Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Expressive Art Therapy Practicums
Certification
Timeline
Generic

Sara Milne-Flamer

Vancouver,BC

Summary

Registered Therapeutic Counselor and Expressive Art Therapist, skilled in trauma-informed care and crisis intervention. Leveraging creativity and emotional intelligence, I empower clients through tailored therapeutic approaches. Extensive background supporting people with marginalized identities. Skilled in program development and social justice advocacy.

Overview

6
6
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Expressive Art Therapist

Cherish Clinic
09.2024 - Current
  • Provides trauma-informed expressive arts and play therapy to children, adolescents, and adults in both online and in-person formats.
  • Integrates Internal Family Systems (IFS) approaches within a creative, client centered framework to support self-awareness and healing.
  • Delivers therapeutic services in a highly neurodiversity-affirming clinic, tailoring interventions to meet the unique needs of neurodivergent clients.
  • Uses a resource-oriented and strengths-based approach to empower clients and build on their existing capacities.

Employment Readiness Coordinator

Mission Possible
10.2023 - Current
  • Provides individualized job search support including resume writing, cover letter development, and job application assistance for people in the Downtown Eastside (DTES) community.
  • As of March 2025 I became supervisor for 1 permanent staff on the Employment Readiness Team as well as a team of 8 volunteers.
  • Facilitates and develops educational workshops to help folks lacking access to training opportunities gain workplace readiness skills.
  • Provides non-directive 1-1 coaching on topics such as: housing, employment, interpersonal difficulties, and recovery.
  • Develops and maintains strategic partnerships with inclusive employers to create sustainable employment pathways for program participants.

Child and Youth Worker

Developmental Disabilities Association
01.2022 - 08.2023
  • Planned and implemented athletic- and arts-based recreational programs that were inclusive for youth with a wide range of agesand abilities.
  • Collaborated with a multidisciplinary team to develop goals and support plans for youth.
  • Provided key emotional support to youth with a range of abilities.

Intersectional Crisis Workshop Developer

Vancouver Women's Health Collective
12.2021 - 03.2022
  • Worked on a team to develop a series of intersectional crisis intervention workshops for frontline workers on the DTES.
  • Researched crisis intervention techniques that are both trauma informed and framed within an anti-oppressive lens.
  • Co-facilitated online workshops and discussions with community members and front line workers.

Resource Centre Volunteer

Vancouver Women's Health Collective
08.2019 - 08.2021
  • Supported women and non-binary individuals in accessing resources on site or in the community.
  • Scheduled counseling, naturopathic, and nurse practitioner appointments.
  • Provided crisis support and management.

Education

Diploma - Expressive Art Therapy

Vancouver Art Therapy Institute
Vancouver, BC
06-2024

Bachelor of Arts - Interdisciplinary Studies

University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC
12-2021

High School Diploma -

Rosedale Heights School of The Arts
Toronto, ON
06-2016

Skills

  • Interpersonal skills
  • Creativity
  • Emotional intelligence
  • Critical thinking
  • Crisis intervention
  • Trauma-informed care
  • Adaptive communication
  • Empathy
  • Dedicated team member
  • Multicultural competence
  • Therapeutic relationship-building

Expressive Art Therapy Practicums

Cleveland Elementary School (Nov. 2023- May 2024)

  • Facilitated 1-1 expressive art therapy sessions for elementary school students.
  • Supported clients with various life circumstances, emotions, and reflections.
  • Used various therapeutic tools as a way to help navigate and understand one's world, such as, play, visual art, dance, theater, and nature based activities.
  • Tailored my approach to the needs of each individual client as we built a strong therapeutic relationship.


Central City Foundation (Feb. 2024 - June 2024)

  • Facilitated 1-1 expressive art therapy sessions with female identifying individuals living in the Cosmo Hotel (an SRO on the DTES).
  • Used a resource based framework, the arts and therapeutic conversations as a means of supporting clients experiencing mental health challenges.


Art HUB (Oct. 2023 - Jun. 2024)

  • Assisted with facilitating expressive art therapy group sessions to pre-teen students at Strathcona Elementary School.
  • Provided engaging arts and play based activities that aided in self-exploration, and resiliency building.

Certification

  • Registered Therapeutic Counselor- ID #3616 (Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists of Canada)
  • Certified Expressive Art Therapist
  • Standard First Aid and CPR
  • Mental Health First Aid
  • Recovery Coaching Certification
  • ICF Coaching Certification; Essentials, Mastery, and Mentor
  • Working in Homeless Non-Profit Setting Certificate
  • Non-Violent Crisis Intervention
  • Certified in Naloxone Administration
  • Integrating the Internal Family Systems (IFS) Model Across Clinical Applications (In process)


Timeline

Expressive Art Therapist

Cherish Clinic
09.2024 - Current

Employment Readiness Coordinator

Mission Possible
10.2023 - Current

Child and Youth Worker

Developmental Disabilities Association
01.2022 - 08.2023

Intersectional Crisis Workshop Developer

Vancouver Women's Health Collective
12.2021 - 03.2022

Resource Centre Volunteer

Vancouver Women's Health Collective
08.2019 - 08.2021

Diploma - Expressive Art Therapy

Vancouver Art Therapy Institute

Bachelor of Arts - Interdisciplinary Studies

University of British Columbia

High School Diploma -

Rosedale Heights School of The Arts

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