

sara hanifl
msW, lsw
psychotherapist
Life can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Many of the patterns we carry began as necessary adaptations to systems that weren’t built with us in mind. In therapy, we explore those adaptations—holding onto what supports you and gently releasing what no longer fits. I believe healing grows within safe, collaborative relationships where you feel respected, affirmed, and empowered. My approach is warm and grounded, creating space where you don’t have to explain or defend who you are, and where both honesty and laughter are welcome alongside life’s hardest emotions.
I’m a queer therapist committed to providing anti-oppressive, trauma-informed care. My work centers LGBTQIA+ individuals, creatives, and anyone exploring identity, relationships, or the weight of systemic stress. I blend creativity with therapy—through art, writing, music, and poetry—to foster an expressive, dynamic, evolving path to self-healing.
Together, we’ll explore your story with openness and compassion. Whether it’s navigating complex relationships, identity, or healing from past experiences, I provide a caring, collaborative space for growth and self-discovery while engaging imagination and creativity. If this feels like a fit, I’d be honored to connect and start this journey together.
pronouns: she/her
email: sara@walnutpsychotherapycenter.com

Education and Training
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MSW • West Chester University of Pennsylvania ​
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BA • Social Work • West Chester University of Pennsylvania
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Areas of Experience ​
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Anxiety, BDSM & Kink, Depression, Gender Identity, Sexual Identity, Trauma & PTSD, Substance Use, Religious Trauma ​
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Theoretical Orientation​
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Anti-oppressive
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Attachment based
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Client centered
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Psychoanalytic
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Trauma Informed
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Systems Theory
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