Today we’d like to introduce you to Sage Rubinstein.
Hi Sage, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Having grown up in a home with a narcissistic parent, I found myself struggling with a harsh inner critic, as well as food and body image issues that consumed most of my adolescence and young adult life. I became a therapist, not only as a means to heal myself and find meaning in the abuse I endured, but in hopes of providing a safe space for those wanting to escape the confines of their mind to live a more fulfilling and authentic life.
I received my Bachelor’s Degree from New York University and Master’s in Mental Health Counseling at Yeshiva University. I found myself gravitating towards populations that I had personal connections to. I started my career working in the addiction field at Hazelden in New York and when I moved back to my hometown of Miami, FL, I worked at The Oliver-Pyatt Centers, and eating disorder treatment center.
After being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease last year, I found my way back to health with a functional medicine practitioner and began a deep dive into this world. I sought out training from the Integrative Psychiatry Institute, and utilize a functional mental health lens with my clients in order to address systematic root causes that may be exacerbating their mental health symptoms.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I have always been a “good student” and so the beginning of my career was quite smooth. I had purpose and direction and knew where I wanted to end up. The goal was always to open up my own practice, which I accomplished in August of 2020 after working in various treatment settings and a group practice. After a successful year in private practice, I started to wonder what was next for me and struggled to answer that question. I thought it would feel different to achieve this goal, but something was missing.
In 2024, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Disease, an autoimmune disorder that attacks the thyroid, and everything in my life changed. I was struggling with my physical health for the first time in my life and noticed the toll it took on my mental health as well. My anxiety worsened and I felt incredibly depressed. I sought out on a quest to learn everything I could about my disease and the world of functional medicine to help reduce my symptoms. In doing so, I realized there was a gap within the therapeutic world in considering just how significantly sleep, nutrition, and exercise can help support the work we do. This then became my mission and passion, both in my personal and professional life.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I am the sole practitioner in my private practice and provide individual therapy to adolescents and adults struggling with eating disorders, substance abuse, relationship issues, and other mental health challenges. I am certified in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), an evidence-based approach for treating clients who have suffered from trauma that focuses on one’s beliefs about themselves and the world around them as a result of their traumatic experiences.
I am passionate about incorporating functional medicine practices into therapeutic work by providing education on how sleep, exercise, and nutrition contribute to and can exacerbate mental health symptoms. In doing so, I incorporate a holistic approach that aims to identify and address how one’s physical health may be contributing to mental health challenges and focus on specific goals to improve performance in areas such as health, career, relationships, or overall personal development.
My brand is myself. I am proud to show up as my authentic self with my clients and to be with them in some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. I consider it a privilege to do so. Therapy can be daunting, and so I think it is most important to be human with my clients and bring a sense of compassion, directness, and humor into our relationship.
I hold active licenses in both Colorado and Florida, and currently reside in Denver, CO. I can work with clients in a coaching capacity if they are located outside of these states,
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I wholeheartedly believe that functional medicine is going to have a major impact on our healthcare system over the next decade. Functional medicine views the body as an interconnected system where physical, mental, emotional, and environmental factors all play a role in overall health. It helps us to understand and address imbalances in the gut microbiome, nutritional deficiencies, and how chronic stress can lead to mood swings, anxiety, and depression.
We are already starting to see more awareness and some changes made to the American food industry, giving people more education and insight as to how the things that we consume impact our bodies. This not only has an impact on our physical health, but on our mental health as well through the gut-brain axis.
Viewing the body in a more holistic way, rather than siloing care to various medical providers, will only allow us to treat clients more efficiently and empower them to have a sense of agency to make changes in their lives without necessarily needing severe medical interventions.
Pricing:
- $225/50 min individual session
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sagerubinstein.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sage-rubinstein-ba690359/
- Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/sage-rubinstein-denver-co/363951
Image Credits
Photography by Hannah Olman
