Sarah Swiger
Welcome to Stronger Minds Mental Health and Wellness, LLC. My name is Sarah and I am both a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor.
I am a 'what you see is what you get' type person, so you can expect an authentic and genuine interaction with me and I look for the same from you!
What that means is that I take a unique approach to symptom and medication management and treat the person truly as a whole being, understanding that sometimes medications alone are not the answer, so I aim to provide therapeutic support as well and we work TOGETHER to come up with a treatment plan that fits specifically to your needs. I am a 'what you see is what you get' type person, so you can expect an authentic and genuine interaction with me and I look for the same from you!
First session
In our first session together, I tend to be laid back and seek to have more of a conversation so that we may both become more comfortable with one another. What that may look like is brief introductions and then diving into some of the history of what brought you to me so that we can begin to consider a plan for treatment that is tailored directly to you. My first session with you tends to be a lot of information gathering so that we can move forward in future sessions with as good of an understanding of the whole picture of you as possible. Typically, I try to have some intervention in place by the end of session one, when possible, whether that is medication, therapy, or other referrals if needed.
Strengths
Having background as a case manager, then therapist, emergency department nurse and now Nurse practitioner, I feel my experiences working with people in various stages of need and health have helped me to look at wellness and healing from a more holistic perspective. I am flexible in my approach and never treat anyone the same as anyone else because we are all so very unique.
Ideal clients
I work best with people who seek to make genuine improvement in their lives. Generally speaking, I feel as though I am easy to connect with and work well with a variety of people from all walks of life. While I wish there was a magic pill to heal all of our ailments, the reality is there is not one that I know of. So, if you believe medications can aid in healing when you also put in the work, I am the right person for you.
Treatment methods
Trauma-Informed Care
In this day and age, nearly everyone has had trauma impact their life. I use a trauma lens to view most symptoms and experiences and meet each client where they are.
Attachment-based
Early life experiences related to attachment can have an immense effect on the way we navigate the world for the rest of our lives. Considering attachment styles and relational aspects of early life can help to understand more about challenges later.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
When I meet with a client, I feel it is just as important to look at cognitive beliefs as it is to identify behavioral patterns and the interplay between thoughts and actions.
EMDR
I have been trained in EMDR therapy and make use of techniques in this method often.
Gender-affirming therapy
I believe everyone should be treated as an individual, bringing their own story and experiences to the table. It is my honor to be able to work with people from all aspects of life and therefore I take great responsibility in validating my client's experiences and meeting their needs.
Location
Virtual sessions