I didn't come to this work by accident.

Stories are really important to me, and here's a little of my own.

I grew up in an immigrant household, and my parents separated when I was young. I had a significant loss as a teenager, which made me "grow up" too quickly and left me with an emptiness I couldn't put words to.

So when I was trying to figure out what to do with my life, it came down to two things I knew about myself. I wanted to help people, and I love stories. That led me to psychology, and eventually to a Ph.D. in Transpersonal Psychology, which looks at the whole person, including the parts of life that are spiritual or hard to put into words.

I've been in practice since 2007. I've lived through depression myself, and I know what I needed when I was hurting and no one gave it to me. I bring that into every session. It's a big part of how I understand the people I work with.

Who I Work With

Most of my clients are successful by any outside measure. Many are children of immigrants, carrying their parents’ sacrifice and their own ambition at the same time, and a lot of them are BIPOC professionals who’ve sat across from a counsellor before and felt like they had to explain their whole culture before they could even start. I teach cultural competence to other counsellors, and I practise it in every session. You shouldn’t have to translate yourself to get help.

I work with adults 18 and over, individually.

How I Think about Therapy

The stories we tell

What interests me most is the stories people tell about their lives, the ones we tell other people and the ones we tell ourselves. A lot of our work is looking at those stories and asking whether they’re still true, and whether there’s a version that gives you more choice.

Small changes add up

If you do one thing a little differently, new thoughts tend to follow, then new feelings, and you start to notice it in your body. So we work in practical steps, not just big insights.

Therapy has an end

When you’re ready, we have a graduation session. We look at where you started, where you are now, and the next small steps, and then you go and live it.

Training and Credentials

Ph.D., Transpersonal Psychology, Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, 2007
Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Approved Clinical Supervisor (RCC-ACS), BC Association of Clinical Counsellors
Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) and Canadian Certified Supervisor (CCS), Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association

Clinical Supervisor since 2020
Instructor in Master's-level Counselling programs, Stenberg College, Yorkville University, 2018-2020
Two TEDx talks, TEDxCalgary, TEDxTRU
Board Member, Canadian Mental Health Association Fraser Valley, 2017–2020

"Dr." refers to my Doctorate in Transpersonal Psychology. I am NOT a medical doctor or a Registered Psychologist.

From Colleagues and Workshop Participants

What others say about working and learning with Dr. Saira

Her rare ability to articulate, communicate, collaborate, and teach these concepts that all counsellors need to know is exceptional.
— Kara Ko, Registered Clinical Counsellor

Dr. Saira can capture, inspire, and ignite your attention, and make you feel supported, accepted, and hopeful.
— Farzana Logan, Workshop Participant

Dr. Saira is seasoned, supportive and truly special! Her guidance over the years has consistently up-leveled my work with clients and contributed to my own well-being in transformative ways.
— Christine Brooks, Executive Coach

Letters from Dr. Saira

Occasional writing on burnout, family, and finding your way back to yourself. Unsubscribe anytime.

Dr. Saira Sabzaali, Ph.D., RCC

Online counselling for burnout, family strain, and depression.

(604) 337-1131

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“Dr.” refers to a doctorate in Transpersonal Psychology. Dr. Saira is not a medical doctor or registered psychologist.