Bethany Christian Services
1305 1st St S.
PO Box 3253
Willmar, MN 56201
763-710-1143
https://www.bethany.org/willmar
Sara Barber, MA, LPCC, earned a B.A. in psychology from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN and M.A in Counseling from Denver Seminary in Littleton, CO. She is certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and has extensive experience working with the Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) model. Sara has also gained additional certification through the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare: Permanency and Adoption Certificate Program (PACC) through the University of Minnesota, as well as the National Adoption Competency Mental Health Initiative (NTI). Sara has specialized training and experience in working with children and adults with foster care and adoption in their history, which often centers around issues related to attachment, attunement, and grief/loss. Sara works with many adoptive families on the challenges related to parenting children that have gone through significant trauma and she works to collaboratively identify trauma-informed parenting strategies in a judgement free atmosphere. Sara is the mother of three children with adoption in their history, which has helped her have both a personal and professional understanding of the joys, heartaches, and challenges involved in foster-care and adoption, which often involves beauty juxtaposed with pain.
Sara graduated from Concordia College, Moorhead, MN, with a B.A. in Psychology and from Denver Seminary, Littleton, CO, with a Master of Arts degree in Counseling and has advanced training and certification in Trauma Focused – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF – CBT) and ADOPTS (Addressing Post-Traumatic Stress in Adoptive Children).
Sara has also gained additional certification through the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare: Permanency & Adoption Certificate Program through the University of Minnesota.
Additional Information
Service Location: Office Based
Languages Spoken: English
Practice Focus:
Elementary Age (5-12)
Teen (13-18)
Young Adult (Adopted person; 19+)
Adult (Adopted person)
Adult (Adoptive Parent – Individual)
Family
Birth/First Parent/Family
Areas of Practice Strength:
Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Self-Harming Behaviors
Attachment
Grief and Loss Related to Adoption
Adoption Identity (i.e. sense of self-worth; self-esteem…etc.)
Early Traumatic Experiences
Sexual Abuse (Victim)
Treatment Modalities:
Trauma Focused – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF – CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
ADOPTS (a model developed by Bethany Christian Services on attunement and attachment, which uses elements of play therapy)
Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI)
updated Winter 2021
