Our approach

At Sara Lamb & Associates, our practice of therapy is founded in the belief that each couple/family/individual can find their way to emotional well-being and happier relationships. As therapists, we find it a pleasure and a privilege to accompany you on that path.

People come to see us for all sorts of reasons, and each person and relationship is unique. Our job is to understand the problem as you see it, help you access the tools you need, find your innate resources, and develop an approach that supports you to make the changes you need. In therapy we will work together in a spirit of collaboration and curiosity.

We offer couple and family therapy, as well individual and gender counselling with adults, teens and children. Our practice is LGBTQ+ friendly, and sessions can be held in English or French (with Sara).

Couples
Most relationships go through rough patches. But over time, if partners get caught in negative patterns of conflict and distance, they begin to blame themselves, or each other. They lose faith or hope in the relationship. People wind up feeling disconnected, lonely, and desperate – unsure how to get back the love they once had. Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFCT) is a well-researched form of therapy that can help you feel safer to communicate your true emotions and needs, so that you can get close again. Through EFT, we practice bonding conversations, reworking patterns of communication that keep you apart. Let us help you connect again – and build a stronger, more loving relationship!

EFT is suited to poly and non-monogamous relationships, and we welcome diverse relationship configurations.

You can learn more about Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy in this talk by Sue Johnson, who developed EFT.

Families
Families are complex webs of relationship, with their own history, roles and rules. The bonds of attachment that hold us together can be painful when we feel emotionally disconnected from our loved ones. Anyone can get stuck in patterns of conflict, silence, hurt and confusion. Maybe you've felt that pain when your teens won't talk to you, or your new partner doesn't seem to relate to your kids. Maybe you find yourselves yelling more than you think is normal, or haven't spoken to family members in years.

Because of my love and deep respect for family relationships, I have trained in Emotionally Focused Family Therapy and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy to help you (and your parents, kids, siblings, step- or chosen family) work through the inevitable challenges that come as we live and grow together.

Adoption
Adopting or fostering a child who has been hurt is a loving, courageous and life-changing decision. Children who are adopted or in care may behave in ways that are puzzling for their family due to their history of loss, trauma, neglect...or all three. Parents may wonder what they're doing wrong and why all the books and advice of well-meaning friends and family don't seem to apply to their child. With specialized training and more than 15 years' experience in the treatment of trauma and attachment issues in children, I offer parenting support, family therapy, and skills and strategies to help you - and your child - on the path to healing and building a strong, resilient family. I also work with foster parents and children in care, and meet with families for pre-adoption preparation. I have completed Level 1 and Level 2 training in Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, as well as Theraplay supervision and other professional training on treating trauma and attachment problems in children.

Individuals
Sometimes your partner refuses to come for couples counselling, or you have a big life transition of your own to navigate. Maybe you have trouble setting clear boundaries with people, or you're working through old trauma and painful patterns like troubled eating, anger or self-criticism. Although I focus on couple and family work, I see some individuals as well. Working with an integrative approach that incorporates IFS (Internal Family Systems), attachment theory, and emotionally-focused, mindfulness and narrative models, I can help you find your own way toward greater happiness and freedom.

You can learn more about IFS in this short video by Dr. Richard Schwartz, and you can explore a bit further here (pdf).

Gender
We are trained to provide assessments for hormones and surgeries, in accordance with the WPATH Standards of Care, and Sara is a member of the Pride Health Trans Clinical Supervisory Group. We offer a safe, supportive and non-judgmental space to explore your questions about your gender identity, gender expression and desired steps (whether hormones, gender-affirming surgeries, or all or none of these). A model of informed consent guides us, based on the principle that you are the ultimate expert on your gender identity. Our role is to help you navigate your exploration of gender identity with as much information, self-awareness and support as possible.

Here are a few helpful gender-related resources:
Pride Health
Halifax Sexual Health Centre
Youth Project
Trans Family Nova Scotia Facebook Page
WPATH Standards of Care
NS Gender Affirming Surgery Guidelines

EFT Supervision

As a Certified EFT Supervisor, I offer individual and small-group supervision in both EFT couple (EFCT) and family (EFFT) therapy.

Come prepared to:

  • Share your videos, your complex cases, your breakthroughs, your questions, your supportive feedback and your curiosity.

  • Open-heartedly explore themes of diversity (such as gender, class, race, sexuality and/or relationship configurations) as it impacts EFT therapy with partners.

  • Grow in your understanding of the EFT steps and stages, the TANGO, the micro skills that make EFT so amazing.

  • Practice and learn in a safe, supportive environment, based on ARE principles - being accessible, responsive and engaged with each other to help expand your EFT skills.

  • Meet supervision requirements toward EFT certification (if that is your goal)

Group: 2nd Tuesday monthly 5:30-7:30 pm ET - $240/6 consecutive sessions

Individual: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or by arrangement - $140/hr