Sarah Rachael Butler, M.A.

Psychotherapist, Master of Arts in Counseling

Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor No. 5457 (California) with Additional Qualification to Treat Couples and Families

Licensed Mental Health Counselor No. 20009 (Florida)

National Provider Index No. 1255801221

Member of the CA Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) and CA Association for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (CALPCC)

Prepare-Enrich Facilitator

Internal Family Systems Provider

Member of EMDRIA (EMDR International Association)

My Story

The patchwork of my vocational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre, professional experience in stage management, event planning, agency recruitment, operations management, marketing, advertising, HR and executive assistance. Though achieving success in the NYC corporate setting during my twenties, I was feeling unfulfilled, disconnected from myself and burnt out. I entered into a season of personal therapy and after some soul searching, decided to make a life-altering change. 

I am motivated by work that directly impacts the areas of life that are most personal, profound and sacred. I was inspired to redirect my energies toward the study and pursuit of wholeness. I wanted to explore incorporating psychological, biological and spiritual principles into a holistic healing process. This led me to complete a Master of Arts in Counseling from Reformed Theological Seminary and further training in Internal Family Systems therapy* through the Center for Self Leadership.

I firmly believe in taking a compassionate and non-pathologizing approach to my work to allow clients to safely explore their inner world with empathy and grace. 

I primarily utilize the Internal Family Systems* (IFS) and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), EMDR, the Enneagram tool, mindfulness, self-care skills, CBT and DBT. I’m also a certified Prepare-Enrich facilitator and Level 1 Gottman trained to works with couples wanting to cultivate a loving relationship.

I began my psychotherapeutic practicum training at the Oviedo Counseling Center in Florida in 2009 and then continued my internship at the City Church San Francisco counseling center in 2010. My work has included clinical individual and couples therapy, and teaching self-care, grief, burnout prevention, spiritual direction, the Enneagram and healing sexual trauma in Oviedo, FL; San Francisco, CA; Holland, MI; Kigali, Rwanda and Beijing, China.  I'm equipped to work with Christians and people of all faiths who want to incorporate their personal beliefs into a healing therapeutic process. 

In June of 2014, I opened my private practice in San Francisco create a space for a broader clientele. I am currently meeting for virtual sessions with clients who live in California and Florida.

Additionally, in April of 2019, I completed training for the practice of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy from EMDR Consulting. This is a great tool for healing traumatic experiences and negative self-beliefs that get in the way of our ability to show up to life from our fullest, deepest Self.

*Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a gentle and respectful therapeutic approach which focuses on building the client's core Self in order to facilitate the healing process.