Credentials:
Sarah Feuerbacher, Ph.D., LCSW-S
I attended Baylor University and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work, a Master of Social Work with a specialization in clinical practice with children and families, earning the Intern of the Year award, and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Educational Psychology with a specialization in gifted and talented education, twice exceptionalities and learning difficulties, disadvantaged populations in the education system, program evaluation, and adult learners. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Supervisor, Practical Parent Education Certified Parent Educator, and Parent Mediator/Facilitator. For many years prior, I was employed by Southern Methodist University as Clinic Director of the Family Counseling Center and was full-time faculty in the Graduate Department of Dispute Resolution and Counseling, where I was given the honor of being awarded the Healthy Family Advocate Award at the inaugural SMU Family Violence Symposium in 2014, as well as the SMU Faculty/Staff Volunteer of the Year Award for 2018. In 2019, I was recognized for my work in the community and was incredibly honored to be the finalist for the "Person of the Year" award in the Town of Prosper. In 2020, I was awarded the prestigious recognition of being listed as one of the DFWChild Mom-Approved Doctors.
Whether it's in my counseling career or coaching youth sports, you'll find me learning from others just as much (if not more) than they learn from me because I've found learning how to grow makes me happy and I use it to try and make others happy! Adopting the life-changing core value to "Create a life you don't need a vacation from," I choose to prioritize spending as much time as I can with the amazing humans and animals I get to call my family, and running and playing outdoors in God's beautiful creation.
Professional Experience:
I have worked as a helping professional in the mental health field in numerous capacities, including private practices, nonprofit organizations, residential intervention programs, shelter settings and transitional living services, government agencies, faith-based clinics, hospitals and nursing homes, program evaluation, administration and grant writing, and food pantries and clothing closets, in addition to many years working and teaching in academia, ranging from elementary-age children to adult learners in higher education. My clinical focus and public speaking specializations are in the areas of using holistic approaches in working with diverse individuals to overcome personal, relational, or environmental challenges by identifying and empowering their innate strengths using a multiple-intelligences approach, as well as utilizing intrapersonal and environmental systems that can create successful goals, positive relationships, and healthy lifestyles. I have enjoyed serving on several boards in the mental health field and local community.
Theoretical Framework:
In addition to having had work experiences in many practice settings which have built upon the way I view individuals, systems, change, and my role in the therapeutic process, I have taught Counseling Theories to students in a Masters of Counseling program and supervise beginning clinicians across all theoretical frameworks for years, so I am very well-versed in using multiple interventions from different modalities to work with a diverse array of populations and presenting problems.
I operate out of a systems theory framework that believes all individuals are important to the whole, and they are also impacted by any changes to the system, so I believe that working together will best help find solutions to the issues. As an example, a child being seen for play therapy cannot improve in isolation to his/her weekly sessions but instead can best be supported by parent involvement in the services as well as their learning of new strategies to further support the child at home so the skills can be used on a daily basis in their natural environment.
I also use a strengths-based approach that believes that the client is the expert in our counseling relationship because it is their life and they’ve found unique ways to be resilient through challenges up to this point. Therefore, we focus on what’s worked in the past and what resources and support systems are available that they have the ability to tap into in order to stabilize, find relief and feel hope for the future.
In addition, I use a solution-focused approach that does real work each and every session that is also applied outside of counseling to create small, incremental steps that can provide obtainable, manageable change so that success can be measured and progress is felt each and every day to reach greater goals.
Clinical Scope:
Through my education, training and experience, I can work with children, adults, couples, families, groups, and organizations. The youngest person I’ve worked with was 2 and the oldest individual was 92. :) I can see all clients with the exception of those with immediate and acute needs that would hinder counseling progress, such as being actively and chronically suicidal, having an active diagnostic mental health breakdown/crisis that wasn’t being treated yet medically or through hospitalization or intensive outpatient services, or actively abusing substances as the primary presenting problem that would need rehab services to become sober. Basically, if a specialist or hospitalization is needed for a better fit, I would refer to them for immediate needs, but once that was treated and stabilized or controlled, I could then do the necessary counseling work with that individual.
A very specific area of specialization that I have is in working with unhealthy relationships or environments, abuse and violence, but I have years of experience working with numerous other presenting issues, including but not limited to individuals with mental health diagnoses; couples and families in conflict; grief and loss; trauma and crisis; stress, anxiety, and perfectionism; social and emotional learning; bullying and conflict resolution; depression and self-harming behaviors; life training and social skills; older adults and family supportive care; discrimination, social justice, and advocacy; case management and networking to community resources; and ethics and professional development, among others. I love having the opportunity to focus on building upon personal strengths, healthy relationships and holistic wellness.
For further information, I’ve listed my topics of clinical focus, published writing, and/or professional development trainings below.
Clinical Focus, Published Writings, and/or Professional Development Topics:
Sarah Feuerbacher, Ph.D., LCSW-S
I attended Baylor University and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work, a Master of Social Work with a specialization in clinical practice with children and families, earning the Intern of the Year award, and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Educational Psychology with a specialization in gifted and talented education, twice exceptionalities and learning difficulties, disadvantaged populations in the education system, program evaluation, and adult learners. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Supervisor, Practical Parent Education Certified Parent Educator, and Parent Mediator/Facilitator. For many years prior, I was employed by Southern Methodist University as Clinic Director of the Family Counseling Center and was full-time faculty in the Graduate Department of Dispute Resolution and Counseling, where I was given the honor of being awarded the Healthy Family Advocate Award at the inaugural SMU Family Violence Symposium in 2014, as well as the SMU Faculty/Staff Volunteer of the Year Award for 2018. In 2019, I was recognized for my work in the community and was incredibly honored to be the finalist for the "Person of the Year" award in the Town of Prosper. In 2020, I was awarded the prestigious recognition of being listed as one of the DFWChild Mom-Approved Doctors.
Whether it's in my counseling career or coaching youth sports, you'll find me learning from others just as much (if not more) than they learn from me because I've found learning how to grow makes me happy and I use it to try and make others happy! Adopting the life-changing core value to "Create a life you don't need a vacation from," I choose to prioritize spending as much time as I can with the amazing humans and animals I get to call my family, and running and playing outdoors in God's beautiful creation.
Professional Experience:
I have worked as a helping professional in the mental health field in numerous capacities, including private practices, nonprofit organizations, residential intervention programs, shelter settings and transitional living services, government agencies, faith-based clinics, hospitals and nursing homes, program evaluation, administration and grant writing, and food pantries and clothing closets, in addition to many years working and teaching in academia, ranging from elementary-age children to adult learners in higher education. My clinical focus and public speaking specializations are in the areas of using holistic approaches in working with diverse individuals to overcome personal, relational, or environmental challenges by identifying and empowering their innate strengths using a multiple-intelligences approach, as well as utilizing intrapersonal and environmental systems that can create successful goals, positive relationships, and healthy lifestyles. I have enjoyed serving on several boards in the mental health field and local community.
Theoretical Framework:
In addition to having had work experiences in many practice settings which have built upon the way I view individuals, systems, change, and my role in the therapeutic process, I have taught Counseling Theories to students in a Masters of Counseling program and supervise beginning clinicians across all theoretical frameworks for years, so I am very well-versed in using multiple interventions from different modalities to work with a diverse array of populations and presenting problems.
I operate out of a systems theory framework that believes all individuals are important to the whole, and they are also impacted by any changes to the system, so I believe that working together will best help find solutions to the issues. As an example, a child being seen for play therapy cannot improve in isolation to his/her weekly sessions but instead can best be supported by parent involvement in the services as well as their learning of new strategies to further support the child at home so the skills can be used on a daily basis in their natural environment.
I also use a strengths-based approach that believes that the client is the expert in our counseling relationship because it is their life and they’ve found unique ways to be resilient through challenges up to this point. Therefore, we focus on what’s worked in the past and what resources and support systems are available that they have the ability to tap into in order to stabilize, find relief and feel hope for the future.
In addition, I use a solution-focused approach that does real work each and every session that is also applied outside of counseling to create small, incremental steps that can provide obtainable, manageable change so that success can be measured and progress is felt each and every day to reach greater goals.
Clinical Scope:
Through my education, training and experience, I can work with children, adults, couples, families, groups, and organizations. The youngest person I’ve worked with was 2 and the oldest individual was 92. :) I can see all clients with the exception of those with immediate and acute needs that would hinder counseling progress, such as being actively and chronically suicidal, having an active diagnostic mental health breakdown/crisis that wasn’t being treated yet medically or through hospitalization or intensive outpatient services, or actively abusing substances as the primary presenting problem that would need rehab services to become sober. Basically, if a specialist or hospitalization is needed for a better fit, I would refer to them for immediate needs, but once that was treated and stabilized or controlled, I could then do the necessary counseling work with that individual.
A very specific area of specialization that I have is in working with unhealthy relationships or environments, abuse and violence, but I have years of experience working with numerous other presenting issues, including but not limited to individuals with mental health diagnoses; couples and families in conflict; grief and loss; trauma and crisis; stress, anxiety, and perfectionism; social and emotional learning; bullying and conflict resolution; depression and self-harming behaviors; life training and social skills; older adults and family supportive care; discrimination, social justice, and advocacy; case management and networking to community resources; and ethics and professional development, among others. I love having the opportunity to focus on building upon personal strengths, healthy relationships and holistic wellness.
For further information, I’ve listed my topics of clinical focus, published writing, and/or professional development trainings below.
Clinical Focus, Published Writings, and/or Professional Development Topics:
- Ethics and confidentiality
- Separation and loss
- Documentation & CPS reporting
- Non-violence
- Non-threatening behavior
- Respect
- Support & Trust
- Honesty & Accountability
- Sexual respect
- Partnership
- Negotiation & Fairness
- Social context of intimate relationships
- Cultural diversity
- Understanding marriage & family dynamics
- Communication & intimacy
- Conflict & conflict resolution
- Sexual intimacy
- Gender roles & development
- Managing economic resources
- Communication & intimacy
- Dating, mate selection, & living together
- Marriage: Building a strong relationship
- Parenthood: Choices & challenges
- Midlife & older couples
- Stress, abuse, & family problems
- Divorce, single-parent families, step-families
- Responses & prevention for abuse at the workplace
- Media’s impact on sexuality: From self-concept to abuse
- Teen dating: From scary to safety
- A Happier, better you: Changing yourself by changing your self-talk
- Peer pressure
- Solution-focused brief therapy
- Roles of abuse in relationships
- Healthy relationships
- Mentor training
- Working with crime victims
- Working with crime perpetrators
- Solution-focused therapy and ethics
- Building community partnerships
- Family violence and child abuse: Children from violent homes
- Rebuilding the absent or abusive parent’s relationships in the family
- Love & Logic
- Limit setting & targeting alternatives
- Signs for substance abuse relapse
- Identifying your roles: The primary model for your child
- Development & maintaining a trusting relationship
- Understanding attachment & bonding between parent & child
- Communicating effectively with children at all stages
- Expressing & communicating feeling & emotions
- Communicating with children about sexuality
- Helping children to learn to manage and resolve conflict
- Building and nurturing self-esteem in children
- Knowing & valuing the child as an individual
- Encouraging children’s growth & social skills
- Helping children learn to make healthy choices
- Teaching children kindness & respect to other children
- Helping children learn to handle competition
- Understanding the powerful influences of gangs on children
- Understanding complexities of bullying & social cruelty
- Choosing effective discipline techniques
- Giving children responsibility for themselves
- Encouraging motivation in children
- Developing teamwork in a child’s educational experience
- Resolving homework issues
- Recognizing and responding to child behaviors that are outside the norm
- Understanding developmental changes in children
- Helping children handle peer pressure
- Easing transitions into adolescence
- Coping with mobility and relocation
- Helping children cope with change and loss
- Understanding the complexities on teenagers
- Building resiliency in children
- How to counter-balance outside influences
- Parenting the strong-willed child
- What is play therapy
- Boundaries between children & caregivers
- Psychological disorders
- Intake & discharge procedures
- Affects of fetal alcohol syndrome
- Immigration issues
- Caring for the caregiver
- Drug and alcohol issue
- Your role in community involvement
- Juvenile justice system
- Shaken baby syndrome
- Role of the therapist
- Nutrition
- Creative arts & therapeutic approach
- Infant brain development
- Know before you go
- Pluralism
- Working with individuals on the Autism Spectrum
- Empowerment
- Healthy Relationships
- Counseling Theories
- Teacher-Student Connection in the Classroom
- Career assessment and professional development
- Teen self-injury
- Advocacy and Underserved Populations
- Family and sibling roles and its impact on individual development
- Mass shooters and mental health
- Perfectionism and underachieving in gifted students
- Multiple intelligences and talent development
- Free range vs. helicopter parenting
- Transitional living programming for young adults
- Leave It On The Field: competition vs. couple relationships for athletes
Have questions or ready to schedule an appointment? Email: sarah@counselingcareprosper.com
*For more details, please refer to the Contact page.
*For more details, please refer to the Contact page.