Welcome.

I’m Sara Haynes, a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist who helps people create a better life and experience more joy and connection. You will gain the tools to help you move through intense emotions and release energy from old wounds. Our work together can help you start feeling more hopeful and less overwhelmed. 

I’m no different from the clients I see. Like many of you, I have doubted myself, struggled with worry, and experienced love & loss. There was a time when I felt stuck and restless.

My mission is to give each of my clients the gift of self acceptance and a trust that you are enough. I will push self-compassion as a goal because without it we have shame, and that emotion drives us to live in disharmony and ultimately disconnection – the very opposite of what we need to thrive.

My Journey To Becoming A Therapist

For as long as I can remember, I was fascinated by what makes people tick—what drives our behavior and emotions and shapes our personality. If you had asked me in sixth grade what I wanted to be, I would have said, without a doubt, a psychologist (no MFTs in those days). This was the year my parents sent me to one for my constant nightmares. Somehow, spending time with this therapist, playing games and talking, made me feel more secure in the world and washed away my anxiety. I had no idea why, but it profoundly impacted me and made sense on a level I couldn't understand back then.

I grew up thinking the corporate world was where I should be. I wanted to be seen a certain way; I actually carried shame about therapy. So, I found success in the corporate world — the money, status, titles — but I was unhappy, unmotivated, and felt lost.

It wasn’t until I was 40 that I followed my heart and changed the direction of my life. Some thought I was crazy to start over with loans and little kids. What I learned—and what has deeply influenced the way I work as a therapist—is that when we choose to be seen and begin living in greater alignment with who we are, there is more ease, more joy, and a clarity we couldn't see before.

I love the field of psychotherapy and neurobiology. I love what I do; it is who I am. My training has given me language and a framework for something that has always been instinctive to me. I have more tools and resources to offer different pathways to healing. But knowledge is only part of the process. My deep empathy for the human experience, my intuition, and my ability to truly understand another person’s journey are just as important. I trust this process, and more importantly, I trust our capacity to heal when we are ready for change.

It is never “too late.”

I am living proof that when you give yourself permission to follow what is authentic and true for you, your life can open up in ways you may not have imagined.

Client’s say ~

I have a natural ability to:

• Ask the right questions to bring clarity and energy to sessions

• Connect and have empathy and create a safe place to be seen

• Discover what’s under the surface quickly

• Connect the dots in ways that bring insight and catharsis

What is a session like?

Sessions will provide you with the space to explore your thoughts, feelings, and goals. Because I have spent time on my own healing journey, I understand how uncomfortable it may be at times to be seen in a vulnerable space. I will go at your own pace and hold a sacred space for you to move through your process.

It’s important to me to provide a non-judgemental space where you can be yourself and stay open to any feedback and questions you may have. There isn’t a “one size fits all” approach to therapy. Our sessions will fit your specific needs and concerns. I have heard many clients say “I don’t know what to talk about” certain weeks. My answer to that is always “wonderful'“ because this is the time when you do not have to prepare, worry, or care about anything but showing up with yourself. Often, the best sessions are those when there has been no prior thought or agenda and we get to organically see what shows up.

My Professional Background

I ama Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in the state of California. My education started at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I completed my Bachelor of Arts degree in Russian. I completed a Masters in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University, Los Angeles. My clinical work ranges from supervising the largest women & children’s housing program for homeless veterans (US VETS, INC) to working with young adults for substance use (Evolve Treatment) to professionals and young adults in private practice. I have counseled hundreds of teens, adults and couples from various socio-economic backgrounds and launched my private practice in 2013.

I specialize in relationships - with our self and others. I am trained in relational and trauma therapies, including the Trauma Resiliency Model, Brainspotting, and Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples. I also bring a passion to helping people understand, manage and work with ADHD — how it impacts school, work and relationships.

I prefer to combine neurobiological approaches with a psychodynamic lens which creates a holistic, complete, and effective approach for clients' healing and personal growth. I love working with couples as much as individuals.

Specialized Trainings and Expertise:

• Certified Practitioner of the Trauma Resiliency Model

• Certified Teacher of the Community Resiliency Model

• Certified Practitioner of Brainspotting

• Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples

• Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention Technique (TS-CBIT) for Tourette Syndrome

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and the Highly Gifted

• Tourette Syndrome, tics, mood disorders

• Elite Athletes and Professionals for performance and clearing blocks

• Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT)