licensed art therapist

Meet Sarah! (she/her)

Specializing in adults with childhood trauma, emotional neglect, binge eating, and chronic pain/illness.

Not currently accepting new clients. Please check out our other therapists.

In-network with Cigna & MVP. $125 self-pay rate.

We all want to love, be loved, do something meaningful, and have purpose in our lives, yet all too often prior relationships and life experiences have left us with coping skills that are unhealthy, ineffective or just downright baffling. As a therapist I am experienced in working with adults who have a history of childhood emotional abuse and/or neglect. Those I work with often find that they have difficulty with relationships, struggle to relax, and wish they were in more control of their lives.

My therapeutic philosophy is built on long-term relief of your suffering. Through the processing of past experiences I help clients make sense of their current behaviors, thoughts, and emotions, enabling them to be more effective in their relationships with others and feel more in control of their lives. Unfortunately, I cannot make the difficult emotions go away, but by using art therapy approaches and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) we can develop effective strategies to lessen the intensity and frequency of these experiences while increasing satisfaction in other areas of your life. Many clients also struggle with disordered eating as a result of trauma. I approach food related issues with an intuitive eating philosophy that’s grounded in the belief that our body knows how to nourish itself and that we often overeat or restrict in an effort to meet needs entirely unrelated to hunger. I am committed to a values-based approach and believe strongly that developing meaning and purpose in your life is a necessity for overall well-being.

  • Are you always trying to stay busy or do you identify with being a perfectionist?
  • Do you find your emotions overwhelming and you don’t know what to do with them?
  • Have others told you that you’re overreacting or too emotional?
  • Do you find it challenging to connect with others?
  • Do you lack trust in others and try to do everything yourself?
  • Do you use food related behaviors (restricting, binging) as a way to cope?
  • Did you grow up in a family where you couldn’t express yourself or be heard?
  • Have you tried therapy before with limited success?

If the answer to many of these is yes, please reach out to see how I can help.

Sarah Beren, LCAT is licensed in New York State as a creative arts therapist. She has a MS in creative arts therapy from Nazareth College and a BS in art education from Nazareth College. Sarah has worked as an art-based psychotherapist since 2012.

“The circumstances of our lives actually matter less to our happiness than the sense of control we feel over our lives.” 

R. sutherland

“I cannot say enough about how Sarah has helped me through my development in mental health and wellness. She is a good listener. I feel when I am speaking with her she directs me towards self-awareness. She constantly challenges me to consider what I value and how those values shape the actions I take towards building a fulfilling life. My struggle with anxiety and depression has been harrowing at times. I feel that through our sessions together, art has revealed my inner-life, and exposed my patterns of thinking. Sarah has helped me understand myself. I am grateful to her for her time and commitment. She has always been professional, approachable, and sincere. I feel like I can say that because after five years of knowing her she has always been trustworthy and dedicated to my personal growth.”