Sarajane Herrmann

What led you to working in the mental health field?

My interest in helping others goes as far back as my freshman year of high school, when I worked with my first therapist as a client. Her impact on me was integral to who I am today, and played a key role in my realizing that I wanted to offer that same level of love and support to my own community. 

I have worked in many helping arenas, including a youth crisis hotline, crisis childcare assistance, housing and employment support for women exiting the prison system, a women’s and children’s emergency shelter, and formally as a social worker helping families navigate domestic violence dynamics to find safety for themselves as well as their children.

What does it mean to be a safe, effective, and affirming mental health organization?

To me, this means recognizing that each client is the expert in their own life, and by extension their own problems and struggles. My job as administrative coordinator is to help new clients find the most effective means of support so they can achieve their goals. I think additional safety comes from us being able to still check-in with clients as they try out a new therapist, making sure that the therapist felt like the right fit, and nonjudgmentally helping schedule them with a different provider if it wasn’t the right fit. The ability to kindly and compassionately respond to someone’s needs is important, especially since so many people are used to having their wants and needs ignored. 

It is so important to me to show up authentically, in every interaction I have, as that is the genuine form of safety I want to create for others. I spent the first few decades of my life feeling unsafe and unsteady in who I am, and I want to be part of creating a space where others can meet that unsteadiness with curiosity rather than anxiety.

What’s your educational background and specialties?

I have a Bachelor’s in Social Work from Lindenwood University. I am in the LGBTQ+ community, and love getting to connect with fellow LGBTQ+ folks. I have worked as a professional photographer for many years, and I currently work remotely from home. 

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When not at work, Sarajane loves to crochet, read books, walk her dogs, and play Animal Crossing. They are a proud homebody, and have a soft-spot for sweets with fruits and chocolates. Depending on the season, you may find them re-watching Gilmore Girls, The Good Place, or Schitt’s Creek.