Sarah B Kirlik

(She/Her/Hers)

EmpoweringHER Odysseys PLLC®

PhD, LCSW, LCAS

Clients I Work With

(I completed 2 years of my MD in a 6 yr Honors BS-MD program. I was ranked on top of my class & was removed by religious leaders because I was not fulfilling my appropriate "gender role duties" at the time.) I practiced medicine as an air force doctor's assistant role and so, by default many of my referrals come from area doctors who have come to trust my clinical judgement with regards to basic medical suggestions. I work with anxiety cluster disorders, parenting challenges, high achievers, trauma survivors, some forensic encounters particularly with children, etc.

Approach

My foundational approach is based in an integration of Cognitive Behavioral Theory and Client-Centered Theory; both of which capture philosophically, who I am as a therapist in the room, perfectly. I think most clients approach therapy sessions with the expectation that the therapist is the expert of that field and so cognitive behavioral theory and the directive nature and stance of teacher plays to that expectation however to ensure that the expertise and cultural humility is always in play, I also integrate client-centered approach into the mix acknowledging that the client brings their own set of skills into the session as well including the skill of being the expert in their own lives. With that, my approach is more of that of equals but my skill just so happens to be that of the mental health agent in this situation. People often experience me as extremely casual and approachable

Beliefs & Lived Experience

I come from a very religious, & closed society. After medical school, I went to perform my "female duties" & learned that my body could NOT & so I went through an existential crisis after being told for my entire life that having babies was my purpose. After the loss of my last pregnancy (8 months), I grabbed my MSW for something to do with a job in geriatric care & fell in love with social work.I have worked in every aspect of social work throughout every contiguous state & several countries throughout Africa, Mexico, Central America. I have studied & lived among cultures of all the major Bibles in the World & some offshoots. I am the adopted mother of 2 African-American children, 33 therapeutic foster care kids, & hosted 2 Muslim teen exchange students for 2 separate academic years. The 1 unifying concept in ALL of the Bibles: The power differential between the G-d(s) & the Human!

More About My Practice

My practice is my way of turning our Hostile Patriarchal World on its head. Our world is female dominated and completely tranquil. We have a 10 year business plan that involves purchasing office space that permits for in-house daycare for employees & decor that is professionally feminine, bathrooms stocked with feminine hygiene products & proper disposal places, family changing stations etc. It will be a calm & welcoming place for ALL people; not just men, to come, & feel at peace. Even the definition of what "professionalism" looks like will be redefined within the same ethical principles outlines by the NASW Code of Ethics but NOT by the same male dominated work institutions that dictate it in organizations around the country. Being buttoned up in a suit & tie with absolutely no emotive capacity at all is NOT human & NOT authentic. My practice does not have these expectations at all!

Ages Served

Adults
Older Adults (65+)
Young Adults (18-25)

Services Provided

Couples Therapy
Family Therapy
Individual Therapy

Languages Spoken

English

Faith Communities Served

Buddhist
Christian
Hindu
Jewish
Muslim
Spiritual
Unitarian Universalist

Specializations

Modalities

Acceptance and Commitment (ACT)
Art Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
Family Systems Therapy
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Lifespan Integration
Mindfulness
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
Motivational Interviewing
Narrative Therapy
Person-Centered Therapy
Positive Psychology
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral (TF-CBT)

Specialties

Addiction
ADHD
Adoption
Anxiety
Behavioral Issues
Chronic Pain and Illness
Divorce
First Responders and Medical Professionals
Health At Every Size
Hoarding
Infertility
Life Transitions
Men's Issues
Non Monogamy
Parenting
Relationship Issues
Self Esteem
Spirituality
Women's Issues

Insurance and Payment

Payment Accepted

Credit

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Out of Network (Superbills Provided)

Private Pay (Superbills Not Provided)

Insurance Accepted

Aetna
Ambetter
Anthem
Blue Choice PPO
BlueCross BlueShield
Carelon Behavioral Health
Cigna
Coventry
Evernorth EAP (Cigna)
Medicare
Optum
Oscar Health
Oxford
UnitedHealthcare UHC | UBH
WellCare

State Licensed In

Massachusetts
North Carolina
South Carolina
Virginia