Resilience: A Building Inner Strength Journey

Sarah Spinner is a Supervisee in Social Work and obtained her Bachelor’s at Virginia Tech with a Bachelors of Science in Sociology and a Theatre Arts Minor. While studying at Virginia Tech, she interned at the Women's Resource Center of the New River Valley helping survivors and their families who were fleeing domestic/sexual violence and human trafficking. This internship was the start for Sarah's social work career. From this internship, Sarah realized that she wanted to help and advocate for people of all genders and backgrounds. Pursuant to this goal she earned her Certificate in Gender Violence Intervention, and is a proud ally for LGBTQ+ communities. Right after graduating from Virginia Tech, Sarah then started graduate school at Virginia Commonwealth University for her Masters in Clinical Social Work. In her first year of graduate school, Sarah was an intern for the YWCA of Richmond. At the YWCA of Richmond, her role was in case management and safety planning for emergency shelter families, assisting with housing & employment needs, and was an on-call RHART Advocate for domestic/sexual violence survivors at local hospitals. In her final year of graduate school, Sarah interned for CARITAS of Richmond as a community resource navigator for individuals in shelter and at the Richmond Federal Office for the Public Defender as a Sentencing Advocate. Post graduation, Sarah was a Case Manager and Therapist with Williamsville Wellness (Summit Hill)'s Smart IOP, Remote IOP programs, and assisted with their PHP program working with individuals undergoing substance use/gambling disorders. Throughout college and graduate school, Sarah was employed as a substitute teacher for Bright Horizons Family Solutions and worked with children ages 6 months to 12 years old. Sarah incorporates many sociological and social work theories to her practice including the strengths-based perspective, dialectical behavior therapy practices, expressive/direct play with children, and mindfulness training. Sarah feels that everyone is human and that it's normal to struggle with life challenges. "You are the driver in our sessions, and I am here to help and guide you through your journey." -Sarah