Sarah Bartholomew-Fisher, LCSW
(she/her)
What works for you
Sarah knows that there is no one type of therapy that works for everyone. She meets with each client to understand what it is that they are looking to gain through therapy. She utilizes many evidence-based practices and continues to seek out and be trained in new evidence-based interventions. She will work with you to find the approach that works best for you.
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​Sarah has spent her career working with children, adult, and family survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse, as well as many different mental health diagnoses.
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​Sarah is passionate about helping individuals be the best version of who they want to be.
Person Centered
Person Centered
Person Centered Therapy is based on Carl Rogers’s theory that a genuine, non-judgemental, empathetic, therapeutic relationship is essential for providing the space for individuals to create the change that they need in their life. Studies have shown that positive clinical outcomes are most likely when there is a strong therapeutic relationship, where individuals feel supported. Although Sarah utilizes many therapeutic modalities, the Person Centered Approach is at the heart of every session.
Trauma Informed
Trauma Informed
Trauma informed therapy, means practicing therapy with the knowledge of how trauma impacts individuals. Trauma can change the way the brain works and even the structure of the brain. Not all people who experience trauma respond the same way. There are many different ways that trauma can manifest emotionally, behaviorally, and physically. Sarah is a certified clinical trauma professional and has worked with many individuals who have experienced trauma. She is passionate about helping these individuals heal and gain back their sense of safety, power, and self.
Cultural Humility
Cultural Humility
Practicing therapy with cultural humility means not only learning about other cultures, but also recognizing that not all members of a group will have the same culture. Sarah understands whatever your culture may be, every individual has their own culture that has been affected by their life experiences. Sarah values everyone’s culture and strives to learn about every individual she works with through genuine engagement and interest.
CBT
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) assists individuals with exploring their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Through life experiences we all develop a set of core beliefs and values. These beliefs and values change the way we see and experience future life events. Sarah utilizes CBT to assist individuals with exploring their thoughts, emotions, behaviors, values, and beliefs, and assessing how they are impacting their life experience. Sarah has been trained in Trauma Focused-CBT, a specific branch of CBT that can be used to help individuals process and understand the trauma that they have experienced and how it is impacting their life.
Solution Focused
Solution Focused Therapy focuses more on working from the present moment moving forward than exploring the past. Individuals identify areas of their life where their problem is not as prominent or not present at all and work to grow from there. Sarah enjoys the positive focus and that individuals grow upon the strengths that they already have. She finds this method helpful to assist clients in identifying what change they truly want to see in their lives.
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EFT
Emotionally Focused Therapy
Emotionally Focused Therapy truly values the individual. The therapist joins the client in exploring past and present relationships and patterns in order move through hard emotions. Individuals tend to avoid uncomfortable emotions, but with this therapeutic technique the therapist supports the client in growing and building a tolerance to feeling difficult emotions while maintaining control. Although Emotionally Focused Therapy can be used in couples therapy, Sarah utilizes techniques from this therapeutic modality with her individual clients.
Expressive Arts
Expressive Arts
Expressive Arts allow individuals to explore their emotions and experiences. Our brains don’t store emotions with words, so sometimes it’s easier to access and address emotions through art. It can be particularly helpful when processing trauma. Trauma memories and emotions are often stored fragmented in our brain, connected in a way that makes it difficult to work through. Art is also a great tool for coping and calming. As individuals are open to it, Sarah incorporates art, music, movement, and creative writing into therapy.
Expressive Arts allow individuals to explore their emotions and experiences. Our brains don’t store emotions with words, so sometimes it’s easier to access and address emotions through art. It can be particularly helpful when processing trauma. Trauma memories and emotions are often stored fragmented in our brain, connected in a way that makes it difficult to work through. Art is also a great tool for coping and calming. As individuals are open to it, Sarah incorporates art, music, movement, and creative writing into therapy.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a skill that can help individuals in tandem with any method of therapy. Being mindful can be difficult to master, but once people develop the skill it can be utilized to create change, develop a better understanding of self, and monitor emotional and behavioral functioning. Sarah teaches mindfulness skills and assists the individuals she works with to grow in their mindfulness practice.
Play and Bibliotherapy
Play and Bibliotherapy
Play and bibliotherapy allow us to learn and practice skills through the experiences of characters in stories and imaginative play. We often give more empathy and forgiveness to others and we can extend those feelings to ourselves when we identify with a character in a book or story. Through play children, and adults, can test boundaries, practice skills, and express emotions in a way that they feel safe.
PCIT
PCIT
Parent Child Interaction Therapy
Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is a powerful evidence-based therapeutic modality.
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Although Sarah does not have a full PCIT set up enabling her to do true PCIT, Sarah has been trained in PCIT and can teach the powerful skills to parents to assist with developing a therapeutic bond with their child. She educates parents about attachment, child development, and how to play!
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence based therapy well known for treating PTSD. EMDR is also evidenced based for other anxiety disorders, fear, grief, intrusive thoughts, depression, and even symptoms in chronic psychotic disorders.
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Changes in brain functioning can be seen on brain scans after experiencing a trauma. We also can see the positive effects of EMDR as it helps to rewire and heal the brain. Sarah has started training in EMDR, can utilize some of the helpful techniques, and hopes to become a certified provider in the future.
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence based therapy well known for treating PTSD. EMDR is also evidenced based for other anxiety disorders, fear, grief, intrusive thoughts, depression, and even symptoms in chronic psychotic disorders.
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Changes in brain functioning can be seen on brain scans after experiencing a trauma. We also can see the positive effects of EMDR as it helps to rewire and heal the brain. Sarah has been trained as an EMDR therapist through an approved EMDRIA training program.
