About Me – Mental Health Therapist

Specializes in Child/Adolescent & Family Therapy


My name is Sarah Kim, LCSW, I am a licensed clinical social worker with experience and specialized training in working with children and adolescents. I am also experienced providing therapy to adults with chronic mental illness.

After completing my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of California, Irvine, I started my career working as a case manager with older adults who suffered through chronic mental illness such as schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. I realized that there was a significant need in providing treatment to individuals suffering through mental illness. I pursued my education and obtained my Masters in Social Work at the California State University, Los Angeles. At the same time, I also started working for a foster agency, providing assessment and services to children who were exposed to abuse and trauma. My interest and passion to assist children with trauma and significant emotional disturbance, lead me to work as a psychiatric social worker for an agency, contracted with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, specializing in treating children and youths, who required intensive mental health treatment. I obtained significant training to provide treatment to children exposed to trauma and implemented trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy in my treatment with youths. I also was able to provide treatment to adults who suffered through depression and anxiety. I continued my career working directly for the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. I was placed in the specialized foster care unit and collaborated with the Department of Children and Family Services to provide assessment to children and youth. I also provided consultation and attended team meetings to provide recommendations pertaining the child’ s mental health needs.

I was also trained in providing assessment to infant and children under five years old and have experience providing assessment and recommendations to parents pertaining the infant and child’s emotional needs. I work collaboratively with the family and strongly encourage the parents to be part of the child’s treatment.

I am trained in crisis intervention and also have experience providing suicide prevention trainings. As I worked at the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health’s Children’s System of Care Unit, I provided suicide prevention trainings to various private and public entities such as the Department of Children and Family Services in Los Angeles County, Department of Public Social Services in Los Angeles County and various foster care agencies. I am certified in providing QPR (Question Persuade Refer) training as well as Safetalk, which are both evidenced-based suicide intervention trainings.

In my personal life, I am the mother of two children. Having lived in various countries since my childhood and speaking different languages, I am sensitive to the cultural needs of each individual. I also understand the difficulties that families experience when they immigrate to a new country.

My therapeutic approach is empathic and sensitive, yet goal oriented, in which I want to help my clients to achieve the goals they have determined. I believe in working from a strengths-based perspective and looking at the system of the family. I am an eclectic therapist, meaning that I use several therapeutic techniques, but I also specialize in systems therapy, Bowenian family therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy.

My Expertise

These are my expertise

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Child Therapy

Child Therapy

Therapy for children,
ages three to twelve.

Family Therapy

Family Therapy

Therapy
for the whole family.

Teenagers

Teenagers

Therapy for teenagers,
and adolescents.

Adult

Adult

Individual therapy
for adults

Specialties

I specialize in providing treatment to youth, children and families. I have experience in treating children who have behavioral issues, depression, ADHD, trauma related issues, psychotic symptoms and other diagnosis. I worked with the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, as well as many non-profit contracted mental health agencies.

I am an eclectic therapist, meaning I draw my practice from various treatment modalities, however I especially practice the cognitive behavioral therapy model in my treatment with teens and behavioral therapy for treatment with young children. Throughout my clinical experience, I have put emphasis on the attachment of young children to their caregivers and helped caregivers to be involved as much as possible in the treatment of their children.

I have obtained extensive training in providing mental health assessment to zero to five year old, trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy and suicide prevention and intervention skills.

Fee

Fee

I am a provider for Cigna, Magellan, MagnaCare, NJ Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, ValueOptions and out-of-network provider and will be able to take cash or credit card payments. I will provide you with a receipt of services after each visit if desired. I also provide sliding scale fees:$110-$130/per hour

Languages

Languages

I am a fluent speaker in Korean and Turkish. I also have a multi-cultural life experience living in various different countries and I value providing culturally-sensitive services.

License

License

I am a licensed clinical social worker in New Jersey and California.

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