Sarah Potter, BHPP, Intern

Hi, I’m Sarah Potter, a counseling intern from GCU practicing at ClearWaves Counseling who works with children, adolescents, and families navigating big emotions, anxiety, stress, and those moments when everything feels like too much and connection starts to fray.

My approach is warm, relational, and trauma-informed, grounded in a simple belief:
behavior is communication, and healing happens best when people feel safe,
respected, and genuinely understood. Rather than chasing quick fixes or compliance-based behavior plans, I helps kids, teens, and families understand what is actually happening beneath the surface — and then build practical, sustainable ways to
support regulation, connection, and repair at home.

I am especially attuned to the emotional and nervous-system needs of kids and teens, offering therapy that is collaborative, developmentally appropriate, and centered on dignity, autonomy, and emotional safety.

My work is intersectional and equity-centered, with a clear awareness of the invisible emotional labor so often carried by caregivers. Parents often share that they feel less blamed and more supported, while teens report feeling respected, taken seriously, and truly heard. Using a warm, trauma-informed approach, I support clients in building emotional regulation, coping skills, resilience, and stronger relationships while creating a safe, inclusive, and LGBTQIA+ affirming space for growth and healing.

At the core of my work is this belief: people aren’t broken — they’re doing the best they can with the support they have. Therapy is a place where growth happens without shame, where responsibility is shared, and where families move toward deeper understanding, stronger connection, and relationships that actually feel better to live inside.

Supervised by Dezerrae Houk (Arizona / LPC-21683)
CMHM Intern at Grand Canyon University