Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Macke.
Hi Sara, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Thinking back to when becoming a therapist came to mind, I bring myself back to my adolescent years. I would grab a bite to eat with my uncle, Mark Wyn – an amazing gay man who has his own story that has been shared over the years in various forms of media. He would ask me about how I am doing, what stresses me out, and what areas of my life bring me joy. He was the first person to bring up going to therapy, as he is a huge advocate for mental health services and has been for 40+ years. After getting into some trouble outside of the norm, my mom (his sister) asked if I wanted to see a therapist. Honestly, I cannot tell you how effective that therapy journey was for me at the time. I was an angsty, anxious, teenager who did not have many effective emotional regulation skills. However, it literally set up the foundation for later years of my life. I remember my dad normalizing therapy and medication when I was younger, too. When I went to college, I chose a psychology major. Someone within the advising department encouraged me to look into Social Work. I had been struggling in college, getting poor grades and sleeping too much. Once I started in my social work program, I found myself getting all A’s. So, to those who do not know if college is for them: you may have just not found the right niche yet. Anyways, I decided it was my destiny to ensure each person had a chance to feel heard, understood, and validated. At that moment, a therapist was born.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Anyone who starts their therapy journey the “usual” way will say it was not a smooth road. We usually all start in Community Mental Health. It is where the jobs are being offered when you are young and in need of supervision and somewhat of a paycheck. I was blessed with an amazing supervisor, Karen Nielsen. Peak Wellness Center – in Cheyenne, Wyoming – offered me my first job. I had amazing supervision, was given opportunities to shadow groups, individual, and family therapy. I quickly dove into all of those myself. I will go to the grave saying that job shaped me into the amazing therapist I am today. Once I realized how the system works – overworking and underpaying – I made the switch to working in a school with the Tier 3 kids. Whom are all amazing in their own way despite being the most challenging behaviorally. After moving again, and doing another unfortunate community mental health job where I also ended up being overworked and underpaid, adding in the COVID pandemic, I decided the only realistic choice at that point was private practice. Many clinicians I knew had made the jump, and I knew I was capable. I wanted to be home with my son for dinner and didn’t want to have my phone on.
As you know, we’re big fans of Sara Macke LCSW PLLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I started my private practice in January 2021. Risky with the pandemic still going on, but people needed good quality support. I like to consider myself a therapist who empowers my clients. We discuss what a life worth living looks like, and what we need to adjust to get there. We set boundaries, dig deep into core fears and core beliefs. We address self-confidence and behavioral patterns – going back into even original family systems. I love to work with clients who are “first-timers” in therapy – to show them what therapy really should be like. I also love to have clients come in who have had maybe a “bad” first time in therapy and are willing to try again. I am extremely proud of my therapy blog on my website. Many posts truly resonate with clients, and I am grateful to offer that as a free resource.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I enjoy networking with other professionals- having a hive to rely on is important when in private practice. I love having some really great, quality, professionals to refer people to. Working 50/50 – in person and virtual – offers a variety of availability for clients and fellow clinicians.
Pricing:
- $155 per session
- Limited sliding scale for weekly therapy
- Limited sliding scale for biweekly therapy
Contact Info:
- Website: https://SaraMackeLCSW.com
- Other: https://www.saramackelcsw.com/blog
