Sarah Jo Bernhardt, M.A., LCPC, brings 30 years of work in the helping field to her role as TGRC’s Lead Clinician.  Sarah is a developmentalist at heart, appreciating working with people at all stages in life.   With 15 years of practice as a mental health clinician, she also worked for 6 years in advocacy for women and children fleeing domestic violence, 3 years directing social services in long-term care, and 4 years directing intensive home visitation programming through public health.  Sarah has held additional roles teaching as an adjunct professor in undergraduate psychology and human development courses, as well as consultation and mentoring for therapists learning about reflective practice.  The breadth of Sarah’s career has been one of trauma-informed care with specializations in PTSD, EMDR, attachment related trauma, play therapy, child-parent psychotherapy, and Circle of Security Parenting.  Sarah holds a Bacher of Science in Family Science and Human Development from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a Master’s Degree in Community Counseling from Chadron State College and is dually licensed as a Professional Counselor in Montana and Nebraska.   

MY “WHy”:

Experiences of loss, grief, and trauma can impact at any time in our lives.  In my personal life and professional life, grief work has had the most profound impact in my life.  Each loss leaves a bookmark and calls us to go within in reflections about the relationship we held with whom or what was lost.  It is in the deeply painful moments of breathtaking loss I have connected most to what it is to be human.

re-charging & delight-finding:

My delight is found in my family, my grown children, our furry family members including dogs and cats.  I love a great hike, taking time for photography, gardening, birdwatching, identifying wildflowers, or traveling.  I also love a good crossword puzzle, word game, or knitting.