Meet Sara McIntyre, LPC, BC-DMT

approach & background

Sara McIntyre, Licensed Professional Counselor and Board-Certified Dance/Movement Therapist.

I enjoy the process over the product. While the destination of therapy is important, I don’t want us to miss a moment of appreciating the process and work of you getting there. 

I’m a naturally curious human and that feeds my excitement in providing therapy. You are the expert of your own experience, and it can be helpful to have another perspective. I’m a direct communicator and frequent feedback deliverer.

My clinical experience is primarily with adults, across many different identities. I have worked with acute psychiatric diagnoses and those struggling with major life transitions or day-to-day experiences. I have worked with first time parents, emerging professionals, folks in major life transitions, first responders, those with big support systems and those without, sex workers, teachers, entrepreneurs, folks who have been incarcerated, and many in between. I approach each person with compassion and openness, and am ready to receive you just as you are today. I will hold the space for you, while giving you gentle nudges to progress towards your goals.

I am attuned to the power and privilege dynamics that can influence the therapeutic alliance. It’s necessary to my practice that I constantly examine how my privilege or power may affect your therapy, and I consistently seek consultation and supervision to stay reflective and proactive. I spend personal time doing work to untangle biases, assumptions and racist/sexist/homophobic/transphobic/fatphobic/white supremacist beliefs. I believe therapy is political. 

I attended Western Oregon University in Monmouth, OR for my Bachelors of Science with a double major in psychology and dance. I completed graduate training at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA for a Masters of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a Specialization in Dance/Movement Therapy. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Oregon. I also hold licensure as a Board Certified Dance/Movement Therapist (BC-DMT).

I practice from an eclectic lens! My general theory is person-centered, focusing on unconditional positive regard from me to you as your most authentic self and way of being. I also work existentially, which focuses on exploring your lived experience openly and honestly. I also work psychodynamically, which addresses the underlying stuff, often childhood, that drives current emotions and behaviors. I weave in aspects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and problem solving, goal setting and skill building. 

The non-verbals also give me data. We’ll make connections through movement! 

I use Laban Movement Analysis (LMA), as understanding movement patterns and their qualities gives me information about your embodied experience. With LMA I may reflect back to you verbally what I have witnessed, opening up discussion how your spoken lived experiences intertwine with your body’s experience. I also utilize Marian Chace’s movement theories to bring a new element to your therapy, what can be said non-verbally that’s been hard to say verbally? We can move it and then talk about it! Sometimes the movement may be something as simple as breathing together. 

Dance/Movement Therapy allows me to support you in making connections in your life. Connection to yourself, others, behaviors, patterns, states, expression, creativity, communication and so much more!