Sarah Taylor, MS, NCC, is a trauma-informed counselor and play therapist mentee working under the supervision of Elizabeth Campbell, MS, LPC, RPT-S. Sarah provides therapy to children and teens ages 3-18 who struggle with coping with trauma, anxiety, depression, behavioral challenges, and autism/neurodiversity. Through expressive arts, humor, and play in therapy sessions, she strives to build clients’ self-esteem and teach alternative ways to normalize and cope with challenging emotions.
Experience
Sarah has experience as an outpatient therapist at the Center for Autism, where she provided neurodiverse-affirming care to children, teens, and adults. In this role, she worked alongside parents and caregivers and navigated healthcare systems and structures to provide comprehensive care. In working with this population, Sarah has developed a deep passion for advocacy and fostering empathy and understanding around neurodiversity.
Play Therapy
“Enter into children’s play, and you will find the place where their minds, hearts, and souls meet”: Virginia Axline, play therapy pioneer. Sarah firmly believes in the important role of play in children’s development, especially during critical moments or challenging events in a child’s life. Through play therapy, the child can express their thoughts and emotions without words they may not yet have, in a safe and imaginative environment.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
When worries and distressing thoughts become so overwhelming that they begin to impact daily functioning, it can be confusing and even scary, especially for parents and their children. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is considered to be the gold standard in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which Sarah utilizes to help her clients to confront their fears or anxieties in a controlled and gradual manner, leading to an eventual reduction in symptoms.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has become well known for its effectiveness across a wide range of conditions. Sarah is trained in the application of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), which helps children, teens, and families to cope, process, and overcome challenges following a traumatic event. Sarah employs creative methods to teach how the body responds to stress and trauma and encourages clients and families to regain ownership of their stories.