Sara McClelland (she/her)

I found my love for working with parents and children in graduate school, where I worked closely with these populations. After becoming a mother and experiencing postpartum depression first hand, I ventured into the maternal mental health realm in the hopes of supporting other mothers. I am trained as a birth and postpartum doula and do continuing education related to early childhood development, parenting, and perinatal and postpartum mental health. I meet every client where they are at. We may venture into uncomfortable territory, as therapy often does, but I focus heavily on creating safe and open spaces for my clients to be able to fully express themselves and validate their experiences. I take an unstructured approach and help clients expand and work on the issues that are most deeply meaningful and relevant to them where they are at in that moment. While there may be a goal in mind, life is fluid and ever changing, and my approach reflects that fluidity.

Being a parent and navigating motherhood has taught me the importance of dependability, integrity, and sustainability. I aim to incorporate these values with my clients to give them the professional respect and attention they deserve. I also recognize the struggle of modern day parenthood, and the solitude in which many parents find themselves. It is difficult to be the whole village raising children on your own. There is also a sense of putting the needs of children and family before yourself, and losing your identity in the process. I aim to help parents balance their identity and needs with the needs of their families. When it comes to parenting philosophy, I align most with gentle parenting. Parenting should be collaborative between partners and founded in 4 main elements– empathy, respect, understanding, and boundaries. This method encourages age-appropriate discipline that teaches valuable life lessons, and this in turn helps to raise happy, independent, and confident children.