Sandra Karlin
Right for you if you’re working through a relationship,
separation or heavy life change
Individual and Couples Therapist in
Kitchener- Waterloo, Ontario
Sandra Karlin, Registered Psychotherapist
Founder and Owner | Individual & Couples Therapist
Populations Served: Adults (16+)
Services: Individual & Couples and New and Expecting Parents Counselling
Therapies Practiced: Mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Person-Centered Therapy, Gottman Couples Counselling, Walk & Talk Therapy, Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behavioral therapy (DBT)
Focus: Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Loneliness, Body Image, Self-Esteem, Sex and Relationships, Parenting, Pregnancy, Postpartum, Major Life Transitions, Trauma
Languages Spoken: English, German
Insurance Designation: Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology, Registered Psychotherapist
About Sandra Karlin
I am a Registered Psychotherapist in Waterloo, Ontario and the founder of Beyond Happiness Counselling.
I provide individual therapy for adults and couples counselling, supporting people through emotional challenges, relationship difficulties and significant life transitions, with a particular interest in:
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Anxiety and stress
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Trauma and difficult experiences
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Relationships and couples
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Pregnancy and postpartum experiences
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Parenting and the transition into parenthood
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Stress and emotional overwhelm
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Depression and low mood
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Self esteem and body image
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Grief and loss
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Career changes
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Loneliness and disconnection
You don't need to identify with one particular concern to reach out. Sometimes several parts of life feel difficult at once, and therapy can help you understand how they connect. My goal is to create a therapy environment where you can feel seen, supported and empowered.
Therapy should give you space to be honest about what is happening without feeling judged or like you have to perform being “okay.”
At the same time, I don't believe therapy should simply be a place to talk about your problems without moving toward change.
I use my clinical training and therapeutic experience to help you understand patterns, develop new skills, explore your relationships and work toward meaningful changes in your life.
In my downtime, I keep my life in balance through physical activities such as squash, hiking, and playing with my chocolate Labrador puppy. I am also a mom of 2 and love to travel and experience different cultures as the locals do!
I'd be honoured to be a part of your journey toward wellness.
How I can help
You don't need to arrive with a diagnosis or have everything figured out before starting therapy. You can simply share what has been happening and what has been feeling difficult. I support individuals and couples experiencing a range of concerns, including:
Racing thoughts, overthinking, uncertainty and difficulty switching off
Trauma and difficult past experiences
Exploring how past experiences may continue to influence your emotions, relationships and sense of self
Relationship and couples challenges
Navigating recurring conflict, communication difficulties, disconnection and unmet needs.
Feeling disconnected, unmotivated, emotionally drained or unlike yourself.
Understanding self-criticism, people-pleasing and difficulty recognizing your own needs.
Pregnancy and postpartum experiences
Adjusting to the emotional, physical and relational changes that come with pregnancy and becoming a parent.
Parenting and motherhood
Navigating identity changes, expectations, guilt, overwhelm and the challenges of balancing your own needs with caring for others.
Life transitions and major changes:
Working through uncertainty, changes in identity, career transitions, grief or new stages of life.
Emotional regulation and coping
Understanding emotional patterns and developing practical tools to navigate overwhelming feelings.
My approach to therapy
I believe meaningful change begins with feeling understood and having the space to explore your experiences without judgment.
My approach draws on several therapeutic perspectives, allowing us to find strategies that reflect your individual needs and goals.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can help you recognize connections between thoughts, feelings and behaviours, and develop more helpful ways of responding to difficult situations.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can support you in making room for difficult emotions while taking steps toward the values and relationships that matter to you.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) informed strategies can help you strengthen emotional regulation, distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness.
Mindfulness and compassion focused approaches can help you become more aware of your internal experiences, respond to yourself with greater kindness and develop practical ways to manage stress.
Trauma informed and attachment informed approaches can help you explore how past experiences and relationship patterns influence your current emotional responses and connections with others.
Family and relationship focused approaches can help you understand the patterns that develop between people and explore healthier ways of communicating and relating.
I have completed Level 1 Gottman Method Couples Therapy training, along with additional Gottman training focused on infidelity. These approaches inform my work with couples who want to strengthen their relationship, improve communication, navigate recurring conflict or begin rebuilding trust following a breach of trust. I aim to help couples better understand their relationship patterns and develop healthier ways of reconnecting.
I also offer Walk and Talk therapy as an alternative to traditional office based sessions. For some people, being outdoors and moving while talking can make the therapeutic process feel more comfortable and natural. Walk and Talk sessions offer an opportunity to connect with yourself, explore difficult experiences and work toward your goals in a different environment. We can explore whether this approach feels like a good fit for your needs and preferences.
You remain an active participant in the process. We will work together to find an approach that feels useful and manageable for you.
Professional qualifications and continuing education
I believe ongoing learning is an important part of providing thoughtful, effective and ethical therapy. My professional development includes coursework, workshops and specialized training in a range of therapeutic approaches and areas of clinical practice, including:
Selected training and professional development
Therapeutic Approaches
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), 2022
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Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Skills, Psychwire, 2023
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), including trauma related applications, Psychwire, 2023
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Mindfulness and compassion-focused approaches, Pesi 2025
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Mindfulness Certification Course, 2-Day Intensive Training, Pesi 2025
Couples & Relationship Therapy
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Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Level 1 Training, 2023
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Gottman Method: Treating Affairs and Trauma, 2025
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Terry Real's 2-Day Couples Therapy Training: Getting Started with Relational Life Therapy, Pesi, 2025
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Couples and Family Systems, 2022
Trauma, attachment and mind-body approaches
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Walk and Talk Therapy Training Course, CherryTree Counselling, 2024
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Crisis and Trauma Counselling, Yorkville University, 2022
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2-Day Trauma Conference: The Body Keeps the Score – Trauma Healing Through the Senses, PESI 2024
Additional professional training
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Cultural Diversity in Counselling, Yorkville University, 2022
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Group Counselling, Yorkville University, 2022
Frequently Asked Questions About Sandra Karlin
Who is Sandra Karlin? Sandra Karlin is a Registered Psychotherapist and the founder of Beyond Happiness Counselling, a group counselling practice in Waterloo, Ontario. She provides individual and couples therapy for adults.
Where does Sandra Karlin provide therapy? Sandra provides in person therapy at Beyond Happiness Counselling in Waterloo, Ontario, and virtual therapy across Ontario.
What does Sandra Karlin specialize in? Sandra's areas of interest and clinical support include anxiety, stress, trauma, relationships and couples, pregnancy and postpartum experiences, parenting transitions, self esteem, grief and loss, career changes and major life transitions.
Does Sandra Karlin work with couples? Yes. Sandra provides couples counselling and has completed Clinical Foundations in the Gottman Method Couples Therapy.
Does Sandra work with pregnant clients? Yes. Sandra provides therapy for clients navigating pregnancy, including anxiety, emotional changes, relationship changes and the transition into parenthood.
Does Sandra provide postpartum therapy? Yes. Sandra supports clients navigating postpartum experiences, including anxiety, emotional overwhelm, identity changes, relationship changes and the transition into parenthood.
Does Sandra work with new parents? Yes. Sandra works with new and expecting parents and supports clients through the emotional and relationship changes associated with becoming a parent.
What therapy approaches does Sandra use? Sandra uses an integrative approach that may include CBT, DBT, ACT, mindfulness based approaches, trauma informed therapy, attachment informed approaches and Gottman Method Couples Therapy.
Is Sandra accepting new clients? Availability can change. Please contact Beyond Happiness Counselling or check Sandra's current booking availability for the most up to date information.
How do I know if Sandra is the right therapist for me? Consider whether Sandra's areas of experience, therapeutic approach and style match what you're looking for. If you're unsure, you can reach out to Beyond Happiness Counselling and discuss what kind of support you are looking for.
Contact us
Address
Opening Hours
Waterloo
370 University Ave East
Unit #105
ON N2K 3N2
226-868-2192
Mon - Fri
Saturday
9:00 am – 3:00 pm