Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Cole.
Sara, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I went to UCSD for my B.A. in Psychology and then went on to JFK University to attain my M.A. in counseling psychology, completed three years of internship, and was finally a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Along the road to becoming licensed, I was also working in the non-profit world to gain experience and pay my bills. During that time, I worked with children on the Autism spectrum, then served older adults with severe mental illness, then with children who had experienced trauma.
I opened my private practice a little at a time. At first, it was just in the evenings, seeing a couple of clients per week after my 9-5 job in a non- profit agency and that was perfect. In that program, I worked with traumatized children in the foster care system and their parents who were trying to do better. Then five years ago, I had my daughter and life changed in so many ways. I left my 9-5 job and focused on growing my practice in order to have more time to be a mom. My daughter was born at 30 weeks and spent six weeks in the NICU. It was at this point that I left my full-time job. I developed Postpartum Depression and Anxiety and the first year was very difficult in so many ways. I sought treatment and was able to get back to feeling like myself. Being a mom is my most favorite “job” ever and I strive to always do my very best. I also use the traumatic events from my life to better understand what my clients are experiencing.
I am now a single mom, I own my own practice and am an artist on the side. I have found the balance in my life that feels right for me and my daughter. My life is fulfilling, I get to be creative and I absolutely love the work I do. Something a little different about my practice is that I share office space with my mom who is also an LMFT and we have a great relationship. I work mostly with women and teen girls who have experienced trauma, anxiety, life changes and/or are overwhelmed by life. I incorporate EMDR, mindfulness, CBT, art and traditional talk therapy into the work I do with clients. I also adore working with friends and loved ones of those who struggle with addiction. My practice continues to grow and I am so excited to be able to share what I do. My hope is that my clients are able to feel stronger, happier, more content because of the work we do together. It is my way of helping to make the world a better place.
Has it been a smooth road?
There have been some bumps along the way. My daughter was born prematurely and then my daughter’s father and I separated about a year after she was born. At that point, I needed to quickly go from primarily staying home with my daughter to working a job that would support us. I also wanted to be able to spend as much time with her as possible and have a flexible schedule. A full-time private practice was my answer. I was not taught about marketing or social media or running a business in grad school. I knew how to do therapy, but sort of had to learn the rest on the fly. It was a scary decision at the time, because, “what if I failed?”. I took the risk and haven’t looked back. It was the right decision for me. There have been adjustments to things like fluctuating income and the business side of things. None the less, this feels like where I am supposed to be.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
My practice is focused on supporting women and girls. I provide trauma therapy as well as more traditional counseling and support around things like anxiety, depression, big life events and the women who are just stretched too thin. Women are so often overlooked, underestimated or taken advantage of. I want them to know their strength and their worth. I want them to feel seen and heard and valued. I help them set healthy boundaries, reject mistreatment and find pride in who they are.
I am extremely proud of the experience I gained over the years in non-profit agencies. This was better than any graduate program alone. I would have missed out on so much if I had gone straight to private practice. I wouldn’t have the same depth of knowledge and understanding of trauma. Because I am also an artist, I find the creative aspect of therapy very appealing as well. Creativity is important in finding the best treatment for each person and how to best reach them.
One thing that makes my business unique is that I share office space with my mother. She is a great couples therapist. We are easily able to refer back and forth and sort of cover the life span. I don’t work with couples very often, so it is great to have a therapist I trust and admire, that I can refer to.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
San Diego has so many therapists to choose from and that can be daunting or even defeating. But I don’t think that means that there isn’t room for new therapists. If you have a specialization that is sought after, you are willing to get out there and make yourself seen and you provide quality service for a reasonable rate, there is plenty of room for more therapists. San Diego may seem saturated with mental health providers, but that’s because the people here are open to it and seek out these services.
Pricing:
- $165 per 50 minute session
Contact Info:
- Address: 9666 Businesspark Ave. Suite 201, San Diego, CA 92131
- Website: www.saracolemft.com
- Phone: 6193163171
- Email: sara.colemft@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saracolemft/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sara-cole-lmft-san-diego
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