Sarah West-Effland is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Compulsive Gambling Counselor, and EMDR Certified Counselor.  Sarah received her Master’s in Social Work from KU in 1999 and was Licensed as a Clinical Social Worker in 2001.

Sarah has worked in many mental health settings including residential care, inpatient hospitalization, in home therapy and local mental health agencies.  Sarah joined the private practice staff at Healing Grace in May, 2016.  Sarah has extensive experience working with anxiety, depression, postpartum depression, bipolar disorder, caregiving stress, and life changes.  Sarah specializes in treating trauma related disorders, especially PTSD, with her skills as an EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapist.  This certification requires extensive training and supervision for a period of 2 years which Sarah has completed.

Sarah believes her main role as a therapist is to work with both the client and family members.  Sarah works with the client to identify goals and then assists each person work to achieve those goals with compassion, understanding and gentle guidance.

Credentials:

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker, since 2001
• Certified Compulsive Gambling Counselor, since 2009
• EMDR Certified Counselor, since 2014

Education:

• Master's in Social Work - Kansas University, 1999
• Bachelor's in Psychology - University of Missouri Kansas City, 1995