Introducing June’s Featured Therapist, Sarah Bauer

 

Every month, Council for Relationships highlights one of our Staff Therapists on the Expert Voices blog. Sarah Bauer, MS, MFT was named this month’s featured Staff Therapist. Learn more about Sarah in the quick introduction below. If you are interested in therapy with Sarah, request an appointment today.

 

What is your background? 

I am a master’s level marriage and family therapist with two other master’s degrees in forensic psychology and criminal justice.  I specialize in trauma, addiction, domestic violence, and suicidality. Many of my clients tell me that I have a “comfortable old soul” vibe and this can help client feel less anxious and more comfortable disclosing trauma, as well as the feelings and emotions that stem from it.

I chose to become a therapist because I firmly believe in the motto: “we help others because at one point or another, we could not help ourselves.” Therapists have sat in the same chair that you sit now; we understand the process and have used therapy to work through our own issues. My approach is a combination of the intersystem approach, mindfulness, and cognitive behavioral therapeutic interventions. Each client is unique with individualized problems, so my approach reflects this.  

In my everyday life, I enjoy sunsets and sunrises (this is my meditation place), volunteering at a domestic violence shelter, spoiling my two cats, and spending time with my friends, husband, and loved ones.  

 

What is one piece of advice you would like to give people who may be struggling emotionally and would like to seek help but may not be ready? 

I would say to just try it! Give therapy time to work for you. I believe that therapy can be beneficial at any point in one’s life, not just when they are in a crisis situation. If there’s anything in your life that you want to improve, this is your sign. Therapy is about empowering the individual to improve their lives and creating a safe space to do so. There is no right or wrong answer to life’s greatest questions, there is simply the ones that are best for you. Also, it is okay to be nervous. Change is scary, but change can also have many positive effects.  

 

What does a first session with you usually consist of? 

Initial sessions are essentially a “getting to know you” process. I ask questions that pertain to why you are seeking therapy at this time, as well as learn about you and your background. I work on learning about a client’s expectations of therapy and goals, so we can work on developing a starting point and moving towards a common goal: creating a safe space in which a client can grow and develop. The first session can be scary for some clients, so I try to encourage clients to ask questions to make them more comfortable with the therapeutic process.   

 

What do you help your clients work towards? 

I believe that the goals of therapy are different for each individual. I also believe that assisting clients to understand themselves and who they are is important to helping them understand their goals. On a surface level, the people I work with want to change something within themselves or a situation that they are in, but it is dependent upon what they want to change to determine the steps to assisting them to getting there. I frequently revisit their goals, as these often change over time. I help my many of my clients work towards establishing a sense of stability in their lives.

 

Sarah is currently accepting new clients at our Lawrenceville and Voorhees offices in New Jersey. If you’re interested in therapy with Sarah, request an appointment today!