Jessica Sauer, LCSW

I am a trauma-informed, strengths-based, person-centered therapist who values and honors all backgrounds, beliefs, and perspective diversity. I'm dedicated to helping children, teens, and adults cope with a multitude of mental health issues and psychosocial challenges.

Welcome to Brand New Day Counseling! My name is Jessica Sauer, and I have been practicing Clinical Social Work for over fourteen years. Due to my extensive experience in many clinical settings, I love working with all humans -kids, teens and adults- who face a variety of mental health issues and psychosocial challenges. I am a strengths-based therapist, informed by person-in-environment perspective, which guides my practice and belief that no one person has the same worldview due to their own individual experiences, perceptions, thoughts, behaviors, and feelings. With this mindfulness, I take the time to get to know, understand, and appreciate each client’s view of the world, and the lens through which they interpret their lives- there is no judgment. Prior to private practice 12 years ago, I formed my own career lens by working in many mental health settings including research, community-based care, non-profits, schools, residential, and outpatient.

My passion is helping clients explore, navigate, and redirect how anxiety, major life transitions, mood disorders, self-esteem, and other co-occurring mental health concerns impact all aspects of their lives. I particularly enjoy working with individuals grieving the loss of loved ones (including pets); providing psychoeducation and family support for individuals recently diagnosed with severe mental health issues; teaming with parents to advocate for children and teens who need educational accommodations and therapeutic interventions to enhance their daily lives; supporting individuals with Obsessive-Compulsive and other anxiety disorders with CBT, desensitization, and ERP; teaching emotional regulation, social, and life skills to individuals diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome (also known as Autism Spectrum Disorder); and providing assertiveness training to all of my clients via the Non-Violent Communication Model. I'm honored to be on an uplifting empowerment journey with clients who seek effective, practical strategies for personal and familial growth.

At certain times in our lives, we can all benefit from the objective, compassionate guidance and healing that therapy provides. The process and experience differs for everyone, but one thing is always the same: it takes place in a warm, safe, caring environment and is a collaborative process based on the relationship between clients and myself. I will always hold a safe space for you and honor your processing, which includes learning to give yourself the grace and self-compassion necessary to move forward. Some people choose to use their time in sessions to talk about or vent feelings, others to explore the origin of a maladaptive coping mechanism, some like to leave with resources or "homework" assignments to complete between meetings- regardless of your preferences, your treatment goals are always kept at the center of our experience together. Since I value a team-based approach, with your permission and participation, I'll happily coordinate with other providers (psychiatrists, Primary Care Physicians, educators, and others) and family members to increase your support system along the way.

My therapy philosophy is to help “humans with humaning,” which can be a very overwhelming task in today’s society! However, the value of the therapeutic relationship is that we amplify each other's work! My job as your therapist is not to “fix” or “solve” issues in your life, but to provide a safe, trusting relationship that helps foster a sense of understanding, acceptance, confidence, deeper connections, and healing. Together, we'll assess your existing strengths and assets, then build them with strategies to include coping, communication, decision-making, emotional regulation, goal-setting, problem-solving, and more. We’ll collaborate to address your unique circumstances so that you are able to approach and improve the situation at hand, and cope with future challenges more confidently.

Thank you for reading my profile. New hope, strength, and thoughts can help us to remember -and be grateful for- the fact that every day is a brand new day!