Who Am I?

Santyna Brar

  • She/They

  • Occupational Therapist, Psychotherapist

  • Brown (South Asian)

  • Queer

  • Disabled

  • Witch

  • Spiritual But Not Religious (SBNR)

  • Sex-positive

  • Queer-affirming

  • Life-long Unlearner

  • Trauma Survivor

  • Equity-Centered

Supporting Your Healing Journey

Offerings Include:

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

  • I am an Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) provider which means eligible First Nations and Inuit clients can have the government cover my services.

  • I live with chronic illness (hEDS, POTS, and MCAS) and complex PTSD. I understand what it’s like to live 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. 

  • As an Occupational Therapist (OT), I also support disability advocacy and bring both lived experience and professional training in mental and physical health, with an awareness of how disability is shaped by intersecting systems of oppression.

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

  • I will honour your experiences and acknowledge that you are the expert in your life.

  • I don’t pretend to know everything!

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

  • I care and won’t pretend that I don’t - I am not a robot! I am an emotional and real human – the same as you!

  • What it means to be an Occupational Therapist:

    • OTs are trained to help you discover, identify and pursue activities that hold personal significance to you. Whether you're seeking to revive past interests that may have taken a "back seat" due to mental health-related difficulties, chronic illness, disability, financial barriers, etc. or you'd like to embark on new activities or interests, I’m here to support!

    • Activities we can focus on integrating into your routine include spiritual care and rituals, self-care, productive activities and/or leisure pursuits. 

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

Qualifications

Psychotherapy Training

Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) training from IFSCA

  • 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.

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

    Let's Connect

Spiritual Background

I am trained in Reiki, an ancient Japanese form of energy healing that focuses on integrating the mind, body, and spirit. Similar to the EFT theory, this form of healing assists with releasing energy blockages within the body, which can cause physical, emotional, and spiritual pain.

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 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, such as honoured Swamijis and Babajis from India, to discover inner healing and foster post-traumatic growth