About Sarah Livingston, LCSW
Doing the hard work to address trauma can change the course of a life.
That belief is why I do this work. I'm a licensed clinical social worker, a certified school social worker, and an EMDRIA Certified EMDR Therapist based in Newington, Connecticut. I founded Ladder of Hope to give adolescents and adults access to the brain-based therapies that actually resolve trauma and anxiety, rather than just managing them.
Who I am
From Connecticut classrooms to a trauma-focused practice
I specialize in working with adolescents and individuals into adulthood for concerns related to anxiety, depression, trauma, behavioral difficulties, emotional regulation, relationship difficulties, school concerns and life transitions. After earning my master's degree in social work from Southern Connecticut State University in 2006, I completed the requirements for licensure in 2012.
My 15+ years guiding children and young adults in various settings, including therapeutic day schools as well as typical public schools, gave me a unique perspective and skill set. I have experience assessing and treating both children and young adults across a wide range of areas: emotional symptoms and significant psychiatric concerns, attention and executive functioning difficulties, autism spectrum disorders, and learning challenges. My clinical training has also afforded me a specialization in consultation for both educational services and social-emotional needs.
I am passionate about trauma and how trauma impacts children's brain development. I am well versed in many trauma-focused techniques, including EMDR, Accelerated Resolution Therapy and Brainspotting. I have completed extensive extra training in all three, I am currently certified in EMDR, and I am close to certification for both ART and Brainspotting.
My promise is simple: I will be there for you every step of your journey. My goal is to help you grow from your struggles, heal from your pain, and move forward to where you want to be in your life.
Credentials & training
2006
Master of Social Work
Southern Connecticut State University.
2006-
15+ years in Connecticut schools
Therapeutic day schools and public schools, working with children, adolescents and young adults with emotional, psychiatric, attention, autism-spectrum and learning challenges.
2012
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Completed licensure requirements; also a certified school social worker in Connecticut.
Ongoing
Advanced trauma training
EMDRIA Certified EMDR Therapist; extensive post-graduate training in Accelerated Resolution Therapy and Brainspotting, with certification in progress for both.
Today
Ladder of Hope, LLC
Private practice in Newington, CT serving adolescents and adults in person and online across Connecticut.
How I work
A neutral, safe space and a plan built for you.
Brain-based, not just talk-based
Trauma lives below language. EMDR, Brainspotting and ART reach it there.
Whole-person, tailored care
Your history, nervous system and goals shape the plan, not a one-size protocol.
Warmth (and humor)
Healing is hard work. Sarah's clients describe her as warm, open-minded and genuinely funny.
Affirming and inclusive
A safe, neutral space for every client, including LGBTQ+ clients and neurodivergent teens and adults.
My toolkit
Trained in all three leading brain-based therapies
Let's talk
Curious whether we'd be a good fit?
The free consultation is exactly for that. No pressure, no commitment, just an honest conversation about what you need.