Sarah Diehl

Sarah Diehl is currently completing her Master of Social Work, but her path into counselling and social work has been anything but linear. She has always been drawn to work that involves people, creativity, connection, and helping others find their own way forward.

Sarah spent about 10 years travelling, living, and working around the world. Along the way, she taught Grade 5 in the Galápagos Islands, taught English abroad, volunteered with children in an orphanage in Nepal, managed an eco-lodge in Nicaragua, developed wellness programming in the Bahamas, and spent several years working as a private chef on yachts. Before travelling, she also provided respite care for children in foster care. Working in so many different environments and cultures taught Sarah a lot about connecting with people, adapting when things don’t go according to plan, and recognizing that there are many different ways of experiencing and moving through the world.

Over the past several years, Sarah’s work has become increasingly focused on neurodivergent children, youth, and their families. She has worked as a Behaviour Interventionist, at the Comox Valley Child Development Centre, and as an Education Assistant in a Life Skills program. She now works privately with families, supporting young people with things such as emotional regulation, anxiety, relationships, independence, social and community skills, and challenges at home and school. Sarah particularly enjoys getting to know what makes each young person tick and finding ways to connect through their actual interests rather than expecting every person to respond to the same approach.

Sarah’s first degree is in Fine Arts, and creativity continues to be a huge part of her life and the way she works with people. She also has certifications in Health and Life Coaching and completed 500 hours of yoga therapy and meditation training. Depending on the person, her work might involve conversation, art, getting outside, movement, mindfulness, or simply taking the time to build trust before expecting anything else.

Sarah strongly values self-determination and believes that people should have a meaningful voice in the support they receive and the direction they want their lives to take. A strengths-based perspective and cultural humility are also pillars of her practice. She approaches her work with curiosity and an understanding that each person is the expert in their own life and brings their own experiences, culture, strengths, and ways of seeing the world.

While much of Sarah’s experience to date has been with children, youth, neurodivergent individuals, and families, she is excited to broaden her work with people across different ages, identities, and life experiences. She has a growing interest in supporting women and young women, including around self-esteem, confidence, body image and eating-related concerns, as well as supporting individuals who have experienced unhealthy or abusive relationships. More broadly, Sarah hopes to create a counselling space that feels human, collaborative, creative, and comfortable, where people feel heard and respected and are able to show up as themselves.