About
Meet Sarah
Hello! I'm Sarah Shine. I help adults who may find themselves "haunted" by past experiences find freedom from those "ghosts" in order to move forward with the life they deeply desire but have struggled to accept or make for themselves. You will find that I am personable, jovial, humorous, and straight forward.
My approach to therapy is very focussed on being able to live the life you want to live, free from past experiences. I use techniques which don't require extensive story telling but instead focus on showing your mind and body that time has passed and you are now safe so that you are free to make decisions with intention and skill as opposed to being reactionary.
Who would be a great fit?
Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired?
Are you ready to do "the work"?
Have you read all the books? Do you know why you do the things you do but just can't find that key to unlock your patterns? Then I'm the therapist for you. (Though please don't think you need to have "read all the books".)
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I am a solution focussed therapist and I value and respect your time and resources. I see it as my duty to help you obtain results. Gaining your trust and building a relationship will take the time it takes. However, once we have the foundation we need for you to feel safe with the process you will find within about a month or two we are able to have "that one session" that just unlocks the door for processing.
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Sometimes we have very valid reasons for not being ready to "do the work". I offer no judgment as I know being a human is complicated. This can be a very scary journey and once you learn to, first and foremost, love yourself it can result in major life changes. If you're ready to do the scary thing and heal (even if it takes some time to put it into action), then let's get started!
VISION
MISSION
I envision a world where individuals are no longer defined by their past but are empowered to live with confidence, clarity, and purpose. Through innovative and compassionate therapy, I strive to create lasting transformation, helping individuals embrace their strengths and build the fulfilling lives they deserve.
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My mission for Luminous Counseling is to empower adults with PTSD and ADHD to break free from the limitations of the past and step into the life they truly want to live. Through evidence-based and transformative therapeutic modalities, we provide compassionate, individualized care that fosters healing, resilience, and lasting change. Our mission is to guide our clients toward self-understanding, confidence, and the freedom to thrive.​
Locations
Sarah is currently licensed in three states: Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. All Services are online only at this time. Sarah is physically located in Charleston, SC and there is potential for a physical location in the future.
Experience
Professional Background
I have worked with a wide variety of clients and issues. It's given me a diverse tool kit for problem solving and also helped me refine my skills with using those specific tools. I have a style that is a little different from your typical talk-therapy. It can be re-traumatizing to discuss traumatic experiences with anyone. A benefit of how I work is that you don't need to discuss what happened in detail. I'll ask questions just to get a basic idea of what is going on but we are predominantly focussing on you in that moment that happened and just showing your brain and your body that time as passed, you survived, and you don't ever have to go back to that place again. Think of it as "updating the system". That said, if there is something you need to share that you've never told anyone before, I promise you there will never be judgment. I've heard it all! The work of releasing yourself from shame is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and those around you.
Qualifications
Current
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Florida: SW20140
Georgia: CSW009004
Licensed Independent Social Worker- Clinical Practice
South Carolina: 16508
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP)
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2022 - Present
Independent Practice
2022
Director of Residential in Substance Abuse Treatment
2021-2022
Manager of Residential in Substance Abuse Treatment
2019 - 2021
Outpatient Counselor in Substance Abuse Treatment
2017 - 2019
Master of Social Work
2009 - 2014
Bachelors of Arts in Psychology
Modalities
These are the primary modalities I utilize in treatment.
01
DBT
When working for a substance abuse treatment non-profit I was thoroughly trained in utilizing Dialectical Behavior Therapy, running daily groups centered around obtaining the skills needed to "live life on life's terms." I still utilize DBT frequently as I find it cultivates the skills for mindfulness which are necessary to be able to make decisions about how you would like to respond in stressful situations from a healthy mindset.
03
EMDR
I am trained in EMDR. This modality is helpful for reprocessing trauma that may be difficult to verbalize.
02
IFS
I have found Internal Family Systems to be incredibly helpful as a way to engage with the nervous system in order to address trauma responses. It is also helpful in combination with EMDR or as an alternative for client's who aren't appropriate for EMDR or are finding it difficult. Let's learn to love all of our "parts"!
04
MI
I find Motivational Interviewing extremely helpful as a way to discuss and explore a client's personal beliefs, goals, and perspectives in order to discover what may be driving certain decisions or holding them back.
05
Attachment-Based
Attachment is at the core of our relationships and is important to address with any type of trauma response.
* Meet Jolene
On occasion you might have a surprise appearance from my Aussie, Jolene. Whether you see her or not, she's always right there at my feet making sure no one is listening in. You can consider her my HIPAA Compliance Officer, really.