Meet Sara Kind, LPC, LMFT, PMH-C (she/hers)
Founder of Kind Therapy | Perinatal, Couples, & Individual Therapy in Madison, WI
For the Person Who Holds Everything Together
You may be used to being the person who holds everything together. By the time you reach out, you’ve probably tried to work through things on your own, only to find yourself stuck in a pattern you can’t seem to shift. You’re overwhelmed, tired of carrying so much, and unsure of what can actually help.
Many of the people I work with are parents and others who are used to handling everything on their own. They feel like they should already know how to “fix” this, and they often come in saying, “I need help getting back on track,” while quietly worrying that they’re too much, too complicated, or somehow failing their loved ones.
You’re not too much. You’re carrying a lot. And you don’t have to keep doing it alone.
What It’s Like to Work With Me
I’m warm, caring, easy to talk to, and bring humor into the room when it fits. I want you to feel heard and understood without worrying that I’m judging you. You are the expert on your own lived experience, and I honor that by taking the time to get to know and understand you before we decide together what might help.
I know that it can be intimidating to open up to someone new when you’re first starting therapy. We won’t dive into your deepest experiences right away. Instead, we’ll ease in so we can both begin to see the bigger picture. I’ll help you recognize patterns, offer practical next steps, and collaborate with you on a plan that fits your needs, all at a pace that works for you.
My work is grounded in systems thinking, which means looking at your relationships, environment, and the larger systems affecting your life. I take a polyvagal-informed, “bottom-up” approach, which means we start with how your nervous system is responding, not just what you’re thinking. I also draw on attachment theory to understand how your earlier relationships shaped the patterns you rely on today. As your body feels calmer and more regulated, those patterns become easier to understand and change.
At Kind Therapy, we affirm LGBTQIA+ clients, approach our work with cultural humility, and support people through all pregnancy outcomes.
Your identity, background, and reproductive experiences are welcome here, and we’ll make space to understand what they mean to you.
My areas of focus include:
- Perinatal mental health and reproductive trauma: Support through fertility challenges, pregnancy, birth, loss, and early parenthood.
- Couples therapy: Helping partners prepare for marriage or parenthood, stay connected through the busy years of raising kids, or reconnect after becoming empty nesters
- Trauma therapy: EMDR, as well as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) with children and teens.
- Support for the helpers: For therapists, health care providers, and others in caring roles who are great at supporting everyone else but feel like they should be able to handle their own struggles alone.
I also work with adults navigating anxiety, depression, grief, career stress, identity questions, and family stress. If another therapist’s approach or schedule is a better fit, our intake coordinator can help you explore your options.
The Small Wins That Signal Real Change
One of my favorite moments is when a client walks in excited to share a win: a hard moment from their week that they handled with more confidence than they would have before.
Over time, people tell me they feel more empowered, sleep better, feel more connected, and notice more joy.
Why I Built Kind Therapy
I founded Kind Therapy in 2015 to create a warm, inclusive place where people could feel supported and understood. I am passionate about supporting families and looking at the bigger picture. My systems lens still guides how I work and how I lead the practice. I hope that all clients who come to our practice will feel seen and valued.
I absolutely love what I do, and I put my heart into my work. It’s an honor when someone trusts me with what they’re going through, and my clients are what keep me connected to this work.
Outside the office, I’m a mom who’s also balancing time for family, friends, exercise, and the things I enjoy. Spending time outside every day keeps me grounded, and I love experiencing every season here in Wisconsin.
Sara’s Education, Licenses & Training
Education
- M.S. in Community Counseling, emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy, University of Wisconsin–Whitewater
- B.A. in Child Psychology, minor in Family Social Science, University of Minnesota–Twin Cities
Licenses
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Wisconsin
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Wisconsin
Membership in Professional Associations:
Selected Trainings and Certifications
- Certified Perinatal Mental Health Professional (PMH-C)
- Certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), EMDRIA-approved
- Advanced Psychotherapy Training, Postpartum Support International
- Perinatal Loss & Grief training, Seleni Institute
- Gottman Level 1 Clinical Training
- Certified Gottman Bringing Baby Home Educator
- Prepare/Enrich Facilitator
- Brainspotting Phase 1
- Polyvagal Theory in Therapy: Practical Applications for Treating Trauma with Deb Dana
- “Dear White Therapists” Antiracism training for therapists working with POC by Dr. Michelle Alvarez, a.k.a. The Honest Therapist
- ACT for Women’s Mental Health
- Ongoing training in perinatal mental health, bottom-up approaches to trauma treatment, ethics, and reflective leadership
