Hello, and welcome! I'm so glad you're here. I'm a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in Seattle, WA. I provide counseling to adults, both individuals and couples. I hope this website helps you get to know me better so you can determine if I might be a good match for you.

Home: About Therapy

Maybe you're considering starting counseling for the first time ever, or looking for a new counselor. Perhaps you're feeling overwhelmed, stuck in negative patterns, or simply wanting to explore and grow? First off, I commend you for taking a first step towards asking for help, which I know from my own experience isn't always easy.

My aim is to create a warm, non-judgmental, and down-to-earth environment in the room (or on the walk!) with you, with an interest in your unique intuition, strengths, values, identities, cultures, history and relationships. I believe you are the expert between us, even if you feel lost right now. I draw from a combination of well researched psychological theories and approaches, my over ten years of clinical experience, and my lived experience to help you explore, learn about yourself, and build new skills to fulfill your goals. From my personal experiences as a client in individual and couples counseling, as well as professional experiences as a counselor, I know how counseling can be hard and sometimes slow, yet also incredibly rewarding towards building more connection, peace, fulfillment and joy in our lives and relationships.

I believe in the healing power of relationships -- both the relationship you have with yourself, your relationships with important people in your life, and the relationship I hope to build with you. Research shows it's a quality relationship or "fit" between counselor and client that makes for most effective treatment, more so than a provider's particular modality or training. A good fit means the client(s) feel truly comfortable with and understood by the counselor, and the counselor also feels some comfort or ability in working with the clients. It takes time to build this, of course, and ongoing periodic check-ins between us to ensure counseling is meeting your goals and hopes. If you think we could be a good fit, please reach out, and let's meet for a free consultation. I look forward to hearing from you!

Warmly,

Sarah

Spring 2023 Update: Please note my practice is currently full and I am not accepting new clients.

SERVICES I OFFER

INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING

My areas of expertise are stress management, adjustment/life transitions, relationship issues, communication, self-esteem, parenting support, and foster care/adoption issues. I work with all personality types, but am especially skilled working with people who describe themselves as introverts or highly sensitive (read more about highly sensitive people here). I also love to work with parents and expectant parents.

Home: Services

COUPLES

&

PREMARITAL COUNSELING

I welcome couples of all sexual identities and expressions. I work with folks feeling stuck in frequent conflict, those who don’t often feel they “click” anymore, and those who just experienced a major breach of trust or other stressful event. I also work with couples facing a milestone or life change, such as marriage or welcoming a new child, to help them prepare and adjust their relationship.

A LITTLE MORE ABOUT ME

I identify as a white, cisgender, heterosexual woman, and strive to learn and grow in exploring my identity, privilege, and how to be as free of bias in my work as possible. I keep a small caseload and focus on the quality of my work -- making time for my own personal growth, professional consultation and training.

A little more on my school and work history:

- Masters in Social Work, Smith College School for Social Work (2008)

- BA, Brandeis University, major in Sociology (2004)

- Prior to opening my private practice in 2019, I worked as a mental health counselor/therapist to individuals, couples, and children/families at Seattle Therapy Group, Harborview Abuse & Trauma Center, and Catholic Community Services. I was also a case manager at Amara, where I prepared and supported foster/adoptive families.

- I'm a certified and experienced "Bringing Baby Home" educator. BBH is a relationship workshop for expectant and new parents created by Drs John & Julie Gottman.

I grew up in the Boston area, and have also lived in North Carolina and Chile and Argentina, South America. Married since 2009, my husband and I have two elementary school-age children, a son and daughter. I love being in nature, a good workout or yoga class, and ice cream.

Home: FAQ

CONTACT ME

Spring 2023 Update: My practice is currently full and I am not accepting new clients.

LET'S GET STARTED:

Have you (and your partner if seeking couples counseling) both read my website and think I could be a good fit for you? Wonderful, I look forward to hearing from you. The best way to inquire about my availability is e-mail (below). Next, we will schedule a free 20 minute consultation by phone or video. If you are interested in couples counseling this can be with just one of you or both of you. In this brief consult I will ask more about what brings you to counseling, any of your initial hopes/goals/fears about counseling, and I can tell you a little about how I might work with you and your specific issues. You can also ask me any questions you have. This way we can each have a chance to determine if we might be a good fit working together and if we'd like to schedule a first session.

I use the first 3-4 sessions as an assessment phase, in which I am learning a lot about you and your history, mental health, relationships, and hopes and goals for counseling. If I don't believe I can meet your needs at the end of this time or at another point in our working together, I will explain this to you and offer you three appropriate referrals.

MY AVAILABILITY:

I am available for sessions Mondays and Wednesdays during business hours. I am available for in-person office sessions on Mondays, and I am available for walking or telehealth sessions only on Wednesdays. I make every effort to respond to emails and phone calls within 24-48 hours Monday - Friday.

HOW TO REACH ME:

Email (preferred): sarah@madronacounseling.info

Phone: (206) 339-3641

If you are having a psychological emergency, please call 988, the new national crisis and suicide lifeline. You can also go to any nearby emergency room. Please note I do not provide phone or e-mail clinical support to clients between sessions.

MY OFFICE LOCATION:

I am located at 1126 34th Ave, Suite 206, Seattle 98122. This is the Madrona Refuge building, with Vendemmia Restaurant on the ground floor, in the Madrona neighborhood. It is an ADA-accessible building. There is usually plenty of free street parking within 1-2 blocks. See the building's green and rust-colored doorway tucked back a little from the street, just one door south of Vendemmia's door. The front door will be locked, but please just call me at the number above and I will come down and let you in, or you can find my name listed in the directory call box under "Crane-O'Neill, Sarah," push "Call" and I will buzz you in. Come up the stairs or elevator to the second floor and to your left you'll see suite #206, which says "Lisa Hake Counseling" on the door (I sublet this suite from a colleague).