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In this powerful episode, we sit down with Sara Joern, a dedicated therapist specializing in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy, to explore her deeply personal and professional journey. Sara shares the profound impact of losing her sister to suicide and how it shaped her belief in the healing power of therapy, particularly the importance of boundaries in fostering love and resilience. Through her story, we uncover how Sara turned her personal grief into a mission to help others overcome trauma, heal from loss, and find hope even in the darkest times.
This episode is for anyone navigating the complexities of grief, struggling with setting boundaries, or seeking tools to heal from trauma. You’ll learn about the transformative process of EMDR therapy, the role of boundaries in self-care and relationships, and how grief, when embraced, can lead to profound personal growth. Whether you’re a mental health professional, someone healing from loss, or simply looking to better understand the human experience, Sara’s insights will leave you inspired, informed, and ready to approach life with greater compassion and strength.
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️ Introduction and Background (00:00 – 11:35)
Education and Career Path (11:37 – 20:31)
Emily’s Struggles and Treatment (20:31 – 31:08)
Emily’s Death and Sara’s Grief (31:08 – 41:06)
EMDR Therapy and Sara’s Practice (41:07 – 52:32)
Therapy Approaches and Resources (52:32 – 01:02:39)
Final Thoughts and Recommendations (01:02:39 – 01:13:23)
If you’re facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, call or text 988.
Caring counselors are there for you. You are not alone.
“A lot of people are familiar with Elizabeth Kubler Ross’s stages of grief. And a lot of therapists don’t even really like the term stages because it makes it seem like it is this linear path. Like you go through anger, you go through bargaining, you go through depression, you go through acceptance. And you might go through all of those things, you might not. So I like using, like phases or states of grief. This is a state of grief you might be in. Some people don’t go through bargaining, some people don’t go through anger. And that there is no right or wrong way to grieve.”
“Darkness is a breeding ground for creation. In order to see the light, we have to go through the darkness.”
It was 11:02pm. And it was Dale’s phone calling me. It was his friend. She found him in his apartment, and basically told me that he was in really bad shape. He was really hurt. I asked if she could help him, and she said, “No, I can’t.” And I just said, “Help him! Why can’t you help?”
I couldn’t even comprehend what she was trying to tell me. And a police officer got on the phone and confirmed who I was and then confirmed the news that Dale was gone. And so there I was in my hotel room, out of town, by myself.
“I often refer to myself as a recovering distracted driver. In the summer of 2016, I was as bad as anyone—steering with my knee, drinking coffee with one hand, and holding my phone with the other, thinking I was doing it safely. That all changed in an instant when I got the phone call about Mitchel. He was just a month into college, driving on a clear, dry morning, when a distracted driver rear-ended his car. It was preventable. It’s devastating to think how one glance at a phone can end a life.”
We’re all going to get damaged in some way. And we know that going into this, whether it be physically, mentally, emotionally, nobody walks away from this job unscathed. They just don’t. And I think that recognizing that early on can help prepare you for the inevitable difficulties you’re going to face down the line.
