Sarah Penney

Psychologist

Accepting New Clients

I am a Registered Psychologist in Nova Scotia. I work from a client-centred, trauma-informed, attachment-based perspective. With a strong emphasis on building a collaborative and trusting therapeutic alliance, I strive to create an environment where clients feel comfortable to share their hardships and process their emotions in a safe space. Over the past several years, I have worked in both public and private practice settings, supporting adults and adolescents navigating mental health concerns and life stressors.

My practice is grounded in emotion-focused approaches, including Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) and Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT). I also draw from other evidence-based therapies, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), depending on client needs.

I have a particular interest in supporting clients with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and complex trauma, including experiences of relational abuse, attachment trauma, and adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. I have specialized trauma training in Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) and Lifespan Integration Therapy (LI). I also have extensive experience in the diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders in children, adolescents, and adults, and I frequently work with clients facing challenges in their relationships (e.g. difficulties with trust, boundaries, intimacy, and self-worth).

I believe therapy should be anchored in evidence and enriched by the art of human connection. I see my clients as the experts of their own lives. My goal as a therapist is to serve as compassionate witness and gentle guide, as client gain confidence and trust that the wisdom and answers they are searching for are already within them. I place a high value on self-reflective practice and prioritize my own self-care, recognizing that the depth of my work with others is sustained by tending to my own growth and well-being.

Outside of the office I enjoy spending time with family, friends, and my fur babies. I also find grounding and inspiration in creativity through reading, writing, painting, and cooking.

info@sunnysidepsychological.com

902-832-5190

Services

Attachment-based therapy Cognitive behavioral therapy Compassion-focused therapy Culturally sensitive therapy Existential therapy Feminist therapy Humanistic therapy Integrative therapy Interpersonal psychotherapy Person-centered therapy Solution-focused brief therapy Strength-based therapy Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy Gestalt therapy Narrative therapy Therapeutic intervention Exposure therapy Trauma informed care

Conditions

Abuse ADHD Adjustment disorder Adoption Anxiety Binge eating disorder (eating disorders) Body Image Bullying Codependency Communication Depression Dissociative Disorders Divorce Domestic Abuse or Violence Dual Diagnosis Eating disorders Emotional Abuse Emotion Regulation Grief, loss, bereavement Infidelity Loneliness Mental Disorders Mood disorders Obesity Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD) Panic disorder Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymic Disorder) Postpartum depression Post-traumatic stress Disorder (PTSD) Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria Relationship Issues Seasonal Affective Disorder Self esteem Sex, sexuality, intimacy Sexual Abuse Social Anxiety Disorder Social Isolation Spirituality Stress Trauma Women's Issues