FREEDOM WITH SHEILA

Gently Release emotional pain and trauma without having to relive your past.

Sheila Sakayama, BA Trauma Therapist

Welcome to Freedom with Sheila – where you'll begin your personal journey to emotional freedom – freedom from the pain of the past and its impact on the present.

Whether your pain is recent or decades old, it almost always shows up in the present. Outbursts of anger, anxiety, fear, or over-reactivity are all indicators that there is something unresolved from the past. Have you noticed the same old feelings and patterns of behaviour showing up over and over again to steal your peace and happiness?

These feelings and reactions can impact our relationships, jobs, and overall satisfaction with our lives and leave us feeling frustrated and hopeless wondering how things will ever change.

But I want you to know that healing is possible. And it doesn’t have to be overwhelming or re-traumatizing.

One of the key benefits of working with me is that you don’t need to retell your story. Your body holds the memory of what you’ve experienced—and that’s where we focus our work. With compassionate guidance, we create a safe environment where your body can begin to let go, naturally and at its own pace.

Old emotional pain can feel like heavy baggage, weighing you down and limiting your ability to fully experience the present.

Imagine what it would feel like to finally put that weight down and move forward with more ease, confidence, and peace. That’s Emotional Freedom!

It begins with a willingness to let go, a little courage, and a readiness for change.

Why We Stay Stuck

Even when we want change, something deeper often holds us in place.

Many people try to cope with emotional pain in ways that feel manageable in the moment, such as:
• Staying constantly busy—working more, exercising more, or distracting themselves
• Avoiding therapy to escape having to relive painful experiences
• Hiding their struggles, hoping no one will notice

Masking the pain doesn’t heal it.

Buried is not the same as healed.

Some people might avoid counselling because they are afraid of opening up that old wound not knowing how deep it is or how overwhelming it could be for them. And talking about those hurtful memories without releasing them just makes them grow stronger because there’s no where for them to go.

So they stay stuck inside still unresolved and painful. This is why we don’t focus on talking about the hurt. Instead we spend our time releasing it through the body. This type of healing isn’t uncomfortable or overwhelming.

When the body feels safe and calm, it knows how to release what it’s been holding. And when the body finally lets go – peace can enter.

Moving toward Emotional Freedom

What a Session Looks Like

Our time together is focused on healing — not retelling.

As the session begins you’ll share a brief overview of what you’re experiencing, and from there we move directly into the work. There’s no need for detailed or emotionally draining storytelling. Many clients find this approach deeply relieving.

Using a combination of somatic techniques and energy-based modalities, I guide you in reconnecting with your body in a safe and supported way — allowing it to release stored emotional tension and trauma. It is a very relaxing, nurturing and relieving experience. Many clients report feeling a kind of ‘peaceful exhaustion’ after finally letting go of what was weighing them down for so long. They are surprised at how much energy was being used to cope or manage the pain.

So, don’t spend your energy on holding the hurt – spend it on healing it!

While every person’s journey is unique, many clients experience noticeable relief—usually after a single session.

About Sheila

My name is Sheila Sakiyama and I am a trauma-informed therapist specializing in supporting clients heal emotional wounds since 2001.

My work is grounded in a degree in Psychology and enriched by a range of therapeutic approaches, including somatic healing, Reiki, and emotional acupressure. I continue to expand my practice with new tools and techniques that support deep, lasting change.

When the body feels safe and calm, it knows how to release what it’s been holding. And when the body finally lets go – peace can enter.

I’ve worked with clients experiencing:

Complex PTSD
Anxiety
Grief
Childhood trauma
Addiction-related challenges

Here are some testimonials from clients who have worked with me.

“After the first session with Sheila I was able to identify a root cause of some of the issues that have controlled my life, and I learned how to gently let it go.
Her technique is gentle and soothing yet really effective.
Letting this singular deep-rooted issue go has enabled me to make better decisions with my life and I feel so much ‘softer’ inside…definitely not as angry and hurt.

I highly recommend her for her expertise, empathy, methodology and techniques.

Thank you, again, Sheila!” — Jody F.

I had been in talk therapy for over 5 years due to betrayal trauma that then turned into complex PTSD. It had weighed me down for way too long and it has eroded my self-esteem and self-worth.

Sheila has done wonders for me with her non-talk therapy approach. I was blown away, that in just one session I had such huge relief and felt better about myself and my future.

There is no one else that has been able to help me heal in such a short period of time. I look forward to future sessions to continue my healing journey, so I can live my life with more vibrancy than ever before.” — Deborah L.

“I have lived almost twenty years with emotional pain and anguish that I have carried from traumatic events that happened to me when I was 12 years old. I happened upon Sheila, willing to try anything to help me heal and move onto a better me. I walked out of my first session feeling the weight of the world instantly gone! I felt what true happiness and peace could feel like! With every session I have with Sheila we delve into different layers of my psyche and heal a little piece of me one layer at a time. She is kind, gentle and truly helps you work miracles.” — Stacy G.

“I had become aware of a traumatic incident from childhood that I did not know how to heal. After one session with Sheila, that incident, which I now know had permeated every facet of my life, was painlessly removed and replaced with peace, love, joy, forgiveness, freedom, and happiness. Thank you, Sheila.” — Harry C.

“I had been in counselling for 10 years before coming to see Sheila for my anger issues. In only two sessions with her I feel I have made far more progress than all those years in traditional therapy!” — Vic H.

“The hurt from my childhood felt like it was floating away like bubbles. I felt such a sense of peace and calm.” — Linda L.

Session Rates

All sessions are held online via Zoom.

Single Session (60 minutes): $110
3-Session Package: $300
5-Session Package: $480

Getting Started

If you’re considering working together, the first step is a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation.

This is a relaxed, no-pressure conversation where we can get to know each other, discuss your goals, and explore whether this approach feels like a good fit for you. You’re welcome to ask any questions and share as much or as little as you feel comfortable.

A strong sense of trust and connection is an important part of the healing process, and this call helps us establish that foundation.

Ready to Move Forward?

If you’re ready to release the weight of the past and step into a lighter, more peaceful way of being, I invite you to reach out. Use the contact form below to get in touch and schedule your introductory call.

I am passionate about the work I do and would be honoured to support you on your healing journey.

You can reach me at sheila@freedomwithsheila.com to set up a consultation call or to book a session.

Here’s to Freedom!
— Sheila