Hi, I’m Sarah Levene, LMFT
When you pitch a business name like “Rebel Well Therapy” to your friends and everyone’s response is “I love it, that is SO you” you hope it’s a compliment, or you just choose to take it as one. I have always had a rebel inside me, as a kid, definitely as a teenager, and even now as an adult (just the right amount). I find myself saying “says who?!” a lot to the way we do things, or the way we think. I am a former college athlete, a mom of two, a dog lover, a wife, and apparently, a rebel. I am passionate about decreasing stigma around therapy, changing people’s experience of therapy, or maybe what they believe therapy is like.
My Style
Specialties
Anger and aggression
Anxiety
Oppositional behavior
School issues
Self-esteem issues
Life transitions (career, school, parenthood, relationships etc.)
Perfectionism
Trauma
I have been fortunate to work in settings where I have gotten to take a fun, unique, and outside the box approaches to therapy. It has helped me to understand that helping doesn’t look like just one thing. I want to support each person holistically, and that can mean different things to different people. I practice from a client centered approach meaning that I use each client’s individual presentation to create a plan, interventions, and goals.
My Approach
When I think of therapy and mental health, I imagine our symptoms, behaviors, or diagnosis as small external characters (think Pixar’s Inside Out). Some how, these “people” have found their way into our “homes” and while they’ve been there, for however long, they’ve really made a mess and caused some problems, so it’s time for them to go. Where you are now is feeling like you know it’s time for them to go, but you’re not sure how to get them to leave. Therapy is learning the skills and gaining the tools to get rid of those unwanted guests. It is understanding that you are not the problem, the problem is the problem. It is realizing that things like anxiety, anger, and low self-esteem may try to knock on the door and pay you a visit again but therapy will give you the confidence and skills to say “now is not a good time” and shut the door.
Professional Background
In San Luis Obispo working with children 0-5 showing early signs of mental illness and the goal was early intervention and prevention through play therapy and parent education.
In San Luis Obispo working with children 6-18 who had experienced trauma, children of parents with domestic violence, and women who survived domestic violent relationships.
In San Jose working at a non-profit with teens who were involved in the juvenile justice system or child welfare system. Supervisor at same agency.
In Los Gatos providing in-home coaching to kids and families who presented with complex needs that needed home/community based support.