Meet Sara Powers, LMFT

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT #153214

Child & Play Therapist in San Luis Obispo

My Experience Working With Children & Families

I've spent more than a decade working with children and families across school, home, community, and therapy settings. During graduate training, I worked in an elementary school, collaborating with children, parents, and teachers to support students' social, emotional, and academic growth.

After graduate school, I joined Family Care Network, where I worked with foster youth and children with complex needs. This experience deepened my understanding of trauma and reinforced the importance of meeting children with empathy, patience, and an appreciation for the experiences that shape their behavior.

I've also worked extensively with neurodivergent children and their families, including providing in-home support and parent coaching. Across each of these roles, I've learned that children communicate and experience the world in different ways, and that effective support starts with understanding the individual child rather than expecting every child to respond to the same approach.

My Approach to Child Therapy

My work is grounded exclusively in child-centered play therapy, an approach that gives children the freedom to communicate, explore emotions, work through experiences, and grow through their natural language of play. Rather than directing each session or asking children to talk about things before they're ready, I focus on creating a consistent therapeutic relationship where they can feel safe, understood, and accepted.

I approach this work through a trauma-informed lens and also have training in Theraplay, which has strengthened my understanding of attachment, connection, and the importance of the parent-child relationship. Parents are an important part of the therapeutic process, and I work collaboratively with them throughout treatment to better understand their child's needs and strengthen connection outside of the playroom.

A Little More About Me

I grew up here on the Central Coast and am grateful to now have the opportunity to serve children and families in the community that shaped me. When I'm not in the playroom, I enjoy spending time with my family, getting outside, hiking local trails, and taking advantage of the natural beauty that makes the Central Coast such a special place to call home.