Sara (pronouns: they/them/elle) is a bilingual and bicultural Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) offering mental health services in Spanish and English to NICU families at Hand to Hold. While they have not had a NICU experience, they are incredibly passionate about promoting perinatal health by providing inclusive, holistic, and survivor-centered psychotherapy and psychoeducation under the clinical supervision of René Gaitan, LCSW-S. Sara strongly believes that their life purpose is to empathetically support folks through their experiences of trauma, grief, and loss as someone who has had their own healing journey from trauma.
Following a birth companion training offered by Mama Sana Vibrant Woman, Sara was inspired to join other folks working to address racial health inequities affecting families of color. They have prior experience offering trauma support to Latinx populations, LGBT+ folks, survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, asylum seekers, and communities of color. In their psychotherapy, Sara uses an intersectional feminist, trauma-informed, and strengths-based approach that honors people’s identities, cultures, and experiences.
For their graduate education, Sara earned a Master of Arts in Latin American Studies and a Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas at Austin. Sara also graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Minor in Spanish from Vanderbilt University. In their spare time, Sara enjoys swimming, paddleboarding, hiking, and cycling–basically any quality time in nature is great! Sara also loves regularly practicing yoga and meditation as part of their self-care practice. Sara is a proud Austinite and second-generation Salvadoran-American.
Sara (pronombres: elle) es une asistente trabajadore social bilingüe y bicultural que ofrece servicios de salud mental en español e inglés a familias con bebés en UCIN en Hand to Hold. A pesar de que nunca ha tenido un bebé en una UCIN, le apasione mucho promover la salud perinatal para padres con ofrecer psicoterapia y psicoeducación inclusivas y holísticas bajo la supervisión clínica de René Gaitan (supervisor de trabajo social clínico). Sara cree firmemente que el propósito de su vida es ayudar a otros a lidiar con sus experiencias traumáticas, su dolor y sus pérdidas como alguien que ha superado sus propias experiencias traumáticas.
Tras una formación de acompaño de parto ofrecida por Mama Sana Vibrant Woman, Sara se sintió inspirada para unirse a otras personas que trabajan para abordar las desigualdades raciales que afectan a las familias de color en el ámbito de la salud. Tiene experiencia previa en ofrecer apoyo para traumas a poblaciones latinxs, personas LGBT+, sobrevivientes de violencia doméstica y agresión sexual, personas que buscan asilo y comunidades de color. En su psicoterapia, Sara utiliza un enfoque interseccional feminista, informado sobre el trauma y basado en las fortalezas que honra las identidades, culturas y experiencias de las personas.