After obtaining a Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto, double majoring in Neuroscience and Psychology, Sara served in the Information Operations division of the Canadian Armed Forces where she saw firsthand the devastating effects war and trauma can have on the human body. Beyond suffering physical trauma, soldiers would often return from combat bitter and angry, detached from society, unable to merge back into normal civilian life.

 

After leaving the military, Sara completed her Masters in Neuroscience and Rehabilitation Science. Her studies revealed how the sympathetic nervous system – the part of our physiology that enables the fight or flight response – reacts to stress and trauma. Under sustained stress, the body becomes chemically unbalanced, leading to a host of physical ailments such as ulcers, insomnia, and muscular-skeletal complaints, as well as psychological disturbances including depression, paranoia, and manic-depressive episodes.

 

Sara has made a lifetime committment to use her training and experience to help others. Sara notes, “Many people who experience extreme trauma or long-term stress often ‘check out,’ disassociating themselves from normal interpersonal relationships and their work environment. I try to help these individuals discover tools of resilience that allow them to give themselves permission to ‘check back in,’ reestablishing healthy relationships, and returning to productive work.”