Meet Your Therapist: Sarah O’Donnell LISW, PMH-C
I’m so glad you’re here.
I brought my son into this world about a month before the pandemic took hold. Both related to and completely separate from this, I have had my own experiences and growth in my relationship to control, uncertainty, fear, and the eternal quest for balance.
I work with women and mothers who find themselves navigating experiences and emotions that they did not expect, and reclaiming their power, their center, and their confidence along the way.
Throughout my years as a therapist, I have found that I speak the language of anxiety and speak it well, allowing me to meet my clients right where they are and provide quality care that is uniquely tailored to their needs. I am trained and certified by Postpartum Support International as a Certified Perinatal Mental Health Clinician, and am listed in their provider directory of specialists in this area. I am also a member of the Ohio Collaborative for Perinatal Mental Health which works in conjunction with the POEM (Perinatal Outreach and Encouragement for Moms) Program of Mental Health America Ohio. This work is extremely important to me. I want you to feel found and held during a time that can feel so tumultuous. Although I focus my work on perinatal anxiety, other areas of maternal mental health including perinatal depression, grief and loss, and trauma during pregnancy/birth/postpartum are frequent players in my sessions. Take a look at my services page for more examples of what may be addressed in therapy with me.
A little about me when I am not wearing my therapist hat…I’m pretty certain that my hands are meant to be holding a worn-in book of fiction that smells like heaven and a moderately hot cup of coffee. This happens about biweekly at this season in my life, and I celebrate it hard when it does. I am a collector of candles with a common theme of patchouli and houseplants labeled as “easy to care for” (I will tell you to lean in to what brings you joy, and these are small ways that I practice that). Music is a life line for me in the forms of musical theatre, classic rock, and anything that YoYo Ma has ever played in his precious life (his masterpieces were blaring during the births of both of my kids). I feel most like myself when wearing a smile (Sarah circa 1998 exclaimed, claimed, and celebrated this through the highly original AIM screenname of smileysarah…yikes) but I have learned over time to not use this as my own mask and armor to hide behind.
Please allow me to remind you:
You are a good mom.
You are not broken.
You are not doing anything wrong.
You will be well.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
Let’s get to work.
Education & Credentials
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, The Ohio State University, 2009
Master of Social Work, The Ohio State University, 2011
Licensed Independent Social Worker, License # I.1500439
Certified Perinatal Mental Health Clinician, 2020
GET TO KNOW ME
Favorite sound
Mourning doves
In session, you’ll find that I am generally
With a favorite coffee mug close at hand
Favorite season
Autumn
The book I recommend to every client
Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts by Karen Kleiman
Favorite self-care activity
Time with my book on a blanket in the sun
Favorite affirmation
I am present, I am calm, I am love.
My Specialties
How can I best support you?