My name is Sarah Kim, LCSW, I am a licensed clinical social worker with experience and specialized training in working with children, adults and adolescents since 2009. I specialize in treatment for depression, anxiety disorders and trauma related disorders. I am licensed in both New Jesery and California.
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 and I decided to pursue my education and obtained my Masters in Social Work at the California State University, Los Angeles. I have experience working in the public mental health system such as the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health and also contracted agencies. My public service experiences enhanced my training to work with children youths and adults who were exposed to trauma such as childhood abuse history and domestic violence. 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. 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.
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.