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About Sarah Sustaita, MS

Supervised by Bonnie Scott, MA, LPC-S & Dr. Robyn Flores, LMFT-S, ACS

I’m an LPC-Associate in Texas & an 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 pays attention to both the meaning people have made of their experiences and how the body has held onto them, including the fear that outlasts the original experience(s)... If what you understand now and what you feel seem out of sync, you’re in the right place.

A young woman with long dark wavy hair smiling at the camera, wearing a light gray shirt, with a plain light-colored background.
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Start With a Consult

  • Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPC-Associate), Texas

    Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC), Colorado

    EMDR-trained therapist

  • 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, trauma, & EMDR

    IFS-informed parts work

  • 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 conjured up the resentment I held towards our broken healthcare system and channeled it into something that I saw as deeply 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.

    • Clients have described me as an “Old Soul ”

    • I’m interested in how intuition and awareness show up alongside psychology.

    • I am not a blank slate therapist

    • I also keep my own therapist… my clients have a “great-grand therapist”

Alongside my clinical training, I 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 because you are. Your story is approached with curiosity rather than authority.

Frameworks Used

A sign or poster with an eye illustration at the top and text about EMDR therapy, including Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing, processing traumatic memories, and minimizing distress.
A book cover titled 'Narrative' with a feather graphic and the subtitle 'Exploring stories & shaping meaning.'
Cover of a book titled "Existential" with a subtitle "Exploring meaning, choice, & values" and a compass icon at the top.
Cover page for parts work training with gears icon, titled 'Parts Work' and subtitle 'Internal Family Systems (IFS) - Informed,' describing working with responses shaped by stress or trauma.
A sign with a lotus flower graphic at the top, the word 'Transpersonal' in the middle, and text underneath that reads 'Helping clients contextualize spiritually meaningful experiences without imposing belief systems.'
Flyer for an ecotherapy walk and talk event with a minimalist design, featuring a small plant illustration at the top.
A card with a target icon and the words "ACT Acceptance & Commitment Therapy," emphasizing practicing acceptance and value-based actions.

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

  • Neuro-Affirming

  • Inclusive to Faith, Spirituality, & Non-Belief

  • Health at Every Size (HAES) Aligned

Common FAQS

What kind of clients do you work with?

1

Many of the people who reach out to me have experiences or identities that don’t exactly 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, dissociation, chronic health concerns, or long-term stress.

What’s therapy like with you?

2

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. This is your time.

What if I can’t recall what happened?

3

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 if I have trauma?

4

That’s okay! Many people struggle to define what they went through, especially if their experiences were downplayed or shamed. If putting language or a label to what you experienced helps, we can explore that. If something you experienced affected you, stayed with you, or still feels unresolved, it’s worth exploring too at your pace.