulation Toolbox for Children and Adolescents - PESI

- ASSYST Training - Rapid Response Trauma Treatment 

- Somatic Psychotherapy - PESI

- How to Work with Shame - NICABM

- Practical Strategies for Working with Deep-Seated Resentment - NICABM

- Advanced Master Program for the Treatment of Trauma - NICABM

- Felt Sense Polyvagal Model - Certificate for Treating Trauma and Addiction

- Wisdom of Trauma - All Access Pass

- Rewire Therapy Institute

- Trauma Super Conference

- End of Life Doula - Douglas College

- Thanatology - Durham College

- Palliative Care - Durham College (Pending completion of field placement)

- Fundamentals of Palliative Care Training

- Hospice Palliative Care Ontario Training

- Palliative Care: In the Know

- Pallium Canada

- Grief Literacy Series

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+ roughly 300 psychology books read!