This is a picture of Sara Rice, LLPC. She has a calm, warm facial expression. It is Autumn outside and she is standing near a Birch tree. She has dark brown shoulder length hair and is wearing a jean jacket that is buttoned in the middle with one button, a maroon dress, dark leggings and brown tall boots.
Sara Rice (pronouns: she/hers) M.A., LLPC, DP-CAADC (Development Plan for Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor) is a professional mental health counselor and a proud wife of an Army Veteran for over a decade now. She is also a mother of 4 children that range in age from high school to kindergarten and a foster mother to a infant little boy. Sara received her counseling masters from Liberty University and is on a continued pursuit of knowledge to better serve those she works with. Sara specializes in working with individuals with severe depression, including Bi-polar disorder, substance use disorders (also in collaboration with Wedgwood Christian Services), trauma (Post Traumatic Stress, Women's Issues, Spiritual Abuse) and working with those in the LGBTQ community. When she is not working, she is delving into documentaries of all sorts (historical in nature, how things are made or even about Blockbuster "yup, the video store") she can also be caught binging on true crime shows.
Interesting Facts:
Once wanted to be an Art Historian
volunteered at Alpha Women's Center in Grand Rapids, MI
Had a mother who passed away from Frontal Temportal Degenerative Dementia and was her caregiver the years preceeding her death
WHAT ABOUT THESE SPECIALTIES: What is the point to having a specialty? Does this mean that I cannot see you for depression, anxiety, bi-polar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder or any other mental health related issue? First and foremost, I have a heart to help all people who are struggling with mental health issues and disorders, but that might not mean I am the right person for you. Second, yes I do treat depression, anxiety and the other disorders listed above, but a specialty means that I have taken extra time and training in a particular area, so that I can be ready for your in-depth needs. Below is a better explanation on what each disorder of mental health issue is in better detail and what treatment might entail.
Substance Abuse- This includes a comprehensive look into substance use in one's life, which includes how substances affect one's work, family life, leisure activities and physical and mental health. When dealing with substance use disorders, it can be useful to look at the severity level of each substance in order to garner the significance of a substance on one's life. Treatment can include an in patient facility, counseling to garner underlying reasons for substance use as well as routine attendance at a 12 step program.
Alcohol Use Disorder
Cannabis Use Disorder
Opioid Use Disorder
Other Substance Use Disorders based on a client self report
Trauma- This includes working with survivors of trauma, abuse, and victimization. Trauma can come from so many different sources from a auto accident to natural disasters, violence and abuse. There is a need for a thoughtful engagement when working with those who struggle with trauma as a significant blow to their mental health. Often times, people are not even aware of what is considered a trauma and how it might be impacting one's life. Even those who are considered "second hand experiencers" of trauma can have mental and physical issues connected to trauma. Treatment for trauma seeks to bring life as close to equilibrium or balance as possible, increase coping mechanisms and reduce stigma on the affects trauma has on an individual.
Acute Stress Disorder
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Depression
Anxiety
Personality Disorders- Personality disorders such as Boarderline Personality Disorder, Narcassistic Personality Disorder, Avoidant Personality Disorder as well as, but not limited to Dependent Personality Disorders. These are nerological disorders that can find their roots in one's biological, psychological and social interactions in their enviorment. The reason for this speciality is due to the difficulty an invidiual has in the world living with a personality disorder. Individuals with personality disorders find themselves with torn patterns of relationshps. Comorbity with other disorders often occur.
Substance Abuse
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Depression
Panic Disorder
Woman's Issues- Why the reason for a specialty in women's issues. While working at Community Recovery International as well as Alpha Grand Rapids, I have noticed a pattern of behavior in working with women. We often attempt to take on the world and when we cannot hold the world up, we take it as a self perceived failure. I work with women who live their lives in a lower socioeconomic background, struggle with self-esteem, motherhood, domestic violence as well as lower confidence and self-worth.
Depression
Anxiety
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Panic Disorder
Pain Management- What on earth does Psychotherapy and Counseling have to do with pain management, and what do you even mean? There is evidence to support that stress has a significant impact on our body. I have first hand experience in how trauma and pain are closely related and how therapy can help redirect your life and aid in decreasing the stress one puts on their body. I am an avid over-doer, which means that I would work my body to extreme fatigue and fight to get back to being able to move. As a mother, student and caregiver, this made my life a living hell. Pain management therapy uses a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approach to redirect the brain and create a life schedule that can aid in making life and tasks more manageable. Useful addition for those who suffer from:
Fibromyalgia
Poly Cystic Ovaries Syndrome (PCOS)
Endometriosis
Lupus
Lyme Disease
Military- It is no surprise that the military community past and present has it's own unique set of challenges. Only a small fraction of the population has ever entered into this fold. As a former Army wife myself and a forever member of the military community, I understand these unique challenges in thriving and surviving military life as well as the transition process from military life to civilian life. Many of our military members are struggling not only with PTSD, but an unseen wound of what I would classify as an extreme adjustment disorder that can affect not only the transitioning soldier themselves, but their families too.
Adjustment Disorder
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Acute Stress Disorder
Trauma Brain Injury
Depression
Anxiety
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
This is a picture of Sara Rice, LLPC. She is outside, it is Autumn. She has a wide smile with teeth, a brown beenie cap on, covering her short brown hair and is wearing a light jean jacket. This picture is from the chest up with a slight head tilt to the side.
Disclaimer: Although I am a mental health therapist by profession, I am not YOUR therapist. The articles on this site are for informational and educational purposes only, does not constitute a diagnosis and does not establish any kind of therapy-client relationship with me. I am not liable or responsible for any damages resulting from or related to your use of this information.
Social Media
This disclaimer extends to any content posted by Sara Rice or Marin Hann for Koinonia Counseling Center on any social media platform that they are present on.