Inspiring Conversations with Sarah Vendegna of Vendegna Counseling

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Vendegna.

Sarah, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Treating people with respect no matter their life situation was instilled in me from an early age. So, growing up in South Louisiana, I always remember feeling for those who struggled with mental health or felt like an outsider because the beliefs of my hometown simply didn’t acknowledge these people.

I just wanted to listen to them and understand where they were coming from, and ultimately help them feel seen and heard. Fast forward to my senior year when deciding what to major in for college, Psychology was a no-brainer. Being a therapist simply made sense to me.

So, I completed my undergraduate degree in Louisiana in 2011, and then my graduate degree in Kansas in 2014. I started my career in community mental health in Massachusetts, moved to Colorado in 2017 worked in an agency setting, and ultimately decided to start my private practice in 2020. I’ve certainly struggled along the way, both professionally and personally, but being a therapist is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

I also volunteer my time in the community in my free time. I’ve been part of the ChildSafe Board of Directors since 2021. It’s a non-profit organization that provides therapeutic services to children who’ve survived traumatic experiences. Nothing is more meaningful to me than giving a child a chance at happiness, success, and peace.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Yes and no. I’ve been a therapist for almost 9 years, so I felt confident when it comes to the actual work I did with my clients. If anything, that’s the easy part. The challenge with going out on my own is sitting with the self-doubt that pops up when I don’t get a lot of referrals or if a client ends treatment.

Not having an agency to utilize for referrals or marketing means it’s all on me. It can feel like there is little room for error, but it just keeps me focused on doing my best work, maintaining my code of ethics, and being honest with any struggles I am having (both personal and professional).

We’ve been impressed with Vendegna Counseling LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor with a private practice where I provide individual outpatient counseling to individuals 14 and older. I am licensed to see clients in Colorado, Wyoming, and Florida, so I see clients both in person and through telehealth. I see a range of issues, but the primary ones are anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and trauma. I also do a lot of work with individuals in establishing boundaries in their current relationships and exploring who clients want to be in the world we live in today.

I love the work I do. Quite frankly, I consider myself very lucky to be the therapist in my clients’ lives. Nothing is more amazing than watching someone recover from painful experiences and grow into the person they are. Or discover things about themselves they never thought possible. Or shed the lingering impact of people or events from the past and start to make decisions rather than react to hurt. And with all this, I learned so much about what humanity is capable of, both good and bad and everything in between.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Potential clients can just reach out to me through my website or PsychologyToday profile. All we do is set up a time for a 15-minute phone consultation-something that’s very important in my field. These calls give me an idea if I’m the right fit for you and you, the client, get a feel for how I am as a person and a therapist. If it’s the right fit, we move forward and schedule a session. It’s super easy!

Support comes from connecting with other therapists who know what it’s like to have the rollercoaster days I have and also know what it’s like to carry the emotional load of my clients and my own. Support from the public comes in the form of embracing mental health and promoting it like we promote physical health in our world. It is equally important to make sure we are doing okay mentally!

Pricing:

• $140 for a 50-minute session
• $280 for a 90-minute session

Contact Info:

• Website: https://vendegnacounseling.com/
• Instagram: @vendegnacounseling
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-vendegna-31a10135/
• Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/sarah-l-vendegna-fort-collins-co/770773