In this exclusive interview with CanadianSME Small Business Magazine, we hear from Sara Davidson, a psychotherapist, trauma survivor, and resilience advocate, whose personal and professional journey has shaped her unique approach to helping others heal. Through her memoir Any Body Can Heal, Sara shares her story of survival and the strategies that guided her towards recovery. A passionate advocate for those who have experienced gender-based violence, Sara also offers sliding-scale services in her practice, ensuring mental health support is accessible to all. In this conversation, Sara reflects on her journey, the myths surrounding trauma and healing, and how she supports her clients as they navigate their own healing paths. Her work not only empowers individuals but also serves as a reminder that healing is possible, no matter the obstacles faced. Through her advocacy, Sara is determined to make healing accessible for everyone, especially those who have been marginalized.
Sara Davidson is a former high school teacher, elite athlete, and coach. Now a registered psychotherapist, trauma survivor and resilience advocate, Sara continues to coach youth in sport on the side, while being passionately committed to supporting those that have experienced gender-based violence in her own practice, as well as in workshops across the city.
Your memoir, Any Body Can Heal, offers a deeply personal account of facing trauma and reclaiming a sense of self. What inspired you to share your story now, and what do you hope readers will take away from your journey?
I didn’t write this book just to tell my story—I wrote it to offer something to those who are still in the thick of it. I wanted to reach people living with trauma who may not have access to the kind of support I was lucky to receive. Support that literally helped me reclaim my life.
The book is rooted in my lived experience—surviving the Boxing Day tsunami (which I didn’t even recognize as trauma at the time), a knife attack while teaching abroad, a life-altering sexual assault in Trinidad, and later, a traumatic birth and a long stretch of postpartum.
What carried me through was my own therapy, community, and eventually, becoming a therapist myself. That process gave me language, tools, and a way forward. Writing this book was my way of reaching back, to say: you’re not alone, healing is possible.
That’s also why I’ve been committed to donating copies to women’s shelters, recovery programs, community centres, and libraries throughout Ontario, to start. I want this book to land in the hands of people who need it most. Because healing shouldn’t depend on access or privilege. It should be something we all have a chance to find.
In your psychotherapy practice, you emphasize accessibility by offering sliding scale and pro bono services for women who have experienced gender-based violence. Why is making mental health support accessible such a core value for you, and how has it shaped your approach as a therapist?
Making therapy accessible is very personal for me. I’ve worked with many women who’ve survived gender-based violence but couldn’t afford the support they needed to heal. I feel really thankful that I had access to on-going intensive therapy, and this is a huge reason why I am where I am, in my own healing journey. I offer sliding scale and pro bono sessions because I don’t believe healing should be a luxury, it’s a basic right. I really feel strongly that offering this in my practice is not about charity—it’s an act of solidarity. It’s my way of saying: I see you. Your story matters. And you are not alone.
This has deeply shaped how I show up as a therapist. It’s made me more attuned to others that show up in my office, to trauma and access. And I feel like it has made me more grounded, more honest, and more committed to creating spaces that are safe, nonjudgmental, and rooted in trust. I’ve learned that healing looks different for us all, and access is a big part of what makes healing possible.
Many misconceptions surround trauma and the healing process. Based on your experience as both a survivor and a psychotherapist, what are some of the most persistent myths about trauma and healing that you encounter, and how do you address them in your work?
Many people think trauma only comes from extreme events like war or abuse. But trauma can stem from any experience that overwhelms your system’s ability to cope-emotional neglect, bullying, a breakup, or chronic stress. It’s not about what happened, but how it impacted you.
There are many myths about healing and I try and debunk a few of them in my book, one’s that resonate deeply with me. The first is that healing is linear. In truth, healing comes in waves—progress, setbacks, and the emotional ups and downs are very normal.. The second major myth is that time alone heals all wounds. Time definitely can help, but healing usually requires intention: therapy, support, reflection, and inner work.
The third is that people often think healing means it’s “over”, or that you’ve fully moved on. But healing is ongoing. Healing doesn’t mean forgetting or “getting over it.” It means learning to carry what happened in a way that no longer controls you, learning to live a meaningful life despite it.
And the last myth is that strength and healing happen in isolation. Nothing could be further from the truth. Healing happens in relationships through connection, support, and care.
Your life experiences—from surviving the 2004 tsunami to overcoming personal assaults—have given you a unique perspective on resilience. How has your understanding of resilience evolved over time, and how does this perspective inform the way you support clients navigating their own healing journeys?
For a long time, I thought resilience meant being tough, pushing through and coming out unscathed.. After everything I’ve lived through, and from sitting with others in their own pain and healing, I see resilience much differently now than I did before, and I am so thankful I do.
You see, resilience isn’t about being untouched by hard things, it’s about being impacted, sometimes deeply, and still choosing to keep going. It is about adapting, being flexible. Being able to stay connected to yourself through the pain and, and still finding a meaningful path forward despite it, is what it truly is all about..
This shift really changed how I show up for my clients. I don’t see them as broken or in need of fixing. I see people doing the best they can with everything they’ve been through, often carrying way more than anyone else can see. My job is to hold space for both their pain and their strengths, in their greatest vulnerabilities, and helping them reconnect with their body, their story, and the part of them that still knows how to heal. This part always exists, sometimes it just needs a little support to be remembered.
As someone who bridges the roles of survivor, therapist, and advocate, what final thoughts or advice would you offer to small business owners and professionals striving to foster resilience and well-being within their communities?
As someone who’s walked this path, whether it be personally, professionally, or alongside others—I’ll say this: small business owners and professionals have a bigger impact than they often realize. The way you treat your team, show up for clients, and care for yourself sets the tone for what well-being can feel like.
My advice is to begin with small, intentional steps. Whether at work or in your relationships, create environments where people feel safe, valued, and human. Instead of being quick to dismiss or leading with judgment, try being curious instead. Make space for honest conversations, for rest, and for kindness. Strength can live alongside vulnerability and people need to be shown this.
Always remember that resilience doesn’t grow in isolation, it thrives in connection. When we lead with authenticity and care, the ripple effects it creates will go further than anything else.
And maybe the most important and easiest of them all, is don’t underestimate the quiet power of compassion. We don’t need to fix everything all the time, being willing to hold space with care and humility is truly a deeply healing act in itself. Keep showing up with heart, we forget this is often more than enough.
