LCSW, 5 years of experience
New to Grow
Hello, I'm Sara and LCSW with expereince as a social worker and a therapist for both families and individuals. I help clients achieve their goals by helping them become aware of their own potential. I often start this process by teaching mindfulness and feelings awareness to help clients feel empowered to solve their own emotional problems by learning to cope. I assist clients on what they are feeling and help them learn how to feel things in a safe way. From the time I was young I knew what it felt like to feel grief, and complex emotions regarding myself and my relationships and I am incredibly empathetic and passionate towards others as they begin to heal as someone who has been on both sides of the table. Please reach out, and thank you for inviting me into your healing journey.
Our first session will likely look like an intake where we can do a throughout overview of your history, what you're looking for in therapy and establish a throughout treatment plan. I like to think of our first session as an interview in which the client gets to see if I'm the kind of therapist they are looking for while I can give the client an overview of what I do, answer questions and refer to any resources needed in that time while we access their needs together.
My greatest strength as a therapist is I thrive in encouraging diversity amongst my clients. I strongly believe that every person regardless of gender, race, class or neuro type has a unique perspective and strength that can help them heal and that everyone has what they need already grow, and my job is to just guide and encourage them.
My ideal client is someone who is ready to make a change even if they aren’t sure how. I work with many clients who struggle with all types of trauma, mood disorders, neurodivergence and often a combination of these traits. I often work with my clients to help them set attainable goals and break down complex situations piece by piece. I also strive to make a safe space for LGBTQ+ and encourage expressions of all gender identities, life styles and sexualities. Vulnerability is key to healing and I welcome anyone who is ready to begin and honest conversation about their goals.
PCIT is a method that teaches parents how to relate and play with their children in a way that helps a parents set limits, boundaries, learn empathy for their children and create a stronger bond. I have experience working with families effected by trauma, autism, ADHD and behavioral issues and teaching parents "how to speak their child's language" through play, art and teaching an social-emotionally center style of parenting.
MBT is using mindfulness and grounding techniques in order to cope with strong emotions, manage stress and empower clients to have skills to deal with life challenges. I use this by teaching visualizations, meditations, grounding skills and ways to practice mindfulness in each clients unique situation.
IFS uses something called "parts work" to break down difficult memories, sensations and emotions into smaller parts to understand them one at a time and bringing understanding and resolution to what is discovered. To learn more about this I recommend the book "No Bad Parts" by Richard C. Schwartz to get an outline of how I use this in more depth.
TIC is a practice that understands the ways in which trauma fundamentally changes the way the brain, behavior and the way a person needs to approach their method of healing via therapy. I use this knowledge in session to shape the way we do anything in therapy, by providing education resources and trauma healing methods like EDMR, expressive arts therapy and IFS in the context of awareness of trauma. I've worked with clients with varying degrees of trauma my entire career, taking time in my graduate studies to do special research on this topic and seek out clients in need of this type of care including people effected by PTSD, human trafficking, sexual abuse, domestic violence, and co-ocurring disorders.
GAT is therapy for members of the LGBTQ+ community, especially trans people, to explore, understand and positively reinforce gender identity in a way that improves a client overall mental health in a way that serves them the best. I have been working with people in this community for many years whether a person is questioning, transitioning (medically and/or emotionally) or in need of community resources.