Shayna Sander, RCC, PMH-C
Registered Clinical Counsellor
Perinatal Mental Health Professional
​
I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC). I completed my Master of Counselling Psychology at Adler University in Vancouver. I engage in ongoing training and education to support my clinical practice. More information about my credentials and training can be found at the bottom of the Clinical Counselling page.
​
I love what I do. I am a deep thinker and sensitive person. I believe that my lived experiences and my own healing work lay a very strong foundation for my professional role as a therapist. I also like to think I'm funny, assertive when I need to be, and I show up as my real, authentic self for my clients.
​
​
As the eldest child in a large family, I grew up surrounded by various ages and stages of development and became naturally curious about attachment and child development. In other words, I grew up in a chaotic environment and was a deeply feeling kid with a lot of responsibility and a need to figure everything out. In my undergraduate degree I focused my studies on developmental psychology. As I pursued my education, I worked as a running coach and yoga teacher. I spent time training in India, exploring the yogic ways of life, learning about holistic and meditative practices. The beginnings of my therapeutic approach were cultivated here by my fascination with how our minds and bodies interact and are inseparable.
​
During my graduate training, I spent time in a facilitator role with parents and babies/toddlers, supporting family dynamics at the Bowen Island Family Place, and a mental health counsellor with students at Quest University. For a time, I worked as a mental health and addictions counsellor for Squamish Nation. I have experience working with children, youth, parents and families, as a program facilitator, youth worker, and clinical counsellor.
In 2019 I began my private practice, seeing youth, young adults, and couples. I later went on to specialize in perinatal mental health and parenting support for parents and their babies and toddlers.
​
I live in Squamish with my husband and two sons who are 7 and 3. Like many of us in the Sea to Sky area, I spend my spare time out in nature, trail running, biking, and exploring our beautiful environment with my family (and also trying to escape them from time to time!).
