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Dr. Sarah
Founder, Psychologist, Therapist
​She/Her
At A Glance
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I am Dr. Sarah, and I created the Center for Active Minds based on the community's need for evidence-based service for children with ADHD. I conduct evaluations for ADHD and Anxiety, and I am a therapist that works with children with ADHD or Anxiety and their parents.
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What really ignited my passion for working with children and teens with ADHD was my experience as a counselor in the Summer Treatment Program (STP) with Dr. Pelham. I learned that kids with ADHD knew all the skills that they should do, but struggled to show what they know at times they needed these skills. The summer program allowed me to be part of a team of providers who implemented a behavior system where kids with ADHD were set up for success -- they were able to show what they know. From the summer program I realized just how impactful some modifications to the child's environment was on their behavior and their self-esteem.
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I soon found that working with children with anxiety offered me the same reward -- these children who felt isolated and alone were able to do amazing things with some support and changes to their thinking, their feelings, and their environment. I also noticed how frequently youth with ADHD also experienced anxiety symptoms -- these children did not want to act impulsively, or get in trouble at home or at school, but feared that it would happen that day and every day, then getting mad at themselves for being told they had weren't doing enough.
Early on in my career I realized that what motivates me is to help others understand that at their core they are a good person, and how to help other people see their goodness.​
Fun Facts
Favorites
Passions
Favorite Superhero: Catboy
Favorite Kids Book: Magic Treehouse
Favorite Disney Princess: Cinderella
Favorite Squishmallow: Azizia the Stingray
Favorite Dinosaur: Brachiosaurus
Favorite Hobbies: Collecting quartz, geocaching, photography
Helping People Recognize Their Strengths, and Helping Them Feel Good about Themselves. When people work with me, they are often looking to address their child's behavior struggles by adapting their parenting techniques, or learning skills to help their child manage their frustration, or learning skills to help their child face their fears. When clients and their parents work on those skills, then my services help clients learn they are not their diagnosis, and they are good, kind, and productive at their core. I LOVE helping people uncover and recognize THAT side to themselves or to their child.
Meet Your Therapist
Qualifications & Experience
I have extensive experience working with children with high- and low-energy and am able to see past their behaviors to understand what their needs are. I want to ensure that my client's are learning new skills, ijmplementing them, while simultaneously enjoying the journey of improved mental health.
My Education & Experience
Degree
I received my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University at Buffalo. This program was ranked #50 among Clinical Psychology programs in the United States (tied with Rutgers University and U Mass in 2016). Who knew Buffalo, NY was known for more than just snow?
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Why this matters to you: You have so many options as various training programs can label themselves "therapists", including social workers, professional counselors, and psychologists. Psychologists spend more years training to be a therapist. More specifically, Ph.D.'s (as opposed to Psy.D.'s) typically has more balanced training of therapy and research, and how to integrate the two. This means that Ph.D.-level psychologists are well-equipped to integrate therapy techniques that are most successful in helping many, many clients like you to meet their goals in a time-efficient manner. Ph.D.-level therapists are also trained to work in multiple settings where therapy is needed, including schools, universities, hospitals, and in the community.
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My Work Experience
Hospitals: I have worked in medical settings, including Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC), and Erie County Medical Center. This training has provided me with the ability to incorporate treatments for mental health and medical concerns, as mental health concerns are so much more than just mental and often require an integrative approach to be most successful.
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Schools: I have experience implementing behavioral therapy in classrooms, providing teachers with various techniques to work effectively with children with different needs in the classroom, conducting classroom observations, serving as a parent advocate at 504 and IEP meetings, and writing up evidence-based techniques that can effectively be implemented by teachers in the classroom setting.
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Summer Camps: I have worked in the world-renowned summer camp for youth with behavioral, emotional, and/or learning concerns, the Summer Treatment Program, with Dr. Pelham, the gentleman who created the behavioral treatment. This program has been lauded as "an exemplar of intensive treatment for ADHD" by experts in the field of ADHD treatment. I accrued over 12,000 hours since 2007 working with kids, parents, and teachers through this and related programs under Dr. Pelham's advisement.
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Universities: I have worked as a therapist at University Counseling Centers and Psychological Clinics including Dickinson College, the University at Buffalo, and at Florida International University. I've also taught classes and have served as an adjunct professor at the University at Buffalo, Elizabethtown College, and Penn State Harrisburg.
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Why this matters to you: My diverse experiences demonstrates that I can successfully tailor therapeutic techniques to a variety of clients in a variety of settings. This also shows that I have the ability to meet your child's needs wherever they are most needed. Lastly, this variety demonstrates that I take a well-rounded approach towards treatment that incorporates the multiple contexts my clients operate within and their physical as well as mental well-being.
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My Demonstrated Expertise
Writing: I have authored an opinion article in The ADHD Report (founded by Dr. Russ Barkley, the foremost expert in the field of ADHD), and I have published research articles looking at the most effective treatments and assessments for children in relation to anxiety symptoms, ADHD symptoms, challenging behaviors, and emotion dysregulation. I have presented my research nationally at conferences. I have also been interviewed for articles in managing behaviors in children at Central Penn Parent (see it here!), the Ephrata Review, and will be giving presentations on ADHD and Anxiety at local libraries.
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Mentorship: I have taught a class on effective clinical skills at Penn State Harrisburg, and have mentored up-and-coming scholars in child psychology. I currently serve as a board member of the Touchstone Foundation, which has the goal of providing services dedicated to mental health in youth in multiple ways, including providing mentorship to in-training clinicians.
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Awards: I received a number of highly competitive awards based on my academic accomplishments, including a National Research Service Award, an Advanced Honors Scholar at the University at Buffalo, I was accepted into multiple prestigious academic societies, including Psi Chi and Golden Key International Honour Society, and I received multiple awards to present my research at conferences.
Why this matters to you: I am not one to brag about my accomplishments whatsoever. My hope is that this provides you with some perspective on how hard I work, and demonstrates my competence and dedication to science and being an ethical clinician practicing within my areas of expertise.
