“Be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars. In the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.”
OUR THERAPISTS
sara mindel, Msw, licsW
(She/Her/Hers)
Founder
I use a variety of approaches to help you develop more satisfying responses to life's challenges, including mindfulness practice, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, EMDR, body awareness, strengths perspective, cognitive-behavioral strategies, as well as other insight-oriented therapies. But first and foremost, I believe you are the guide in the therapeutic work. I honor the experiences and the strengths that you will bring to your therapy and will help you make the most out of your sessions, from beginning to end.
As a psychotherapist, I am committed to working and healing from an anti-racist and decolonized perspective and approach. I work with all individuals and couples, but specialize working with those who identify as LGBTQ+ and BIPOC, and in community. I work towards healing the emotional experience and bodies, in all bodies, including all sizes (HAES), all genders (Trans, Non-Binary, ENBY, Cis) and presentations (race, class, sexual orientation and, and, and ...). I also work with those who are in relationships that may identify as ethically non-monogamous or are part of the kink and/or poly communities, as well as more traditional monogamy. My passion is to listen and uplift the authentic narrative that lives powerfully and deeply in each one of us.
My approach to couples therapy is to assist partners in creating a common relationship vision. Through greater understanding of what each partner brings to the relationship and through developing skills to deepen the relationship, couples can learn to recognize and leave behind old patterns of behavior.
Certifications and Training
Certified and Consultant Sensorimotor Psychotherapist
EMDR Level I and II
Trauma Recovery Empowerment Model (TREM)
Voice Dialogue
Motivational Interviewing
Enneagram
Clinical Experience
Director of Clinical Services SMYAL (Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League), Washington, DC
Psychotherapist Whitman Walker Clinic, Washington, DC
Clinical Social Worker The Lambda Center at the Psychiatric Institute of Washington, Washington DC
ProFessional Affiliations:
Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work (GWSCSW)
National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute
Rainbow Families DC
EDUCATION
Masters of Social Work | University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work Philadelphia, PA
BS in Human Development and Family Studies Minors in Counseling and Women's Studies | Lesley University, Cambridge, MA
Training and Supervision
I provide training and both individual and group clinical supervision on issues of Trauma, Somatic Psychotherapy, Mindfulness, Mindfulness and Trauma in Addiction, and LGBT/Sexuality issues and interventions for providers.
As well, I am a Certified Consultant in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. The find out more about sensorimotor psychotherapy feel free to click here: www.sensorimotorpsychotherapy.com
If you are an existing client with Sara please click here for a link to the client portal for all of your account and scheduling needs.
