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Sarah Topham is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (#1546).
- My Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology
is from the Adler School of Professional Psychology, Chicago
and Vancouver, BC.
- I have completed a program in Substance Abuse through
Vancouver Community College.
- I am certified in Critical Incident Stress Debriefing
through the Justice Institute.
- I am trained in Traumatic Incident Reduction (TIR),
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), and
in Hypnosis.
- I have taken extensive training in trauma, often called
post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Work experience includes a detox facility, a community
agency, a men’s residential addictions treatment
program (a rehab), the Drug Treatment Court of Vancouver (a legally mandated
day program for offenders charged with drug offences), and Burnaby Mental Health and Addictions (a residential program for clients with both mental disorders and addictions).
As a private practice therapist, I have worked with clients
dealing with many issues, but realized that my expertise
and main focus of interest lay in the field of addictions
counseling, so I decided to specialise.
I have a strong background in Adlerian Psychology, and
Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and training in Brief Solution
Focussed Therapy, Family Systems Theory, and in a Narrative
approach. I believe that addiction therapy must be
tailored to the strengths of the client. Usually, clients
are clear that they have a problem, but underestimate their
knowledge and ability. One of the problems with addictions
is that they destroy self-esteem.
Twelve-step programs such as AA, NA, CA, OA, and GA work well
for some people. I know the programs
and am very willing to work with clients who wish to use both twelve step and private therapy. There are so many meetings
available that it is a great resource.
"Sarah made it so comfortable for me seeing her as well as attending my twelve-step meetings. I have had other therapists who just didn't seem able to handle my wanting to continue with my meetings."
My sixteen years plus of addiction counselling came
after a fifteen year career as a geologist. My bachelor’s
degree in geology was from the University of British Columbia.
I have always had a strong interest in psychology: why do we make
the decisions we do?
Phone 604.836.6840 or e-mail me
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