Sarah F. O’Brien (she/her) is a dynamic and innovative trauma-informed professional. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW, LCSW-C), and has been a practicing psychotherapist specializing in Anxiety Disorders, Substance Use Disorders, and Relational/Betrayal Trauma for over 15 years. She has had many diverse and enriching experiences as a therapist that inform her work as a Trauma-Informed Coach and Consultant. She has been finding ways to pivot her clinical skills into other areas to reach wider audiences for impacting social change. Sarah also writes, speaks, and creates audio & video media content in efforts to reduce the stigma around mental health disorders & treatment, and to increase understanding of and accessibility to trauma-informed practices for all people and all businesses. 

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Not only is Sarah the Founder/CEO of both her psychotherapy practice and coaching/consulting business, she is the creator of the groundbreaking tool: the Trauma-Informed Crisis Response Guide. This step-by-step guide can be easily used and followed by any person, in any setting, to navigate the steps to address a mental health crisis in action. She strives to help folks wrap their minds around trauma-informed care in both clinical and non-clinical settings and work through their barriers to access transformational change, in life, in business, in self.

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Additionally, she is the Membership Chair of the local chapter of  the Virginia Society for Clinical Social Work. Subject Matter Expert with the Integrate Network, and is invited to guest speak as a subject matter expert on podcasts, webinars, and panel discussions. She also is an ambassador for Belongly, a professional community of vetted mental health professionals.

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Sarah holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Sociology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, as well as a Master of Social Work degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. Sarah holds clinical social work license designation (LCSW, LCSW-C) in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the state of Maryland. She is a Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional and a Certified Telemental Health Professional. She is enrolled with Beautiful You Coaching Academy, an internationally recognized coaching certification program, and scheduled to complete it in October 2024. She also is undergoing a leadership training with Dare to Lead, a program for training for brave leaders, developed by Brene Brown. 

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Sarah has had the privilege to learn and be trained by many teachers & mentors, most notably but not limited to: Nedra Glover Tawwab,  Bruce Perry, Paul Conti, Gabor Mate, Sue Johnson, Janina Fisher, Catherine Pittman, and Marsha Linehan. Local teachers include Henry Morris, Harry Almond, Sarah Charbonneau, and many others.