Sarah Blaszczak (she/her)

I work with people and their partners to resolve relationship issues, whether married, dating, polyamorous, gay, straight, or TGNC. I help people grow toward each other and into their authentic selves in relationships.

I have a wealth of experience and use a wide variety of approaches to help people heal from their unique combination of trauma symptoms, including flashbacks, dissociation, panic, avoidance, depression, irritability and low self-esteem.

I have experience working with sexual problems including avoidance and compulsions. I also enjoy supporting communities that can experience stigma and oppression around sexuality, including those in open relationship, involved in kink and sex work and those identifying as Transgender and GNC.

Dismantling internalized white supremacy is work I have done personally, through supervising other clinicians and with clients. If you are invested in this work and/or are being called to it by a person of color in your life, I can help you build insight and change behavior through a strong but compassionate approach. This is a lifelong process. I would never expect perfection from you or myself.

I integrate most approaches based on the strengths, vulnerabilities and interests of the client. I do not expect a client to adjust to my theory, rather I adjust theory to help a client feel safe, in control and hopeful.

I believe every symptom was at one time a brilliant adaptation to life circumstances. I also understand that symptoms can outlive their usefulness or make a person feel like they are out of control. I work with clients to enhance self-compassion for their automatic responses, while also building a sense of agency so clients have more choices. For most people trauma therapy often includes some combination of talk, body awareness, creative expression and action steps.

Most of us are ambivalent about most things to some degree. That is because we have parts with different, and sometimes conflicting needs and wants. Internal Family Systems is an approach that takes all impulses, feelings and desires seriously and is an approach that fosters integration and mastery so that no part is taking the lead without the consent of all other parts. This integration leads to a sense of empowerment and well-being.

There is a deeper approach available at the intersection of psychology and spirituality that addresses suffering at the root... identity. For those interested in seeing the nature and effect of ongoing identity formation in order to cut suffering at the root, the coaching arm of my practice may be a wonderful option. Also, if you are approaching or have had non-dual realization I can support integration and shadow work. I like to affectionately call this "accessing your inner guru."

The body holds wisdom beyond what the mind could even fathom. Our culture reinforces mental strength to the point of systemic dissociation and disembodiment. I help support people in integrating the entire organism in service of navigating unique individual paths of freedom from suffering.