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Sara's experience includes Early Head Start and Head Start programming, where she worked with children and families from the prenatal
period through age five in both home-based and center-based settings. As a Child Development Associate (CDA), she developed a strong
foundation in child development, attachment, school readiness, family engagement, and parent-child relationships. Working within a
family-centered model, Sara partnered with families to identify strengths, establish goals, access community resources, and overcome
barriers impacting their well-being. This experience reinforced her belief that meaningful change occurs when families are empowered,
supported, and provided opportunities to build lasting stability and success.
Her commitment to supporting vulnerable families
extended into prenatal and postpartum services, where she developed and secured grant-funded doula services for adolescents, incarcerated
women, and women experiencing significant economic hardship. As a Birth and Postpartum Doula, she supported mothers throughout pregnancy,
labor, delivery, and the transition into parenthood. Having been present for 68 births in her first year, she gained a profound appreciation
for the strength and resilience of women, the importance of attachment, and the lasting impact of early experiences on children and
families. As a Certified Breastfeeding Consultant, Sara promoted breastfeeding education, skin-to-skin bonding, and healthy parent-infant
attachment. Many of the families she served faced significant adversity and elevated Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), deepening
her understanding of trauma, resilience, and child development.
Prior to becoming a Guardian ad Litem, Sara served as a Court
Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), advocating for the best interests of children involved in the court system. This experience helped
shape her lifelong commitment to child advocacy, family well-being, and ensuring children's voices are heard. Drawing from her experience
in child welfare, family preservation, CASA advocacy, and Guardian ad Litem services, Sara has extensive experience working with families
navigating separation, divorce, high-conflict co-parenting, and complex family dynamics. She understands that when conflict occurs
between adults, children are often the most affected and works to help families create healthier communication, stronger relationships,
and child-focused solutions.
In addition to providing direct clinical services, Sara has served in leadership roles as a Clinical
Supervisor, Clinical Manager, and Clinical Master Trainer. She has trained and mentored clinicians throughout Indiana and at the national
level, delivered continuing education trainings, and supported the implementation of evidence-based and trauma-informed practices
designed to strengthen outcomes for children and families. Throughout her career, Sara has helped children and families navigate educational,
mental health, medical, legal, and community systems while advocating for access to resources, services, and support.
Clients
often describe Sara as warm, genuine, direct, and compassionate. She strives to create a space where people feel comfortable being
themselves, exploring difficult experiences, and working toward meaningful change. Her goal is to help individuals and families feel
seen, heard, understood, and empowered while building the skills and confidence needed to move forward. Sara believes meaningful change
begins with connection. Using a trauma-informed, strengths-based, and family-centered approach, she helps individuals and families
recognize their strengths, navigate challenges, build resilience, and create meaningful, lasting change. She believes every individual
possesses strengths, even during life's most difficult seasons, and works to help people reconnect with hope and recognize their capacity
for growth and healing.
As the parent of a large blended family that includes biological, adopted, and stepchildren, Sara has
experienced firsthand both the joys and complexities of raising children across different seasons of life. These experiences have
deepened her understanding of parenting, attachment, resilience, co-parenting, and the importance of feeling supported during life's
most challenging transitions. She believes families come in many forms and that healthy relationships are built through connection,
communication, resilience, and a commitment to continue showing up for one another through life's challenges.
At the heart of
Sara's work is the belief that every person deserves to be seen, heard, valued, and treated with dignity. Whether in the therapy room,
the courtroom, the classroom, or the community, she is committed to helping individuals and families find their voice, recognize their
strengths, and move toward healthier futures. Throughout this vulnerable process, she humbly walks beside each person, ensuring they
feel supported, seen, and cared for with compassion. Sara believes in leading with integrity while never losing sight of the humanity,
connection, and hope that foster healing and growth. The name Resilience & Rights Family Services reflects two values that have
guided Sara throughout her career: the belief that people possess the capacity to heal, grow, and overcome adversity, and the
belief that every child, individual, and family deserves to have their voice heard, dignity respected, and rights protected. She
believes growth begins when people recognize their strengths, reconnect with hope, discover their full potential, and experience the
healing that comes from being truly seen, heard, and knowing that they matter.
Populations Served
Children, Adolescents, Adults,
Couples, Families, Parents & Caregivers, Foster & Adoptive Families, Blended Families, Kinship Families, Court-Involved Families
Services
Provided
Individual Therapy, Family Therapy, Couples Counseling, Parent Education & Coaching, High-Conflict Co-Parenting Support,
Clinical Supervision, School Collaboration & Advocacy, Therapeutic Supervised Visitation, Blended Family Support, Child Advocacy
Consultation, Family Reunification Support, Parent-Child Relationship Support, Mental Health Assessments, Diagnostic Assessments,
Comprehensive Biophsychosocial Assessments, Co-Parenting Consultation, Diagnosis & Treatment Planning, Professional Consultation,
IEP & 504 Support, Family Systems Consultation, Foster & Adoptive Family Support, Care Coordination, Family Transition Support,
Care Coordination, Family Transition Support, Conflict Resolution Support
Areas of Clinical Focus
Anxiety, Depression, Trauma
& Trauma Recovery, Domestic Violence, Grief & Loss, Parenting Challenges, Co-Parenting, High-Conflict Divorce & Separation,
Family Conflict, Blended Family Dynamics, Substance Use & Recovery, Family Reunification, Emotional Regulation, Conflict Resolution,
Self-Esteem & Identify Development, Attachment Concerns, Child Development, Early Childhood Development, Prenatal & Postpartum
Adjustment, Foster Care & Adoption, School-Related Concerns, Court-Involved Family Systems, Child & Adolescent Behavioral
Concerns, Relationship Challenges, Life Transitions & Adjustment, Severe Mental Illness, Parent-Child Relationships, Communication
Skills, Family Resilience, Caregiver Stress & Burnout
Treatment Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused
CBT (TF-CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills, Solution-Focused Therapy, Strengths-Based Therapy, Attachment-Based Interventions,
Trauma-Informed Care, Mindfulness-Based Approaches, Family Systems Therapy, Family Centered Treatment (FCT), Trust-Based Relational
Intervention (TBRI), Sand Tray Therapy, Play Therapy Techniques, Parent-Child Interventions, Motivational Interviewing, Developmentally
Appropriate Interventions
Sara incorporates developmentally appropriate and experiential interventions, including Sand Tray Therapy,
to help children, adolescents, and adults express thoughts, feelings, experiences, and relationships that may be difficult to communicate
through words alone.
Professional Background
Child Welfare, Foster Care & Adoption, CHINS Cases, Juvenile Justice, Intensive
Family Preservation, Addictions Treatment, Inpatient Psychiatric Services, Intensive Outpatient Programming (IOP), Adult Intensive
Rehabilitation Services (AIRS), CASA Child Advocacy, School-Based Services, Early Childhood Development, Prenatal & Postpartum
Services, Early Head Start & Head Start, Community Mental Health, Behavioral Health Consultation, Medication Management Collaboration,
Crisis Intervention, Private Practice Psyhotherapy, Guardian ad Litem Services
Professional Certifications & Specialized
Training
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Certified FCT Supervisor (Level I & II), Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI),
Clinical Supervision, Clinical Manager, Child Development Associate (CDA), Certified Breastfeeding Consultant, Trauma-Informed Practice,
Continuing Education Presenter, Clinical Master Trainer
Professional Memberships:
• National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
•
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
• Professional Women's Association
• Indiana Guardian ad Litem / Court
Appointed Special Advocate (GAL/CASA) Program
• Kids' Voice of Indiana