Sarah Glidden (she/they)

Social anxiety disorder or social phobia is a condition causing intense, and irrational fear of being watched and judged by others. This irrational fear may affect important aspects of the persons life by causing everyday social interactions to feel unbearable or uncomfortable. It is exhausting for the sufferer. I have treated social anxiety through the use of exposure and response prevention, cognitive restructuring, and Acceptance and Commitment therapy.

Grief and Loss may occur for unexpected reasons. Loss of a non-romantic or romantic relationship, loss of a job, loss of a loved one, a change in personal identity, a physical move, etc. may cause feelings of Grief and Loss. It is confusing to recognize and navigate Grief or Loss alone. I work with clients by helping them to identify the Loss or Grief they have experienced, learn to cope with it adaptively, and ultimately find acceptance.

Self-esteem means having confidence in ones own abilities, self-worth, and self-respect. When one lacks these the result is feelings of despair, depression, and shame. I work with a lack of self-esteem to identify the experiences and factors that have contributed to this state. We then, collaboratively, engage in cognitive and experiential strategies to challenge unhelpful thoughts and beliefs, foster healthy relationships with oneself and others, and tackle new obstacles or challenges.

I believe myself to be person-centered or "Rogerian" as a therapist. As such, believe the core components in counseling are Unconditional Positive Regard, Acceptance, and Genuiness (or Authenticity) toward the client. I believe that when these components are present meaningful therapeutic work is more likely to occur. I bring these components with me to every session, with every client, that I have the honor to work with.

Difficult experiences in early life can lead to damaged or maladaptive attachment styles. Together we will work to create healthy, secure attachment bonds in your life and your relationships. This starts by creating a secure bond between client and therapist, where I hope to help you feel confident that you are accepted completely, without fear of ridicule or abandonment. I believe that secure attachment will create an environment where deep and meaningful therapeutic work can occur.

Much of my education was focused on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). ACT is an evidence-based therapy therapy that focuses on living in-line with one's personal values, accepting, and coping with hardships or challenges in life. Identifying and learning to live within one's values may include adopting new ways of thinking or behaving, discussing troubling content, and facing difficult challenges or fears.