Sara Schramer, MA LCPC
About My Work
I help people build secure attachments and connections to coregulate and soothe in their relationships.
I seek to soothe and connect. I genuinely believe that we all need a safe and secure space to show up, be, express, and explore. I seek to help clients navigate life through passionate, relationally driven, Emotionally Focused Therapy. I want to form Soothing Connections with everyone I see as a basis of relationship. I focus on compassion and holding value for clients in each session, knowing that is core to what every human needs.
I love the work I am privileged to do with clients and feel thankful to partner in the process.
My desire is for clients to experience being seen, known, and valued as we join together in the process of healing and growing.
I am a trained Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Therapist dedicated to help couples and individuals strengthen their bonds together.
I specialize in helping couples and individuals break free from cycles that consistently have them in distress and feeling stuck, helpless, alone, unheard, and disconnected.
I value relationships and will work for your relationship, as long as that is your goal. If your goal changes, I will gently help you pivot a new pathway as needed.
I have an attachment-based lens, with a supportive style that supports you as we build connection in our work together.
I take a collaborative approach to allow me to know clients’ stories and experiences. It is important to me to know my clients, their values, interests, strengths, and personality to adapt to their personal needs in therapy. This helps me focus on clients’ goals and desired outcomes in treatment.
My Role
I see my role as being a safe person to walk alongside you, to create a safe space with you, and to help you hold things with compassion, so that we can sort through them.
I want to help couples to create lasting change.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is a highly researched and empirically validated therapy- it’s proven, tried and true- and it has substantial outcome studies- it continues to work.
EFT goes beyond problem solving the points of conflict couples often experience. I often tell my couples that couples are creative in their arguments, but most tend to follow a pattern. Instead of debating the “problem of the week,” I help my couples develop an understanding and pathway to work through the true issues driving a wedge between them. EFT gets to the root of what is going on “within and between” couples which allows couples to make new discoveries about themselves and their partners in relationship changing ways. I often give the example to my couples that mowing the lawn will get rid of dandelions for a week, but to really address the issue of the dandelions, you have to get to the roots, to understand what is going on and how to treat it; it is similar with couples therapy. I use EFT to help couples identify the root issues going on and help them to treat those issues using attachment healing and support to guide couples through growth.
EFT brings more clarity, understanding, compassion, and soothing and those are the things I want to share with my couples.
Why EFT?
Great question!
I want my couples to understand EFT and how it will look different from “typical” couples counseling.
I often hear from my couples that have done other forms of couples counseling that EFT makes more sense, feels different, and helps them understand patterns that have been going on for years.
In the beginning sessions, I will help couples understand the process of EFT, what sessions will look like and why, and help couples to share their experiences in ways that are helpful.
How does EFT work?
Connecting with your therapist is incredibly important.
Who I work with:
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Growth Oriented
Folks who are ready and willing to grow.
One of my personal values is growth and I thrive when I work with clients that value growth in their lives as well.
Growth Oriented looks like:
I know what I want to get out of therapy and I am ready to make changes to get to it. -
Highly Motivated
Folks who are ready and willing to make change.
I work with clients who are ready to work, now. While building connection together is still necessary, these clients know what they want and are ready to get after it, with some help of course.
Highly Motivated looks like:
I know therapy will require some sacrifices and changes, and I’m ready to take those steps together. -
Committed
Folks who are ready and willing to commit to hard and vulnerable work.
Commitment to the therapeutic process is essential. I work with clients that are focused and prioritizing therapy as an important part of their lives.
Commitment looks like:
I am willing to consistently meet at our therapy time and work to look for and apply experiential change both inside and outside of the therapy office as well.
Soothe Well & Stay Connected
Sara Schramer,
MA LCPC
The things I often tell my clients about myself and my style…
I am Attachment Based which means I see my clients and their stories through the lens of Attachment Theory which focuses on relationships- how we have relationships with ourselves, how we have relationships with others, and how we have relationships with the world.
I am Emotionally Focused which means I seek to understand my clients and their stories through the lens of Emotionally Focused Therapy which focuses on understanding the emotions that drive our thoughts and behaviors. I look beyond the surface of the story to help clients see a more wholistic view of their emotional experiences that come up in their relationships.
I am a Neuroscience “nerd” which means I love Neuroscience! I enjoy incorporating how our brain works and using that awareness with clients. I find it to be helpful in building compassion to understand how our brains work and why they do the things they do. I empower clients to learn more about their brains by sharing neuroscience in ways that are relatable.
Therapist Background
Trainings (among many others!):
Emotionally Focused Therapy Externship
Ongoing twice monthly Emotionally Focused Therapy trainings
Sexual Cycle
View of Self and View of Other
Withdrawer Reengagement
Working with Pursuers
Working with Withdrawers
Reactivity and Deescalation
Enactments
Additional Continuing Education Units
Experience:
Counseling services and mental health therapy since 2013
Private group practice (8+ years)
Parenting Education Presentations
Suicide Prevention Presentation
Compassion Fatigue/Burnout Presentation
Mental Health Building Presentations
Student Assistance Counselor
Lead/co-lead at risk teen groups
Lead/co-lead stress management groups
Lead/co-lead DBT group
Lead Walking and Wellness Group
Education:
Masters in Mental Health Counseling
(Trinity Evangelical Divinity School)Bachelors of Arts in Psychology and Sociology
(Trinity International University)
Credentialing/Licensure:
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)
License Number: 180010941
Recognized as a 2025 Best Counselor in St. Charles by BusinessRate, based on client Google reviews.
I learned a lot and continue to be a lifelong learner.
My Stories
Personal Life
In my time away from my office, I spend time connecting with my partner and our people. One of my greatest loves outside of my partner and therapy is volleyball. It’s a great outlet for fun, play, movement, and connection. I also enjoy walks, spikeball, time out on our deck, and most things outdoors.
How I Started
I started Soothing Connections Counseling after realizing I needed a place where I could live into my values more. I wanted to focus on providing the quality client care that I believe is essential, to see clients as humans in relationship. I wanted to utilize my time effectively and intentionally with the drive and purpose that I aspire to bring to my work.
I needed to create a healthy environment where my work could thrive into all I had dreamed of in my early days of graduate school. Creating a work/home balance and reflecting on what I need as a human and as a therapist helped bring greater support for my personal and professional development.
Growth is one of my core values and needing a place where I can continue to grow is incredibly important to me and my life. I started Soothing Connections Counseling to have a place to continue to change and grow into myself and the field of therapy. I believe life is ever changing, ever evolving, and this adventure allows me the space to continue those important qualities.
Get to know Sara Schramer, MA LCPC
Interview with Sara Schramer, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor at Soothing Connections Counseling from a previous event, Overcoming Anxiety Walk