Who Am I?

Santyna Brar

Occupational Therapist, Psychotherapist

  • South Asian (Punjabi)

  • Queer

  • Witch

  • Disabled

  • Neurodivergent

  • Spiritual But Not Religious (SBNR)

  • Sex-positive

  • Life-long Unlearner

  • Equity-Centered

She/They

Supporting Your Healing Journey

Current Offerings Include:

  • 1 on 1 Therapeutic Sessions (Occupational Therapy, Psychotherapy)

  • The Open Hearth, a virtual support group for people living with chronic illness

  • Disability Tax Credit (DTC) Support Services

    • DTC Functional Assessment & Application Completion for impairments with walking, eating & preparing meals, and dressing & undressing yourself

    • DTC Mental Health Assessment & Advocacy Package for a mental health functional assessment & report for your primary healthcare provider, to support them in completing your DTC application.

    • DTC Application Process Consultation to help prepare for conversations with your health care provider(s) and advocating for your needs during the process.

    • DTC Training for Canadian Healthcare Providers (MD, NP, OT, PT, social workers, psychotherapists, psychologists, etc.) on the rules and expectations around the DTC and how to advocate for and support your patients/clients.

A woman with curly blonde hair sitting on a stone bench in a park during autumn, holding a small dog that is kissing her face, surrounded by colorful fall foliage.

As an Occupational Therapist, Psychotherapist, we can combine intention and goal-setting with psychotherapeutic approaches such as Internal Family Systems (IFS), Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to support your healing journey.

Update: I am currently accepting a new individual therapy client.

About Me

  • I have lived experience with complex PTSD and chronic illness (Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome [hEDS], MCAS, and dysautonomia).

  • I understand what it’s like to function without spoons, to feel depleted, and to carry fear about the future.

  • I'm not here to dismiss your experience. I'm here to witness it with care. 

  • I apply critical and decolonial theories and transfeminist approaches (E.g., critical race & disability theory, decolonial transfeminism) in my practice.

  • I am happy to support you in exploring and reconnecting with spiritual practices that hold personal meaning for you. This may include discussing your spiritual beliefs, cultural traditions, aspirations, rituals, and/or desires.

  • I am a Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB)  provider, which means sessions with First Nations and Inuit clients can be covered by the government.

  • As an Occupational Therapist (OT), I also support disability advocacy, including work or school accommodations assessment and reports, disability funding applications, vocational rehabilitation, and bring both lived experience and professional training in mental and physical health.

  • I care and won’t pretend that I don’t - I am not a robot! I am an imperfect and real human.

  • "May we see what is truly in our own hearts without the distraction of imposed oppressive ideas of who others think we are."

    — Zenju Earthlyn Manuel, “Chants Against Hatred”

  • "The one whose Self is joined through Yoga sees the Self in all beings and all beings in the Self."

    — Bhagavad Gītā 6.29

  • Try a 15 minute session for free and see if it’s right for you.

    Let's Connect

Qualifications

Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MScOT) at Queen’s University

Psychotherapy Training

Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) training from the IFS Institute (Level I) and IFSCA (Stepping Stones)

  • IFS is a transformative tool that conceives of every human being as a system of protective and wounded inner parts led by a core Self. IFS is frequently used as an evidence-based psychotherapy, helping people heal by accessing and healing their protective and wounded inner parts.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) training from Wilfred Laurier University & CBI Health

  • ACT uses mindfulness and acceptance-based psychotherapy approaches to address mental health-related challenges, including (but not limited to) trauma, depression, anxiety, etc.

Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT) training from the Medical University of South Carolina

  • TF-CBT is a psychotherapeutic approach to assist children, youth and adults in processing traumatic memories by exploring your emotions and developing a trauma narrative (a story/book, a song, a poem, chants, drawings, etc.)

Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) Level 1 and Level 2 training with Joan Kaylor, MSEd, LPC, DCEP (EFT International [EFTi] accredited training by an EFTi Certified Advanced Practitioner)

  • This technique joins together modern psychotherapy and Eastern Chinese energy/somatic healing approaches for addressing low mood, anxiety, trauma, addictions and pain by targeting acupressure points to realign your energy and release blockages that cause "dis-ease”.

Spiritual Background

I’m familiar with tarot, ancestral connection, working with deities and Guides, as well as crystal and plant-based healing. These practices have supported me through many difficult times, and I honour them as meaningful tools for care, resilience, and connection.

I am trained in Reiki, a Japanese form of energy healing that focuses on integrating the mind, body, and spirit. This form of healing assists with releasing energy blockages within the body, which can cause physical, emotional, and spiritual pain.

I have experience using clearing and grounding strategies in spiritual practices such as the incorporation of singing bowls, bells, meditations, mantras, smoke medicine (e.g. incense, burning herbs) and intention-setting.

I have engaged with profound texts, such as the Bhagavad Gita, the Tripitaka, “You Are The Medicine” by Asha Frost, “Decolonizing Therapy: Oppression, Historical Trauma & Politicizing Your Practice” by Jennifer Mullen, PsyD, and many more.

I draw wisdom from my spiritual teachers and ancestors to discover more about myself and my purpose on Earth for this life.