Sarah Desautels
Teen & Adult Therapist
Pronouns: She/Her
Licensure: Provisionally Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Location:
Language: English
Fee:
Sliding Scale: Available
Insurance:
Accepting New Clients: Yes
Specialties:
LGBTQ2S+
Trauma & Complex Trauma
Dissociative Disorders (including DID)
Eating Disorders & Disordered Eating
ABOUT ME
Hi, I’m Sarah. I take a warm, attachment-based approach to therapy, co-creating a safe relationship where you can heal and grow. I believe we are all interconnected, and that individual wellness is intrinsically tied to our collective liberation. With an emphasis on strengths, social connections, and harm reduction, I provide unwavering support so you can take a leadership role in your own healing.
As a queer woman, I love working with the LGBTQ+ community, and I’m especially passionate about supporting clients with trauma and complex trauma, disordered eating, and dissociative disorders, particularly DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder). I focus on Internal Family Systems and Somatic Therapy techniques, but also incorporate approaches like Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Art Therapy. It’s my honor to integrate clients’ spiritual and cultural healing practices into treatment. A lifelong learner, I’m committed to my growth journey in antiracism, decolonization, abolition, and restorative justice.
I’m an LMSW with over six years of experience in a variety of mental health care roles, including community mental health, domestic violence shelter programming, and suicide/crisis hotline counseling. I have experience working with all age groups, and I currently serve teens and adults.
In my free time, I enjoy yoga, baking, makeup, visiting art museums, and doing tarot spreads for friends in coffee shops.
Why I Do This Work
“I chose this work because I have seen how healing deepens when it is rooted in culture, language, and lived experience. My passion is in creating safe spaces for people whose stories and identities may not have always been honored.”
— Sarah Desautels
My Approach in Practice
In our sessions, I might invite you to pause and check in with your body, noticing any sensations or emotions present in the moment. From there, we could explore what comes up using Internal Family Systems, perhaps meeting and listening to different parts of yourself with curiosity and compassion. Some days, we might use art-making or narrative exercises to give voice to experiences that feel difficult to put into words. Other times, somatic grounding or breathing practices can help you feel safe and regulated before moving into deeper work. My goal is to co-create a space where you feel supported to explore at your own pace, with room for both vulnerability and growth.
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Internal Family Systems, Somatic Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Art Therapy, Play Therapy
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Complex trauma, dissociation, eating disorders, life transitions, identity work, LGBTQ+ affirming care, poly/kink awareness
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We might begin by checking in with how your body is feeling today, then use creative tools or narrative techniques to explore what is present. Some sessions might include art-making or grounding exercises to support emotional regulation.
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Collaborative, non-judgmental, and adaptable to your needs. I will check in often about what is working for you and adjust our pace so the process feels manageable.
How We Can Work Together
Clients often reach out when they are:
Facing significant life changes and want to build stability and supportive routines.
Exploring or reconnecting with their identity, including cultural roots, values, and self-understanding.
Feeling stuck in unhelpful patterns and wanting to uncover triggers and practice new ways of responding.
Living with the effects of trauma or dissociation and seeking skills for nervous system regulation and resilience.
Navigating eating disorders or disordered eating and wanting a more compassionate, sustainable relationship with food and their body.
No matter the reason, my focus is on creating a collaborative process that moves at your pace and honors your lived experience.
