Significant Connections Counseling

Sar Sumick, LMFTA     

  sar.therapist@gmail.com

  425-298-3515

   Education

  Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology  

    - Leadership Institute of Seattle @ Saybrook Graduate Research Institute

  Bachelors of Science in Secondary English Education  

     - Bowling Green State University - Bowling Green, OH

 Additional Experience

I have been involved with alternative lifestyle communities for over twelve years.

I'm the Director of the Consent Academy - www.consent.academy

I volunteer with Camp Ten Trees - an LGBTQ Youth Camp - www.camptentrees.org

I interned with Ryther Child Center & Greater Lakes Mental Health, Child and Family Center.

I've been involved in the Polyamory community and a member of the Center for Sex Positive Culture (or CSPC) for many years.

Philosophy

I am a systemic therapist by training and by nature. I believe that people and their behavior exist within the larger context of their families and culture. I think it is important to work within that context, and to bring the larger system into the therapy (whether directly or through discussion) whenever possible. This includes considering the health and well being of everyone outside the therapy room as well.

My purpose as a therapist is to work with my clients to help create change. I believe that therapy is a team effort where we both bring our knowledge and experience to the table to work towards a desired outcome. Finding each unique path to that outcome is what therapy is about.

These are some of the beliefs that influence my practice:

• Identity can't be dictated.
  • It must be experienced and determined by each person for themselves.
• People are vast and fascinating.
  • Every person has their own background, history, and story which has led them to this place in time. All of those pieces come together to create a complex and interesting individual worthy of being understood.
• Problems are complex.
  • They are created by many intersecting factors over time. It is through the process of understanding and working with a given problem that change can occur.
• There are multiple truths and multiple realities.
  • Every person’s perspective, on any given event or belief, is unique. It is important to accept and understand these perspectives.
• Power is a motivating force, used to create change.
  • Power, and its uses and abuses, is all around us. Everyone controls their own power. It must be explored and deconstructed as a way to create change.
• Every instance of connection has influence.
  • Every discussion, touch, significant look, or interaction with another person has the potential to move us in one way or another. And, we can use these moments of connection to create change.
• In every relationship there are both known and hidden truths.
  • Working to change the hidden to open and negotiated truths, is part of creating positive change.