Sara Morrow-Han, LMFT, PMH-C

(she, her, hers)

Welcome! My hope in writing this bio is to give you some information about me, so that you can determine whether you think we’d be a good fit. It turns out, the “therapeutic alliance” between therapist and client(s) is a consistent predictor of progress in therapy (Martin, Garske & Davis, 2000).* My clinical work is heavily influenced by the cognitive, acceptance-focused, emotionally-focused and mindfulness-based therapies that have come about in the past several decades. I tend to work best with clients who are curious and motivated to engage in self-reflection during our weekly therapy hour.  My role is to support you and help you think about situations/relationships/concepts in a different light. I want to help you foster insight into patterns that you may engage in, helpful or unhelpful ones.  I do this with my own sense of curiosity about who you are, while bringing compassion and a stance of respect towards your journey. I practice from a culturally sensitive place and especially understand the need for this as a “TCK” (Third Culture Kid), who grew up in different countries.

I have advanced training and certification in Perinatal Mental Health; "perinatal" constitutes the period from the start of pregnancy to the end of the first year postpartum. I specialize in the transition to parenthood and the common Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders that can arise during this time. I gained my certification in Perinatal Mental Health through Postpartum Support International, a leading organization promoting awareness and treatment of mental health issues related to childbearing. I also enjoy working with clients on developing greater relational self-awareness (especially when it comes to navigating the dating scene). I am extensively trained in couples therapy, drawing mostly from Emotionally Focused Therapy in this work.

You’re probably also wondering what my credentials are (as you should) so that you can make an informed decision about your care. Below are the highlights.

• B.A. Psychology, Summa Cum Laude, Northwestern University

• MSc. in Marriage and Family Therapy, Northwestern University

• Fully Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Illinois

• One year practicum in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), The Family Institute at Northwestern University

• Fellowship in Cognitive Behavioral Therapies for Mood and Anxiety Disorders, The Family Institute at Northwestern University

• Externship and Core Skills training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples

• American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) Approved Supervisor

• Certified in Perinatal Mental Health through Postpartum Support International

If you feel that you want to work together to best reach your goals, please reach out. Whoever you are, however you self-identify, and wherever you are from, you are welcome to this space!

*Citation: Martin D.J., Garske J.P., Davis M.K. (2000). Relation of the therapeutic alliance with outcome and other variables: a meta-analytic review. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68, 38–450.

AAMFT-APPROVED SUPERVISOR

I consider myself lucky to have had some excellent supervisors during my training and beyond. Supervision has been the place where I have grown and learned the most about myself as a therapist. I want to pay these experiences forward as a supervisor. I completed my MSc in Marriage and Family Therapy at The Family Institute at Northwestern University. I then completed a Fellowship in Cognitive Behavioral Therapies there. I’ve been practicing outside of graduate school for five years now. My clinical specialties include: Emotionally Focused Therapy for couples, Cognitive Behavioral Therapies (including the Third Wave therapies) for anxiety disorders, Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders, and Exposure Response Prevention for OCD. These are all areas I have received advanced training in.

My approach to supervision is warm and collaborative. I also feel comfortable taking on a "teaching" role for some of the therapies above that I have more training in. I strongly believe in creating a safe space for supervisees so that they can feel comfortable talking about cases. This can be a vulnerable thing. I do emphasize Self of Therapist work in my supervision because I believe this is where we can understand ourselves as therapists and grow further in our roles. I believe in furthering conversations about taking an anti-racist stance in the therapy room. Likewise, I want to provide a secure space for however a supervisee self-identifies in terms of gender and sexuality.

I really enjoy supervising and hope to help you along your journey as a therapist!