Sandra Chapman

Registered Clinical Counsellor

 

Sandra Chapman

Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), Certified in Grief Support, Master of Psychotherapy & Spirituality LL.B., B.A. (Psych)

Sandra Chapman is a registered clinical counsellor known for her integrative, compassionate, and results-oriented approach to healing. Drawing on her extensive life experiences, including her work as a family law lawyer and mediator, clinical psychotherapy training, and creative therapeutic tools, Sandra helps adults move through life’s most challenging experiences with clarity, strength, and renewed purpose.

 

With a background as a lawyer and mediator, Sandra brings an uncommon level of insight into the emotional complexity of high-stress life events. Her legal career sharpened her ability to guide people through uncertainty, while her advanced clinical training allows her to support lasting personal transformation—emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually.

Sandra offers traditional talk therapy, art therapy, and accelerated resolution therapy (ART) creating a supportive space where clients can explore grief, trauma, anxiety, and emotional pain at their own pace. Her practice is rooted in the belief that true healing happens when we turn inward, listen deeply, and begin to create a life that is uniquely meaningful to us.

Sandra is deeply attuned to the silent burdens people carry: the grief we’re told to move on from, the trauma we struggle to name, the exhaustion of constantly feeling “not enough.” Her therapeutic work invites clients to lay those burdens down—and begin to live in alignment with their values, truth, and wholeness.

Sandra’s Philosophy

Sandra believes that every person holds the innate capacity to heal, grow, and live a deeply fulfilling life. Her role is to walk beside her clients—with empathy, clarity, and unwavering respect—as they reconnect with their strength, discover new perspectives, and move toward a life of their own conscious design.

Whether through words, creative arts practices, or accelerated resolution therapy, Sandra offers a path forward—one that honors where you’ve been and helps illuminate where you’re going.

Core Areas & Specialties (Adults)

  • Major Life Transitions:
    • Health Challenges
    • Career Change
    • Retirement
    • Aging
    • Children Leaving the Home
    • Separation and Divorce
    • Relocation
  • Grief and Loss
    • Loss of a Loved One
    • Loss of a Pet
    • Loss of a Friendship or Important Relationship
    • Estrangement and Ambiguous Loss
  • Trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTS/PTSD)
    • Processing can occur using Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
    • Processing can occur using art therapy and creative practices
  • Gaining self-knowledge and hearing one’s inner voice
  • Depression and Anxiety
  • Burnout and Fatigue
  • Core Self-Worth Challenges
    • Unworthiness/Not being enough
    • Feeling Invisible
  • Low Self-esteem, Stress & Difficulty Coping
  • Difficulty with Emotional Regulation, Tolerating Distress or Discomfort
  • Communication skills
  • Boundaries and Conflict Resolution
  • Identity Development and Values Alignment
  • Professional and Personal Development
  • Identifying and Attaining Goals
  • Couples Therapy

Therapeutic Methods

Sandra’s work is grounded in leading-edge, evidence-based modalities including:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Internal Family Systems (IFS)
  • Narrative Therapy
  • Person-Centered and Existential Therapy
  • Gottman Method Couples Therapy
  • Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
  • Art Therapy for trauma, grief, and self-expression

Art Therapy

In art therapy, the therapist assists the client to engage in a range of creative practices and psychotherapy to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and approaches for addressing their problems. It is not necessary to have any art skills or knowledge about art making as Sandra will introduce you to the process and the materials and work along-side of you every step of the way. Before beginning any work with art materials, Sandra will begin the therapy process by getting to know you and gaining an understanding of your situation, and then discussing options for moving forward with either talk therapy, art therapy, or a combination of these approaches.

Education / Certifications / Training

  • Master of Psychotherapy & Spirituality (Art Therapy Specialization) – St. Stephen’s College
  • Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) – Osgoode Hall Law School
  • Bachelor of Arts in Psychology – University of Manitoba
  • Registered Clinical Counsellor – British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors
  • Grief Support Certification – Taking Flight International
  • Narrative Therapy Foundations – Vancouver School for Narrative Therapy
  • Gottman Method Couples’ Training Level 1
  • Accelerated Resolution Therapy Training

With deep compassion and respect, Sandra will assist you to navigate the challenging transitions that you are experiencing. Both talk therapy and art therapy provide a wide range of possibilities for dealing with the uncertainty and wide range of emotions that can surface during significant transitions. Sandra will begin the therapy process by getting to know you and gaining an understanding of your situation, and then discussing options for moving forward with either talk therapy, art therapy, or a combination of these approaches.