Sarah Whalen, Associate Clinical Social Worker

Welcome! I am an associate clinical social worker. I earned two B.A.s in psychology and women’s studies from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. I went on to achieve my master’s in clinical social work from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. When I was younger, I wanted to be a teacher. I’ve always loved connecting with others, and have worked with children since I was practically a child myself! When I was in middle school, a therapist came to present on career day, and I was hooked. I still see myself as a teacher of sorts, helping to guide you as you learn more about yourself and what skills work for you. I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to gain valuable clinical experience working in a wide variety of clinical settings and mental health issues. As a therapist, I take an eclectic, relational approach. I was trained in psychodynamic therapy at Smith and consider that to be my foundation. I believe that the client is the expert, and that building a trusting, connected relationship is essential to therapy. I also practice from a trauma-informed perspective, which means I am aware of and take into account how traumatic events in your past may be playing a role in whatever issues you are currently having. Trauma can take place in the form of something happening in your life, like child abuse or a car accident, or something not happening in your life, like childhood emotional neglect (CEN). In couples counseling, I utilize an emotionally focused therapy (EFT) and Gottman Method approach to foster healthier communication and strengthen the couple’s emotional bond. I look forward to meeting you and having the privilege to embark on this journey together!

I'm a primary therapist at Daybreak Counseling Center. At Daybreak, we work collaboratively as a team to provide effective psychotherapy, counseling, and mental health services for children, teens, adults, and couples at our offices in Long Beach and Cerritos. We also offer convenient online video-based teletherapy sessions throughout California, which can be conducted from the comfort of your own home, at your convenience. We offer a client-centered approach to every client we see. That means we treat every client we see uniquely with the best approach that suits their needs and concerns. To do so, we draw from a wide variety of therapy modalities, whereas most other practices typically have one modality that often doesn't address or meet the needs of everyone coming in. We work with a wide range of emotional and behavioral issues, providing services that span from therapy for depression and anxiety to parenting support, couples therapy, and personal growth work. In a comfortable, confidential, and supportive atmosphere, we offer a highly personalized approach tailored to each of our clients' individual needs to help them attain the personal growth they’re striving to accomplish. Call us today, and we would be happy to help you set up an appointment and answer any questions you have.