Meet Sarah Vendegna | Licensed Professional Counselor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sarah Vendegna and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sarah, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
To put it simply, therapists are not as scary as most think we are. One thing that I have consistently come across since I decided in my teen years to have a career in mental health is that a lot of people do not want to talk about mental health. In addition to that, a lot of people refuse to consider going to therapy. There are so many assumptions about how we will influence our clients or interpret what they say. The reality is therapists are humans here to have a conversation. We just have the knowledge, skills, and intuition to help people work through things in a respectful and collaborative manner.

Another thing about the mental health industry is we are encouraged to focus on self-growth and self-care in a way that I feel most other industries do not encourage. From day one, I was taught that burnout is real and I need to take care of myself in order to maintain my career. So, I actively prioritize working out, hobbies, and time with my husband and friends. I am also constantly working on my communication skills, understanding people in a new way, empathizing with situations I have never experienced, and seeing multiple perspectives in any given situation.

What should our readers know about your business?
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and have a private practice in Fort Collins where I see adolescents and adults for individual outpatient psychotherapy. I am licensed in Wyoming and Florida as well, so I’m able to serve more people through telehealth. In my free time, I’m on the board of directors of a local non-profit, ChildSafe, that provides therapy to children who’ve experienced trauma. I’m also active on a committee with the Northern Colorado Health Sector Partnership that addresses the needs of the behavioral health industry in Northern Colorado.

When I talk about going into private practice, I like to joke that I started my private practice because I don’t do well with bosses (and who truly does, anyways?). I’ve held many jobs in the mental health field and the one consistent thing I always loved was working directly with clients, and private practice allows me to do that without worrying about management issues and useless meetings. I get to practice within my scope of expertise, manage the number of clients I see and my schedule, make time for continuing education courses, and devote my time to our community.

I think what truly sets me apart from other therapists is my ability to be honest and down-to-earth with clients. I curse, I’m direct, I mispronounce things, I own my mistakes. I also don’t hesitate to tell people that I’m in therapy and I struggle with my own life stressors. And I’m honest with myself when it comes to acknowledging I’m not the right fit for all clients. This can be refreshing for clients who have not had good interactions with the mental health system and those within it. I’ll never say I’m a perfect therapist, but I will always be willing and open to looking at myself, my decisions, and my interactions to learn and grow as a person and a therapist.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This is a tricky one since I don’t like hiking or being outside (please don’t judge me), but here’s what I got:

Breakfast at Urban Egg
Nails at RoyCe Spa
Coffee break at Mugs
Tour of ChildSafe
Beers at Odell
Dinner at Cacciatore
Ice Cream at Glacier
Drinks at Bondi

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First off, my parents have always been a huge support of my education and career. When it came to what I wanted in my life, no matter what it was, they always told me “We just want you to be happy.” This enabled me to figure out who and what I wanted to be without feeling as though I’d disappoint them.

My husband has always been someone who has never hesitated to support me. It was his unwavering support that led me to open my private practice. For him, it wasn’t even a question of if I should start my own practice, but when.

Lastly, my clients absolutely deserve a shoutout. They are the ones I work the hardest for. I want to make sure I’m the best version of myself in order to help them achieve the same. Seeing the pain they experience and how they grow and change for the good is the most inspiring thing I get to witness.

Website: https://vendegnacounseling.com/

Instagram: @vendegnacounseling

Linkedin: sarah-vendegna-31a10135