Sara Yanney
I am a white, queer, disabled, neurodiverse therapist. My degree from Naropa University is in Somatic Psychology with an emphasis in Dance/Movement Therapy, I am trained in EMDR, and I am also a certified Laban Movement Analyst and Alexander Technique teacher.
Are you looking to improve your mood, relationships, and/or quality of life? Has your past trauma or experiences interfered with your happiness?
I created the practice to be inclusive of all LGBTQ+, BIPOC, persons with disabilities, all body sizes, and neurodiverse individuals. I can offer traditional talk therapy, integrate somatic therapy, movement, and/or EMDR, and offer whatever format looks best for each client. I work with children, teens, and adults in all stages of life. I am passionate about supporting others to heal and improve their quality of life.
Strengths
Most clients find me because they are interested in methods I specialize in (like somatics, dance/movement, EMDR), or because of one of my life experiences that aligns with theirs. One of the ways I overcome my own trauma is to help support others that have been through similar traumas. I of course have my own therapist and have 'worked on my stuff', but my life experience allows me to have understanding and empathy for adversities my clients have experienced. I use self-disclosure, sharing my own experience, with care, only using it to validate a client's experience or to help build therapeutic rapport and relationship. I focus on a client's strengths and want to support everyone in finding a better quality of life as you heal past traumas, cope with current stressors, and strengthen your coping skills to handle what life throws at you. While I maintain professional boundaries, I care for all of my clients as though they are my family.
Treatment methods
Somatic
My degree is in Somatic Psychology with an emphasis on Dance/Movement Therapy. I am happy to just do traditional talk therapy with any client if that is your preference. But for clients that want to integrate the body and/or movement, I happy to bring this into your sessions. Somatic therapy is we are bringing in body sensations to processing, strengthening coping skills, an building self-awareness. The movement piece does not have to include "dance", it can be integrating any movement from walking, yoga, to exploring Dance/Movement Therapy structured systems of exploring movement in relationship to your emotions and experiences for processing and healing. I am also a certified Alexander Technique teacher and certified Laban Movement Analyst, which I can also integrate into sessions as clients prefer. We can integrate this for telehealth, making the most of your space, and my office has a full dance/movement area as well as a traditional talk therapy space with couches and other seating.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT has a straight forward framework of noticing our thought patterns, how they affect our mood and relationships, looking at your thoughts, emotions, and actions. I use CBT to empower clients to redirect negative thoughts, have more ownership over your thoughts, emotions, and actions, and improve overall mood and relationships. For kids and teens especially, this is also a helpful approach to improve behaviors, but it also helps adults that want to shift their behaviors.
Culturally Sensitive Therapy
As a white, queer, disabled, neurodiverse therapist, I know the importance that culture plays in our lives and how it intertwines with mental health. I have a strong value of meeting everyone where they are with kindness and my space is inclusive of all ages, cultures, BIPOC, persons with disabilities, all body sizes, and neurodiverse clients. Although I have religious trauma, I remain spiritual and respect every individual's right to their religious and spiritual beliefs.
Play Therapy
My office has a full play therapy area along with an open movement space if your kiddo needs to move. We have a variety of dolls, dress up, toys, and games for children to process their emotions and experiences through play. Because of where children are in their cognitive development and not always able to verbally articulate their emotions and experiences, art, movement, and play are their primary forms of expression and processing. I integrate play therapy with age appropriate psychoeducation using CBT and Polyvagal Theory to understand their nervous system regulation to help them better manage their emotions and learn how to better communicate their emotions and needs.
EMDR
I am EMDR trained. I offer EMDR to all ages. It is an additional tool to help clients reprocess experiences and emotions that are stuck in past, are not true in the present (such as believing "I am not good enough" ). EMDR was originally used for patients with some type of PTSD, but it is helpful for any client that has a belief, behavior, or emotions that are interfering with your quality of life and happiness.
Location
Virtual sessions
In-person sessions801 Main St, Louisville, CO 80027, Ste 10
Identifies as
LGBTQ
Spiritual but not religious
Woman
Top specialties
Childhood / Intergenerational Trauma
Chronic Illness / Medical Issues
Trauma and PTSD
Licensed in
ColoradoLicense 21218