What is Whole Being Psychotherapy?

Whole Being Psychotherapy is where the Mind, Body, and Spirit meet for Therapy

Whole Being Psychotherapy is a holistic, integrative approach to psychotherapy.  Holistic psychotherapy works with the premise that we are whole beings - with minds, bodies, and spiritual lives - and that all of these parts of ourselves need to be addressed to achieve complete wellness. By working therapeutically with your whole being, you will achieve a deeper understanding of yourself, your strengths and your challenges.  With this deeper understanding comes the ability to enact profound and lasting changes in your life.  

What does Whole Being Psychotherapy look like?

I am trained in traditional psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral talk therapies, embodied therapies such as therapeutic yoga and body awareness, and spiritual practices such as mindfulness and self-compassion.  Together we will create an individualized combination of these practices that helps you form a deeper connection to your authentic self and develop insight and tools to overcome challenges.

Will I be doing yoga poses?

Not necessarily.  Our first session(s) will be a discussion of your needs and goals as well as what treatment modalities work best for you.  A few people may move into physical body work more quickly, but for most we’ll start (when you’re ready) with some simple seated practices that help you become aware of how your body feels.

Do I need to wear yoga clothes?

Nope! Early sessions will be in your chair.  If and when we decide to include more physical poses into your therapy, you can wear something that you’re comfortable stretching a little in, but this will never be a “workout”.

What does “spirituality” mean?

Whether it is a walk in nature, prayer, connection to your community, meditation, or religious services spirituality plays an important role in whole health. Our beliefs and perceptions of ourselves as spiritual beings often go unexamined and unspoken of, but our spiritual experiences, whether positive or negative, can deeply impact our understanding of ourselves and our place in the world.  Attention to your spiritual life, whatever that means for you, can be a catalyst for profound healing.

I come from an ecumenical and undogmatic background. I am trained in Eastern, Western, and humanistic beliefs and practices and am comfortable discussing and practicing any of these with you.

Whole Being Psychotherapy in practice

From the Psychotherapy and Spirituality Institute’s 2019 Conference on Mindful Therapies for Anxious Times. A brief, guided experiential practice to bring awareness to,and connect mind & body, which will give you an idea of what working with the body in therapy might look like.

About Sarah Ward, LCSW, MDiv, CYT

I am a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist with a lifelong passion for yoga and mindfulness practices.  I received a degree in Advanced Clinical Practice from Columbia University and a Master’s of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary, where my work focused on the intersection of psychology and spirituality.  I received certification as a yoga instructor from the Integral Yoga Institute, one of the oldest ashrams in the United States, and in trauma sensitive yoga from the Justice Resource Institute in Boston and Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health.  I have been teaching yoga since 2000 and have spent the last nine years practicing psychotherapy and therapeutic yoga in a variety of settings including community mental health clinics and universities.  

I believe deeply that everyone is capable of overcoming their challenges and achieving emotional well-being.  Through professional experience, diverse trainings, and evidence-supported research I have found that integrating physical and spiritual practices into psychotherapy can help to achieve a more complete state of well-being than talk therapy alone. 

Whole Being Psychotherapy uses holistic, evidence-based therapeutic techniques, such as psychotherapy, therapeutic yoga, and mindful self-compassion to heal emotional concerns such as anxiety, depression, identity development, and trauma. 

Credentials

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker - New York State

• Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapist

• Master of Science in Social Work, Advanced Clinical Practice, Columbia University, 2010

• Master of Divinity, Psychology and Religion, Union Theological Seminary, 2010

• Yoga Teacher Certification, 200-hour, Integral Yoga Institute, 2001

• Trauma-Sensitive Yoga: A Teacher’s Certification, Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, 2011

Contact Sarah

Free Phone Consultations Available

I would love to talk with you about how Whole Being Psychotherapy can help you and to answer any questions you may have.

Office Location:

Fees

Sessions are typically 50 minutes long. My session fee is $200. Longer sessions can be negotiated at a higher rate. Session fees are due, in full, at the time of session.

I have a limited number of sliding fee scale fee appointments available, which depend on an individual’s financial situation and can be discussed during the free consultation call.

Insurance

Like most NYC providers I am an Out of Network provider. This means that I do not accept insurance directly. However I am happy to provide you with all of the paperwork necessary to be reimbursed by your insurance company, if you have Out of Network Coverage, and to assist you in determining your coverage.

How to Determine Your Insurance Benefits for Psychotherapy

Check with your insurance provider to see if you have “Out of Network” mental health coverage:

This can be done by either calling your insurance company representative (usually the customer service number on your insurance card), or by checking your benefits online.

Make sure to find out:

1. If you have a deductible that must be met, how much it is, and how much has already been met.

2. What reimbursement percentage rate you have (the percentage of the total fee your insurance will reimburse you for). 50%-80% are common reimbursement percentage rates.

   Your insurance company  may ask you what the CPT code for the service you want reimbursed is. The CPT code used for billing is Psychotherapy 45 minutes - 90834"