I am lucky to have grown up here on the Central Coast; from being a student at Baywood Elementary to teaching theater and dance as a guest artist for SLCUSD, I have long been supported by our community, and am honored to return that support as a mental health practitioner for people of all ages.

I bring a wealth of life experience to my work that informs unique ways I work with people. My professional identity as a therapist is deeply intertwined with my identity as a theater artist. For most of my life, art has been the lens through which I understand myself and the world. Theater honed my skills for deep listening, attuning to others, embodied awareness, and the courage to be present.

I earned my Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University Santa Barbara, a program grounded in social justice, whole-person care, and the belief that therapy is both an art and a responsibility. I am committed to ongoing learning, supervision, and ethical practice, and I approach this work with humility and care.

In the last few years, my work, in and out of the therapy room, has focused on children, adolescents, and parents navigating the emotional complexities of caregiving; however, I enjoy working with people of every age and phase of living. I have experience working cross-culturally and value cultural humility. My door is open to neurodiverse and neurotypical people of all ages. I’m an LGBTQIA+ ally to those looking to explore their identity or seek gender affirming care. I am kink and sex positive, open to working with people of all faiths, and ready to hold space for those who need to process death, loss, and bereavement, work through depression, anxiety, life transitions, and anything else a person may need support for.

At its core, my work is about helping people connect with themselves—emotionally, relationally, and creatively—so they can move through the world with greater clarity, agency, and self-compassion. I believe in the power of the therapeutic relationship and meeting people where they need to be met. Because therapy is an art, it is not a one size fits all experience, and I relish the opportunity to facilitate the exploration of exactly what each person is here to discover. Whether it be to move through suffering, heal from trauma or loss, face life's challenges/transitions, increase insight, build resilience, or gain a richer sense of who you are --all of these things and many more are possible with support. I am here to offer that support.

When I’m not working I enjoy being in the kitchen and cooking for my loved ones, walking my dog on the beach, oil painting in my art studio, travel and fine dining, thrift store shopping and attending yoga and aqua fitness classes. I plan a return to the stage in my future.

Sarah@CoastTherapyAssociates.com or 805-776-3632.

Associate Marriage and Family Therapist - AMFT162126