About Sarah Sustaita, MS
Supervised by Bonnie Scott, MA, LPC-S & Dr. Robyn Flores, LMFT-S, ACS
I’m a LPC-Associate in Texas and a LPCC in Colorado. I work with individuals ages 16+ whose experiences have often been dismissed, minimized, or misfiled by the people or systems around them.
My approach is integrative, paying attention to both the meaning people have made of their experiences and the ways those experiences have been carried in the body. This can be important when what you understand now and what you feel seem out of sync, and often shows up as fear, shame, guilt, and overwhelm.
Alongside my clinical training, I also bring lived experience that informs how I understand the dynamics of dismissal, institutional harm, and the ways systems can shape our sense of self.
I don’t assume I’m the expert on your life.
You are.
My role is to approach your story with curiosity rather than authority. Plus, I have a pretty laid back presence, or so clients have told me.
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Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPC-Associate), Texas
Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC), Colorado
EMDR-trained therapist
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East TX A&M University (formally Texas A&M- Commerce):
M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Graduate certificate - Psychology of Gerontology & Positive Aging
EMDR Basic Training - EMDRIA Approved
Ongoing training, education, consultation for dissociation, complex trauma, religious trauma, & EMDR
IFS-informed parts work
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I actually came into this profession a bit backwards.
Many years ago, I encountered significant health issues that took a while to diagnose and treat properly. My entire life as I knew it changed. The mental health care I sought to help me process this was inadequate at best.
I, of course, was not alone in my experiences. Many others who I interacted with in the chronic pain/illness community had similar encounters, experiencing invalidation and dismissal in mental health care. A bitter cherry on top of an already overwhelming process.
Eventually, I received the correct diagnosis and was introduced to treatment that would help me manage my condition better.
I felt like so much misery had overcome my life at an early age. The rest of my life needed to be meaningful. I conjured up the resentment I held towards our broken healthcare system and channeled it into something that I saw as meaningful.
I cannot change a system, but I could help bridge a gap in care that many people face. Things have fallen into place since.
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Clients have described me as an “Old Soul ”
I meditate often, and am more than happy to implement it in session for you
I am a reader … horror, sci-fi, fantasy, non-fiction, mostly
Frameworks Used
Diversity & Belonging
I recognize that every story has passed through different places.
All are welcome.
The Therapy I Offer is:
Dissociation-Informed
Trauma-Focused
LGBTQIA+ Affirming
Anti-Racist
Neurodiversity-Affirming
Inclusive to Faith, Spirituality, & Non-Belief
Health at Every Size (HAES) Aligned
FAQs
What kind of clients do you typically work with?
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Many of the people who reach out to me have experiences or identities that haven’t always fit within mainstream systems. Some have lived through environments where their needs, perceptions, or identities were not understood or supported, and/or where they experienced abuse.
As a result, they may be navigating complex trauma, chronic health concerns, or long-term stress. These experiences often overlap rather than occurring separately.
What’s therapy like with you?
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Therapy with me tends to be intentional yet pretty laid back. I have many clients who appreciate occasional sarcasm and humor (when appropriate, of course).
I welcome feedback about what is or isn’t working, and sessions are a space where people are free to move, stim, or make themselves comfortable.
What approaches do you use?
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I draw from several approaches depending on what feels most helpful for the person and situation. For trauma processing, I often use EMDR and/or parts-informed work. I also incorporate narrative, existential, transpersonal (when requested), and ecotherapy perspectives when exploring questions of identity, meaning, personal history, and connection with the natural world.
What if I can’t remember parts of what happened?
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It’s not uncommon to have gaps in your memory, and it can feel unsettling when that happens, especially if you were very young or if your awareness was affected at the time. Even without a complete memory, your experience and however you feel towards it is valid. We do not need every detail of the past. We can focus on how you are impacted now; if and when you feel ready, work on processing, or just focus on getting through the day.
What if I’m not sure whether what I experienced counts as trauma?
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That’s okay! Many people struggle to define what they went through, especially if their experiences were downplayed or shamed at the time. If putting language or a label to what you experienced helps, we can explore that. And if something you experienced affected you, stayed with you, or still feels unresolved, it’s worth exploring too if you are open to it and when you’re ready.