Sarah McKay
REGISTERED CLINICAL COUNSELLOR | DCAP | RCC
Your emotions aren't making you weak. They're telling you something important that deserves to be heard.
I'm Sarah McKay, a therapist in Abbotsford who works with high-achieving professionals, first responders, and leaders who feel the pressure to hold it all together. Maybe you're lying awake at 3 AM replaying every decision, wondering if you're doing enough. Maybe you work in a medical profession, are a first responder, or leader who's been told to "just push through" one too many times, and beneath your composed exterior, you're running on empty. Maybe you're navigating a major life transition; a career change, relationship shift, or identity evolution; and you're realizing that the person you've always been doesn't quite fit anymore.
My Approach?
You're not falling. You're navigating new challenges.
Here's what I know: your feelings are valid, even when they're messy. Healing doesn't mean returning to who you were before. It means building a life that feels whole and meaningful within your current reality. You don't have to carry the weight of it all alone and acknowledging what you're going through doesn't make you less capable - it makes you human.
$170.00
INDIVIDUAL
RCC
#17925
21+
AGES
$190.00
FAMILY/COUPLES
WHO I WORK WITH
High-Achieving Professionals
I work with adults ages 21 and up who are high-achieving professionals experiencing burnout, disconnection, & the pressure to maintain competence while carrying too much.
You're excelling on paper: hitting deadlines, meeting goals, getting promotions, but inside, you're exhausted. You feel the constant pressure to perform, the fear of letting people down, and the nagging question: "Is this all there is?" You're dealing with burnout that looks like commitment, disconnection from yourself, and the belief that slowing down means failing.
First Responders & High-Touch Career Professionals
I work with first responders, healthcare workers, and high-touch career professionals who are dealing with compassion fatigue, unprocessed trauma, and the isolation of caring for others in crisis.
You're a medical professional, paramedic, firefighter, social worker, or educator who's been trained to be competent and composed. You show up for others in their worst moments, but beneath the surface, you're carrying unprocessed trauma, compassion fatigue, & the weight of witnessing tough stuff, over & over again. You've learned to compartmentalize, but the compartments are starting to overflow.
Families and Couples Stuck in Painful Patterns
I work with leaders, entrepreneurs, and individuals in supervisory roles who are navigating the complexity of responsibility, decision-making, & the loneliness that often accompanies leadership positions.
You're in a leadership role, running your own business, or navigating a significant life transition. You're managing complex systems, making decisions that affect others, and questioning if you're getting it right. You might be dealing with imposter syndrome, relationship challenges in professional settings, or the isolation that comes with being responsible for so much while having few people to lean on yourself.
MAYBE YOU'RE HERE BECAUSE...
1
You're a High-Achieving Professional And the Success Isn't Bringing the Fulfillment You Expected
You might be experiencing:
• Burnout that you've been pushing through for months or years, telling yourself "just a little longer"
• Anxiety that shows up as perfectionism, overthinking, or fear of letting people down
• A disconnect between who you are at work and who you are at home.
• Relationship challenges because you give so much at work that there's little left for personal connections
• Imposter syndrome
• Physical symptoms like tension, headaches, or exhaustion that won't go away
• A sense that you're living someone else's version of success rather than your own
Your Personal Connection:
As a former professional athlete and someone who has navigated high-pressure environments throughout my education and career, I intimately understand the culture of "pushing through," the fear of showing weakness, and the isolation of high performance. I've experienced the pressure of expectations, the weight of representing something larger than yourself, and the challenge of processing emotions while maintaining competence. My background in sports psychology, combined with my work in trauma-informed leadership, gives me a unique lens on what it means to perform at a high level while staying connected to yourself.
2
You're a First Responder or Healthcare Worker, And You're Carrying More Than Your Training Prepared You For
You might be experiencing:
• Compassion fatigue
• Unprocessed trauma from witnessing suffering, death, or violence
• Difficulty sleeping, intrusive thoughts, or hypervigilance even when you are off duty
• Strained relationships because you can't turn off "work mode" or you've become emotionally disconnected
• Guilt when you do prioritize yourself, like you're being selfish
• Increased irritability, cynicism, or emotional numbness
• Substance use or other coping mechanisms to manage stress
• A sense that nobody who hasn't done your job could possibly understand
Your Personal Connection:
I have a deep respect for the complexity of high-touch, high-stakes careers. My trauma-informed training and my work with professionals in demanding fields has shown me the unique toll of caring for others in crisis. I understand that your competence doesn't protect you from impact, and that the systems you work within often don't make space for your humanity. I won't minimize what you're carrying or suggest surface-level solutions. Instead, I'll help you process what you've witnessed, reconnect with the parts of yourself you've had to set aside, and find ways to stay in this work without losing yourself.
3
You're a Leader, Entrepreneur, or in Supervision, And the Weight of Responsibility Is Isolating
You might be experiencing:
• The isolation of leadership
• Decision fatigue and the weight of knowing your choices affect others
• Imposter syndrome or the fear that you're not equipped for the role you're in
• Relationship challenges in professional settings, managing difficult personalities, setting boundaries, or navigating power dynamics
• Work-life balance struggles, especially if you're building something from the ground up
• Guilt about prioritizing your business or career over personal relationships
• Burnout from giving so much while receiving little support yourself
• Questioning your values and whether your work aligns with who you want to be
Your Personal Connection:
My work in trauma-informed leadership, combined with my clinical supervision experience and my understanding of systems and power dynamics, gives me insight into the unique challenges of leadership. I understand what it's like to be responsible for others while managing your own struggles, to make decisions without perfect information, and to navigate the gap between your ideals and reality. I won't judge you for the complexity of your position or suggest simplistic solutions. Instead, we'll explore how to lead authentically, set boundaries that protect your wellbeing, and find support for the weight you're carrying.
MY THERAPUTIC STANCE
What makes my therapeutic stance unique is my ability to hold space for complexity without needing to simplify or fix it. I understand systems, power dynamics, and context, the environments you work in, the expectations placed on you, and the cultural narratives you've internalized all contribute to what you're experiencing. I won't just focus on your symptoms; I'll help you understand what's contributing to them.
I bring a calm, steady presence to even the most difficult conversations. I'm not easily shocked, and I won't make you feel like your struggles are too much or too complicated. My background as a professional athlete taught me about pressure, performance, and the gap between external success and internal experience. My training in trauma-informed leadership helps me understand the unique challenges of caring for others while managing your own wellbeing. And my lived experience navigating high-pressure environments gives me genuine empathy for what you're facing.
You'll find me compassionate but direct. I'll validate your experience as well as gently challenge you when needed. I'll help you build insight into patterns while also giving you practical tools. And I'll believe in your capacity to heal, even when you don't believe in it yourself.
THINGS I WON'T DO WHEN YOU WORK WITH ME:
I won't judge you for struggling, even if your life looks successful from the outside.
I won't use therapy-speak or jargon that makes you feel talked down to or confused.
I won't rush you through your process or push you before you're ready.
I won't pathologize your competence or treat your emotions as a sign of weakness.
I won't pretend to have all the answers—therapy is a collaboration, not a one-way prescription.
My Approach?
MY APPROACH? REAL UNDERSTANDING, REAL PERMISSION TO FEEL
I work from a humanistic, person-centered approach, which means I see you as an expert in your own life. Think of it like this: you already have the wisdom inside you, but sometimes it's just buried under stress, expectations, and the stories you've been told about who you should be. My job isn't to fix you (because you're not broken) but to help you reconnect with yourself, process what you're carrying, and give you permission to feel what you're feeling without shame.
I use a trauma-informed lens, which means I understand that your reactions and patterns make complete sense given what you've experienced. We'll work together to identify the stressors, systems, contexts, and beliefs that contribute to how you're feeling.
I bring a calm, unflappable presence to complex situations. I'm not shocked by what you're going through, and I won't pathologize your competence or treat your emotions as weakness. My lived experience, including my background as a professional athlete, my education, and my own journey through high-pressure environments, allows me to understand the unique challenges of high-performance people. You'll find me safe but not soft, compassionate but direct, and ready to address hard truths without judgment. how you're feeling.
I DRAW FROM SEVERAL APPROACHES
Humanistic Person-Centered Therapy
You're the expert on your own life. I create a safe space where you can explore your experiences without judgment, trusting that you have the wisdom within you to find your way forward.
Trauma-Informed Practice
Understanding that your reactions & coping mechanisms make complete sense given what you've experienced. We work at your pace, prioritizing safety & empowerment
Solution-Focused Therapy
Identifying what's already working in your life and building on your existing strengths, rather than only focusing on problems.
Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)
Helping you understand, process, and regulate your emotions in healthy ways, rather than suppressing or being overwhelmed by them.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Examining the connections between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and learning practical strategies to shift patterns that aren't serving you.
Person-Centred Therapy
Exploring the stories you tell yourself about who you are & what you're capable of and rewriting the ones that no longer serve you.
Strength-Based Therapy
Recognizing and amplifying your inherent capabilities and resources, even when they feel hidden or inaccessible.
Sports Psychology Principles
Drawing on performance psychology concepts to help you manage pressure,
maintain focus, and find balance between achievement and wellbeing.
WHO I AM—BACKGROUND
DEGREES & EDUCATION
Doctor of Counselling and Psychotherapy
Yorkville University (2025)
Master of Counselling Psychology
City University
PROFFESIONAL REGISTRATIONS
BC Association of Clinical Counsellors
#17925
Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC)
# 24786
BA- Sports Marketing & Management
Indiana University
SPECIALIZED TRAININGS
Trauma-Informed Practice & Leadership
Sports Psychology
Clinical Supervision
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Narrative Therapy Level 1
Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)
Why I became a Therapist
I became a therapist because I witnessed a gap between how people appear on the surface and what they're actually carrying beneath it. Throughout my life, I've been surrounded by high-performers, leaders, and people who were trained to be competent and composed. I saw how the pressure to maintain that exterior often meant silencing the internal struggle. I watched people excel professionally while falling apart privately, and I realized that our mental health systems weren't designed for people who couldn't afford to appear weak.
I strive to create a space where competence and vulnerability could coexist. Where someone could be excellent at their job and still struggling. Where asking for help wasn't seen as a failure, but as an act of strength and self-awareness.
SARAH MCKAY
When you work with me, you'll find someone who gets it. Someone who understands the pressure of performance, the weight of responsibility, and the isolation of feeling like you have to hold it all together. You'll find a space where you don't have to perform competence, where your emotions are welcome, and where struggling doesn't make you weak, it makes you human.
I won't rush you, judge you, or minimize what you're going through. I'll meet you where you are, believe in your capacity to heal, and walk alongside you as you reconnect with yourself, process what you're carrying, and build a life that feels sustainable and whole.
You don't have to do this alone. And you don't have to have it all figured out before you start. You just have to be willing to show up, and I'll be here to meet you.