Newland Art Therapy is owned and operated by me, Sarah Newland.

I attained a Graduate Degree in Art Therapy from the Vancouver Art Therapy Institute in 2013, and I am a Registered Canadian Art Therapist (R-CAT). With over a decade working in the field of mental health I have had the pleasure of working in a variety of areas, ranging from substance misuse, end of life care, and domestic violence and abuse. I currently split my time between this practice and working at a non-profit organization where I support parents, children, and families through trauma therapy, art therapy, psychoeducation, and advocacy.

Art has been a part of my life since childhood, and I truly believe in the restorative and enriching power of art as a tool in therapy. I came to this work because of my own experience with pain; I don’t think I know how to heal people, but I do know what it is like to hurt, and that knowing of the wound is what makes it possible to do this work.

Art therapy is for anyone at every stage of life, and its versatility is something that continues to inspire and motivate me to bring it into new environments with new people. I try meld my training as an art therapist with my knowledge as a trauma counsellor. I love brains, and you’ll hear me talk about the nervous system a lot. Neuroscience and trauma theory aren’t just things I get to know - you get to know about them too! I think when we understand what’s happening beneath the surface, we feel empowered to make more space for ourselves and our feelings.

I try to approach this work as my whole self, which means I show up genuinely, authentically, and whole-heartedly. I love storytelling, meaning making, creative expression, and have been known to invite humour into the therapy room every now and then. If you’re looking for someone who will be an always-composed, staunchly clinical counsellor, I might not be your best fit. I believe the best work is done when both the client and therapist can show up as themselves, which makes room for the therapeutic relationship to become a solid foundation for safety. I want you to be comfortable sitting across from me, so I try to show up in the therapy room as comfortable as I can be.

Outside of work, I spend my time in the woods and garden (I am a certified dirt girl), wrangling my child, talking to crows, making art (usually via creative journaling), making a mess in the kitchen, shoving my nose in a book, and laughing with those close to me.