Sarah Lapenta-H, MDiv, MSW, LSW, BCC, GC-C
Psychotherapist
I hope clients feel that they truly matter – just as they are – and feel well-supported in working toward and realizing their goals – who they’re becoming, as we collaborate in a safe, curious, and compassionate space (online or in person).
The type(s) of therapy used are informed by clients’ specific strengths and needs. Their personalized therapy plan draws from eclectic approaches to respect their context and unique path. For example, CBT helps untangle connections between thoughts, feelings, and actions; DBT helps bolster emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness; and/or EMDR helps with healing from trauma/distressing experiences.
Additional, valuable resources to integrate can include Mindfulness/Meditation practices, other forms of grief and trauma-focused care, and Creative Expression and Spiritual Counseling (honoring all individual beliefs and paths to meaning).
See my Psychology Today profile to learn more about my areas of expertise (e.g., trauma), therapy approaches (e.g., EMDR), and payment/insurance information.
Endorsements
I watched [Sarah] build strong connections with youth and young adult clients whose backgrounds and experiences vary greatly. Her ability to create a warm, comfortable environment using trauma-informed care and offering diverse interventions makes her a highly effective therapist. Sarah’s remarkable ability to make people feel heard and supported has had a noticeably positive impact on the lives of those around her.
Sarah is a true advocate for her clients. She views the client as a whole person- considering other facets that may factor into well being and supporting clients around getting these needs met.
[Sarah’s] deep knowledge, clinical expertise, and life experiences are matched by her genuine dedication to providing high-quality care to all individuals. Her warmth, insight, knowledge, and adaptability give Sarah the opportunity to work with people to create meaningful relationships and positive change. I could not recommend Sarah more to help you on your healing journey!
I have worked with Sarah as a colleague for more than five years. Sarah understands the wide range of emotions that can accompany grief, the loss of control, the need for emotional expression, the many pathways that can lead to healing. To all of her encounters, Sarah brings a devotion to giving people choices, leaning into their strengths while supporting them through challenges and broken places. Most importantly, Sarah leads with compassion, wisdom, wonder, and deep skill in listening.
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Chaplain, Interfaith/Humanist
Stanford Medicine Health Care
- Develop and implement emotionally and spiritually supportive, telehealth programming for SHC colleagues throughout the whole SHC system.
- Offer holistic assessments, 1:1 telehealth support, virtual peer support groups, and virtual memorial services for staff. Tailor linkages to community resources and referrals as needed. Interventions include culturally responsive and strengths-based practices, interactive psychoeducation, mindfulness- and trauma-informed practices. Draw largely upon spiritual AIM, acceptance and commitment, and DBT modalities.
- Provide related psychoeducation for / educational presentations to medical staff, physicians, and medical school residents, as well as Spiritual Care Services team and CPE students.
- Develop and implement “peer supporter” role for peer support groups and one-time gatherings.
- Confidential-interviewer for Stanford Medicine.
As the Decedent Care Chaplain, 2019 – 2021:
- Offered comprehensive needs assessments and trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, strengths-based emotional and interfaith spiritual interventions for Inpatient and Outpatient patients, their family members, and staff, including telehealth care. Interventions included supportive counseling, psychoeducation, and links to community resources. Offered (virtual) special services as needed.
- Bereavement coordination supporting decedent care for two hospitals (700 beds); collaborated with social workers; remote on-call support; and collaborated with County and State Health Departments, Bay Area County Coroners, Public Administrators, and hospital administration and departments.
- Preceptor for CPE students in the area of decedent care and grief support; designed, implemented, and coordinated bereavement services to loved ones and throughout the hospital; designed and co- facilitated the pilot grief support group with Palliative Care Social Work; guest lecturer at Stanford Medicine; facilitated hospital-wide reflections and webinar-based training.
- Developed and implemented departmental and hospital-wide COVID-19 and other Decedent Care policies and procedures, including establishing financial support for those disproportionately impacted by the pandemic prior to alternative funding support later offered by the government.
History
My path to psychotherapy has been enriched by meaningful engagements with people from a wide spectrum of backgrounds and life experiences. Before this work, I began in business management for non-profits and dedicated time to national service with two terms of AmeriCorps. Later, as a Clergyperson and also as a Chaplain, I had the privilege of accompanying people of all ages through significant life decisions and transitions, times of crisis, and end-of-life care. This background has provided me with an appreciation for the resilience and vulnerability inherent in striving and adapting.
Settings in which I’ve supported the holistic well-being of individuals, couples, families, and groups include middle and high schools, universities, community-based non-profits, palliative care and hospice organizations, and high-paced, demanding clinical contexts (e.g., emergency departments, research/teaching hospitals).
I’ve also worked closely with creative individuals, families managing caregiving and conditions like dementia, foster youth and resource (and adoptive) families, healthcare workers and first responders, immigrants and refugees, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people who are neurodivergent, students, and those who are grieving tangible and intangible losses.
Credentials
Master of Social Work – clinical focus, Boston University
Master of Divinity – foci in building intercultural community and spiritual care across cultures
Bachelor of Science – management, Purdue University
- Licensed Social Worker, Pennsylvania State Board of Social Work
- Board Certified Chaplain, Association of Professional Chaplains
- Certified Grief Counselor, The American Institute of Health Care Professionals
- Certified Retreat/Spiritual Director, Spirituality Center CA
- EMDR trained clinician, Institute for Creative Mindfulness, EMDRIA
- Prolonged Grief Disorder trained clinician, The Center for Prolonged Grief, Columbia University
Continuing education includes systems and attachment theories; meaning-making, trauma-and culturally-informed care; and mindfulness-based practices.