Sarah LaFontaine, LMHC, LPC - Trauma, anxiety, depression and EMDR therapist in Providence, RI, CT, MA, SC, & FL

Ready to stop living a chaotic life?

Hi, I’m Sarah!

You feel overwhelmed and ready for life to change. You know what you want your life to look like but haven’t gotten there despite everything you’ve tried. No matter what, you’re not giving up and you’re willing to put in the work to get the life you deserve.

I work with adults who are dissatisfied with their life and the constant uncertainty that goes along with it. They look for ways to change their perspectives, beliefs, and behaviors so that life flows a little easier. 

I believe that the mind and body are connected at a fundamental level and healing one means listening to the other. So when we start our work together we’ll address what your mind is saying you want to accomplish and what your body is telling us it needs. We can’t address the tough stuff if your body says it doesn’t feel safe. And your safety will always be my first priority.

Throughout our work together I’ll make sure we are always on the same page and going at a pace that balances progress and comfort because I believe the most effective change happens when you are comfortably uncomfortable.

Find out more about what working with me looks like here.

No droning on about Freud here - we are real people with real lives and ultimately, just humans being human.

Expectations

You’ve been in therapy before. You follow allllll the therapy meme accounts on Instagram, you’ve read books on mental health, and have Pinterest boards of quotes, affirmations, and strategies. And if it were that easy, those would have been enough. But that’s not how deep healing works. And despite the frustration, you have gained something incredible from those experiences - you know what hasn’t worked for you and it’s brought you here.

Therapy is not just about coping skills and getting through each day, it’s about exploring what experiences and beliefs have shaped you into the person you are today. We take that information and use it to guide our focus so you can heal from the past and control your future.

Am I the right therapist for you?

I bring my training in mind-body perspectives through Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB), education in cognitive science, philosophy, and psychology, and 10+ years of experience in trauma, crisis management, and inpatient psychiatric care so that you know I can handle whatever you bring to session.

I’m a practical therapist who lives in the real world. I know there are going to be times when you want to say “I just wanted to kill them!” Or “I hate my life, I don’t want to be here anymore.” Because that’s how intense your emotions are and that’s okay. We’re not going to immediately call the police but we are going to have a conversation about those emotions and thoughts. Therapy should not be a place where you feel like you need to protect your life from the person whose job is to help your life get better.

My clients all say therapy with me is like talking to a real person. No Freudian analysis or overly formal (and awkward) conversations here! I make sure you’re comfortable and most importantly, heard and understood. I bring to the table all the things that are important in a relationship - trust, empathy, understanding, honesty, and a lack of judgment. So in session we’re going to explore what changes you need to heal while we laugh, cry, and make cheeky jokes that would probably get some serious side-eye if anyone else overheard us.

Specialities

Training & Experience

Education and Licensure

  • Certificate of Graduate Studies in Advanced Counseling from Rhode Island College

  • M.S. Clinical and Counseling Psychology from Valdosta State University

  • B.A. Psychology; Scientific and Philosophical Studies of Mind, concentration in Cognitive Science from Franklin & Marshall College

  • RI LMHC #MHC01125

  • CT LPC #4316

  • MA LMHC #LMHC5000863

  • SC LMHC #TLC 975 PC

  • FL LMHC #TPMC5732

Training and Certifications

  • Certification in Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB)

  • Certification in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

  • Certification in Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

  • Trained in trauma-informed Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

  • Advanced training in crisis management

  • Advanced training in trauma-related dissociation

Guiding Principals

Emotional Safety

Creating a connection where you feel safe being vulnerable and can grow without restraint

Authenticity

Fostering a space where we can be our true selves and nothing is off limits

Healing

Focusing on how we can move forward every second, minute, and hour

Honesty

Maintaining trust through openness even when it’s uncomfortable

METHODS

Bring together cognitive science, psychology, neuroscience and other fields to understand our lives, relationships, and communities

Change how memories are stored in your mind to achieve peace in your body

Develop practical strategies to change how thoughts and beliefs affect feelings and actions

Why Rising Hope?

As a lifelong Rhode Islander I’ve always been surrounded by lighthouses and our state motto, “Hope”. When you are in a storm, you know you want to get to shore but are often unsure of how to get there and what you need to accomplish your mission. Yet you have hope that you will succeed and when you see the lighthouse guiding you safely to shore that rising hope transforms into joy, relief, and happiness.

So let’s work through the storm together and see how hope transforms your life.