Tafadzwa Sandra Ngaru
Founder and primary counsellor at Sanara Wellness & Counselling.
A Foundation of Lived Experience
Tafadzwa Ngaru, also known as Taffy, is a compassionate mental health professional who built her career at the intersection of advocacy, community, and care. Her professional path has included supporting people through some of their most difficult transitions, navigating the complex realities of trauma and recovery, and building meaningful relationships within multicultural and Indigenous communities in Edmonton, Alberta.
Tafadzwa’s lived experience of growth, resilience, and cultural navigation is not simply a biographical detail — it is the foundation upon which Sanara was built[cite: 3]. She understands, from the inside, what it means to seek healing in a system that was not designed for you.
That understanding shapes every aspect of the practice: the language used, the spaces created, the therapeutic approaches offered, and the communities served. She brings deep expertise in resource navigation, community referrals, and program design; skills honed through years of service to diverse communities.
Therapeutic Approach
Taffy’s therapeutic approach is trauma-informed, culturally grounded, and client-centred. She counsels using a range of evidence-based therapeutic approaches, ensuring that each client’s treatment plan is as unique as their story.
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
A strengths-based approach that helps clients build on what’s already working and take practical steps toward their preferred future.
Person-Centred Therapy
A safe, non-judgmental space rooted in empathy and unconditional positive regard, where clients lead their own healing.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
A collaborative approach that helps clients reframe unhelpful thought patterns and build healthier responses.
Narrative Therapy
Helps clients re‑author the stories shaping their identity, especially for newcomers, Indigenous peoples, and those reclaiming their narrative.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
Combines cognitive-behavioural strategies with mindfulness to strengthen emotional regulation and distress tolerance.
Family Systems Therapies & Faith-Based Care
Supports families in strengthening understanding and repair, with optional faith‑based counselling for those who want to integrate spirituality.