Sanderson Therapy & Wellness
Sanderson Therapy & Wellness is an online private practice which supports the mental health and holistic wellness of Canadians, specializing in the province of Nova Scotia. This digital platform is a consciously-created healing space focused on nurturing the mind, body, and spirit.
Through counselling therapy and other offerings, Sanderson Therapy & Wellness supports people on their life journey with an empowering, non-judgemental, and respectful approach.
Meet the Owner
Hello, my name is Josiane.
I have centered my practice around holistic wellness, an approach to healing which emphasizes the whole person – the mind, body, and spirit. Holistic wellness branches outside the individual, encompassing other elements such as social relationships, cultural context, and societal factors.
Wellness looks different to every individual, so I approach therapy with a flexible, attentive, and adaptive mindset in order to honour your personal life journey.
My therapeutic work draws elements from many areas, such as person-centered therapy, mindfulness-based modalities, existential therapy, trauma-informed practices, and feminist therapy.
Prior to becoming a therapist, I spent a decade training and working as a neuroscientist and medical researcher. This experience informs my practice through a deep understanding of the brain, nervous system, and their interactions with the mind & body.
I am also a certified yoga teacher and a professional musician, which means that movement, meditation, breathwork, and creative expression are also major parts of my practice.
I am a Registered Counselling Therapist (Candidate) with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists and a Canadian Certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. I hold a PhD in Physiology (Neuroscience Specialization) and a MEd in Counselling from Acadia University. I am grateful to practice under the support and guidance of Nathan Torti, MA, RCT.
I help support the mental health and holistic wellness of people across Canada. I believe that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities, and I practice with a culturally responsive, non-judgemental perspective.
Thank you for being here.
Specializations
There are many reasons why people seek therapy, such as depression, anxiety, relationships, neurodiversity, spirituality, sexual wellness, illness, stress, self-harm, ADHD, personal growth, life transitions, polyamory, gender identity & sexual orientation, and grief & loss. I can join you on your journey navigating these elements of life, among many others.
Though I am in no way restricted to these, my personal journey has led me to specialize in several areas.
I am a queer identifying woman (pronouns she/her/hers), and I am committed to providing inclusive, compassionate care to my community. Growing up queer in Nova Scotia was difficult and there were few mental health resources available. My experiences have inspired me to become a therapist who could provide high quality, informed support to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. I have training in gender-affirming care, and support many transgender and gender-diverse clients. I am also a poly affirming therapist.
You may be looking to explore gender identity or sexual identity. You may be struggling with how your family interacts with your identity. Or you may just feel more comfortable working with a queer therapist.
Wherever you may find yourself in this journey, I will create a safe, non-judgemental space where you are accepted and honoured. I will support you in navigating life’s intricacies with awareness, presence, openness, and transparency.
—–
As a way to give back to my community, I have limited sliding scale spots reserved exclusively for 2SLGBTQIA+ children, youth & young adults (ages up to 22). Please feel to contact me to inquire.
Children and youth are our future. Prioritizing their mental health encourages healthy development and creates a foundation for their lifelong wellness.
Therapy offers a safe, supportive, non-judgemental space for your child to explore themselves and the world around them.
I have a strong passion for working with children and adolescents, which was fostered during my clinical training at Shambhala School in Halifax, NS. My approach is tailored to a child’s unique needs and circumstances, and integrates therapeutic modalities such as art-therapy, play-therapy, mindfulness-based approaches, and many more.
As a parent or legal guardian, it is important that you are involved in your child’s therapy process. Your perspective is unique and can provide key insights to help inform their care. Being involved can also help your child feel even more supported. This is why I always meet with a parent/legal guardian before starting sessions with a child or youth. This meeting will give you an opportunity to share your experience, ask questions, and gain an understanding of what your child’s therapy will look like. There is no cost for this meeting.
Please note – If your child is younger than 12, our initial consultation will also explore if an online approach is the right fit.
Feel free to contact me prior to booking a meeting with any questions you may have.
I believe that nurturing the mind-body-soul connection can help promote physical, mental, and emotional wellness in those navigating chronic pain and other health conditions. My lived experience also supports this belief – fostering my own connection has dramatically improved my holistic wellness and relationship with my physical health.
Life is a story with many chapters. Before I became a therapist, I was a neuroscientist and medical researcher, a career which fostered a deep understanding of the brain and nervous system. Inspired by my personal journey with chronic illness, I focused my work on the neuroscience and management of chronic pain, exploring how the body, mind, and brain influences physical health.
My approach to therapy integrates these unique insights along with knowledge from different therapeutic modalities, particularly mindfulness-based approaches, alongside inspiration from my experiences as a yoga instructor.
I will support you in your unique journey with chronic pain or other health conditions, always respecting that you are the expert in your story.
Professional Development Activities
As a counselling therapist, ongoing professional development is essential for me to continue growing, learning, and providing the most ethical and informed care possible. Below, I’ve outlined the major continuing education activities I’ve undertaken to maintain and expand my therapeutic competencies.
Trauma – Counselling Strategies for Healing and Resilience
Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute – November, 2024
Attended a 2-day workshop that taught a stage-based framework for regulating and resolving the impact of trauma, provided protective steps for enhancing helper well-being, and covered key principles and strategies for working with trauma across diverse experiences and all ages.
The Trauma Toolbox Online Certification
The Trauma Toolbox – May, 2024
Completed training in trauma-informed care, focusing on strategies for home, school, and community settings, including tools for managing toxic stress, enhancing emotional regulation, and building resilience in children and adults.
*With these trainings, I am qualified to write letters of readiness for gender-affirming hormones and gender-affirming surgeries according to the WPATH Standards of Care. If you’re interested in this service, please reach out for more information.
Trans Wellness Initiative Introduction to Affirming Spaces Training
Community-based Research Centre – July, 2023
Completed a training offering insight into fostering affirming healthcare practices that better serve trans and gender diverse folx.
Prescribing Gender-Affirming Hormones – Healthcare Professionals
Community-based Research Centre & prideHealth – July, 2023
Completed a training focused on meeting the needs of trans and gender diverse folx seeking gender-affirming care hormones.
Gender-Affirming Care: Surgical Readiness & Aftercare – Healthcare Professionals
Community-based Research Centre & prideHealth – July, 2023
Completed a training on providing gender-affirming care in relation to surgical interventions, including surgical readiness & aftercare.
Collective Practice
FORMA – January & February, 2024
Participated in a 40-day guided journey on designing daily practices for holistic wellness, with a focus on cultivating creativity, personal power, and self-connection. Explored the transformative practices of Kundalini Yoga, breathwork, dream journaling, death meditation, Indigenous wisdom, and dance/movement.
Yoga Teacher Training
One Yoga Thailand – October, 2020
Completed 200-hour (including practicum) teacher training studying yoga (hatha, vinyasa, ashtanga, and yin), breathwork, meditation, philosophy, and the art of teaching to become a Yoga Alliance certified teacher.
Vipassana Meditation Course
Wat Pa Tam Wua Buddhist Forest Monastery in Northern Thailand – January, 2020
Completed a 10-day Vipassana meditation course, a practice of self-transformation through self-observation. Explored the deep interconnection between mind and body through disciplined attention to physical sensations, with a focus on the breath. Learned techniques, philosophy, and principles of Vipassana, including sitting, walking, lying, and nature-based meditation practices.
2023 Suicide Prevention Summit
Mental Health Academy – August, 2023
Attended a suicide prevention summit that explored a wide range of topics, including clinical interventions, the neuroscience behind suicidal ideation, suicide prevention strategies in Indigenous communities, insights from lived experiences, and the use of clinical storytelling.
Sanderson Therapy & Wellness is proud to be a digital practice. Sessions are conducted through secure video call using industry standard privacy and security measures.
Connect
Wondering if we are a fit? Let’s connect. I offer secure & free 15-minute video calls so we can explore what you’re looking for and what our working together might look like.
Canadian-grown
I connect digitally with people all across Canada.
Nova Scotia is where I call home. I acknowledge that we are in Mi’kma’ki, the traditional territory of the Mi’kmaq people.
I am a Canadian Certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association & a Registered Counselling Therapist (Candidate) with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists.
Sanderson Therapy & Wellness, 2022 • Made with ♥ in Nova Scotia
Sanderson Therapy & Wellness
Sanderson Therapy & Wellness is an online private practice which supports the mental health and holistic wellness of Canadians, specializing in the province of Nova Scotia. This digital platform is a consciously-created healing space focused on nurturing the mind, body, and spirit.
Through counselling therapy and other offerings, Sanderson Therapy & Wellness supports people on their life journey with an empowering, non-judgemental, and respectful approach.
Meet the Owner
Hello, my name is Josiane.
I have centered my practice around holistic wellness, an approach to healing which emphasizes the whole person – the mind, body, and spirit. Holistic wellness branches outside the individual, encompassing other elements such as social relationships, cultural context, and societal factors.
Wellness looks different to every individual, so I approach therapy with a flexible, attentive, and adaptive mindset in order to honour your personal life journey.
My therapeutic work draws elements from many areas, such as person-centered therapy, mindfulness-based modalities, existential therapy, trauma-informed practices, and feminist therapy.
Prior to becoming a therapist, I spent a decade training and working as a neuroscientist and medical researcher. This experience informs my practice through a deep understanding of the brain, nervous system, and their interactions with the mind & body.
I am also a certified yoga teacher and a professional musician, which means that movement, meditation, breathwork, and creative expression are also major parts of my practice.
I am a Registered Counselling Therapist (Candidate) with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists and a Canadian Certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. I hold a PhD in Physiology (Neuroscience Specialization) and a MEd in Counselling from Acadia University. I am grateful to practice under the support and guidance of Nathan Torti, MA, RCT.
I help support the mental health and holistic wellness of people across Canada. I believe that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities, and I practice with a culturally responsive, non-judgemental perspective.
Thank you for being here.
Specializations
There are many reasons why people seek therapy, such as depression, anxiety, relationships, neurodiversity, spirituality, sexual wellness, illness, stress, self-harm, ADHD, personal growth, life transitions, polyamory, gender identity & sexual orientation, and grief & loss. I can join you on your journey navigating these elements of life, among many others.
Though I am in no way restricted to these, my personal journey has led me to specialize in several areas.
I am a queer identifying woman (pronouns she/her/hers), and I am committed to providing inclusive, compassionate care to my community. Growing up queer in Nova Scotia was difficult and there were few mental health resources available. My experiences have inspired me to become a therapist who could provide high quality, informed support to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. I have training in gender-affirming care, and support many transgender and gender-diverse clients. I am also a poly affirming therapist.
You may be looking to explore gender identity or sexual identity. You may be struggling with how your family interacts with your identity. Or you may just feel more comfortable working with a queer therapist.
Wherever you may find yourself in this journey, I will create a safe, non-judgemental space where you are accepted and honoured. I will support you in navigating life’s intricacies with awareness, presence, openness, and transparency.
—–
As a way to give back to my community, I have limited sliding scale spots reserved exclusively for 2SLGBTQIA+ children, youth & young adults (ages up to 22). Please feel to contact me to inquire.
Children and youth are our future. Prioritizing their mental health encourages healthy development and creates a foundation for their lifelong wellness.
Therapy offers a safe, supportive, non-judgemental space for your child to explore themselves and the world around them.
I have a strong passion for working with children and adolescents, which was fostered during my clinical training at Shambhala School in Halifax, NS. My approach is tailored to a child’s unique needs and circumstances, and integrates therapeutic modalities such as art-therapy, play-therapy, mindfulness-based approaches, and many more.
As a parent or legal guardian, it is important that you are involved in your child’s therapy process. Your perspective is unique and can provide key insights to help inform their care. Being involved can also help your child feel even more supported. This is why I always meet with a parent/legal guardian before starting sessions with a child or youth. This meeting will give you an opportunity to share your experience, ask questions, and gain an understanding of what your child’s therapy will look like. There is no cost for this meeting.
Please note – If your child is younger than 12, our initial consultation will also explore if an online approach is the right fit.
Feel free to contact me prior to booking a meeting with any questions you may have.
I believe that nurturing the mind-body-soul connection can help promote physical, mental, and emotional wellness in those navigating chronic pain and other health conditions. My lived experience also supports this belief – fostering my own connection has dramatically improved my holistic wellness and relationship with my physical health.
Life is a story with many chapters. Before I became a therapist, I was a neuroscientist and medical researcher, a career which fostered a deep understanding of the brain and nervous system. Inspired by my personal journey with chronic illness, I focused my work on the neuroscience and management of chronic pain, exploring how the body, mind, and brain influences physical health.
My approach to therapy integrates these unique insights along with knowledge from different therapeutic modalities, particularly mindfulness-based approaches, alongside inspiration from my experiences as a yoga instructor.
I will support you in your unique journey with chronic pain or other health conditions, always respecting that you are the expert in your story.
Professional Development Activities
As a counselling therapist, ongoing professional development is essential for me to continue growing, learning, and providing the most ethical and informed care possible. Below, I’ve outlined the major continuing education activities I’ve undertaken to maintain and expand my therapeutic competencies.
Trauma – Counselling Strategies for Healing and Resilience
Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute
November, 2024
Attended a 2-day workshop that taught a stage-based framework for regulating and resolving the impact of trauma, provided protective steps for enhancing helper well-being, and covered key principles and strategies for working with trauma across diverse experiences and all ages.
The Trauma Toolbox Online Certification
The Trauma Toolbox
May, 2024
Completed training in trauma-informed care, focusing on strategies for home, school, and community settings, including tools for managing toxic stress, enhancing emotional regulation, and building resilience in children and adults.
*With these trainings, I am qualified to write letters of readiness for gender-affirming hormones and gender-affirming surgeries according to the WPATH Standards of Care. If you’re interested in this service, please reach out for more information.
Trans Wellness Initiative Introduction to Affirming Spaces Training
Community-based Research Centre
July, 2023
Completed a training offering insight into fostering affirming healthcare practices that better serve trans and gender diverse folx.
Prescribing Gender-Affirming Hormones – Healthcare Professionals
Community-based Research Centre & prideHealth
July, 2023
Completed a training focused on meeting the needs of trans and gender diverse folx seeking gender-affirming care hormones.
Gender-Affirming Care: Surgical Readiness & Aftercare – Healthcare Professionals
Community-based Research Centre & prideHealth
July, 2023
Completed a training on providing gender-affirming care in relation to surgical interventions, including surgical readiness & aftercare.
Collective Practice
FORMA
January & February, 2024
Participated in a 40-day guided journey on designing daily practices for holistic wellness, with a focus on cultivating creativity, personal power, and self-connection. Explored the transformative practices of Kundalini Yoga, breathwork, dream journaling, death meditation, Indigenous wisdom, and dance/movement.
Yoga Teacher Training
One Yoga Thailand
October, 2020
Completed 200-hour (including practicum) teacher training studying yoga (hatha, vinyasa, ashtanga, and yin), breathwork, meditation, philosophy, and the art of teaching to become a Yoga Alliance certified teacher.
Vipassana Meditation Course
Wat Pa Tam Wua Buddhist Forest Monastery in Northern Thailand
January, 2020
Completed a 10-day Vipassana meditation course, a practice of self-transformation through self-observation. Explored the deep interconnection between mind and body through disciplined attention to physical sensations, with a focus on the breath. Learned techniques, philosophy, and principles of Vipassana, including sitting, walking, lying, and nature-based meditation practices.
2023 Suicide Prevention Summit
Mental Health Academy
August, 2023
Attended a suicide prevention summit that explored a wide range of topics, including clinical interventions, the neuroscience behind suicidal ideation, suicide prevention strategies in Indigenous communities, insights from lived experiences, and the use of clinical storytelling.
Sanderson Therapy & Wellness is proud to be a digital practice. Sessions are conducted through secure video call using industry standard privacy and security measures.
Connect
Wondering if we are a fit? Let’s connect. I offer secure & free 15-minute video calls so we can explore what you’re looking for and what our working together might look like.
Canadian-grown
I connect digitally with people all across Canada.
Nova Scotia is where I call home. I acknowledge that we are in Mi’kma’ki, the traditional territory of the Mi’kmaq people.
I am a Canadian Certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association & a Registered Counselling Therapist (Candidate) with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists.
