Sarah Wiltgen

LCPC, BC-DMT

She | They

Body Image | LGBTQIA+ | Trauma | Stress Management

My Background

“All any feeling wants is to be welcomed with tenderness. It wants room to unfold. It wants to relax and tell its story. It wants to dissolve like a thousand, writhing snakes that, with a flick of kindness, become harmless strands of rope.” Geneen Roth

Emotions have always fascinated me. They influence our thoughts, behavior, relationships, and reality. Growing up, I naturally found myself observing and learning about others’ unique perspectives with curiosity and desire to understand.

Once I realized I could use one of my most meaningful passions, dance, along with helping others express and navigate their emotions, I dove head first into counseling and dance/movement therapy at Columbia College Chicago. Movement and the mind/body connection have helped me grow as a person and I believe wholeheartedly that the mind and soul cannot heal if the body is not included in the work!

With specialized experience treating body image and eating disorders, I am HAES (health at every size) aligned and recognize the intersection between LGBTQIA+ identities and body image concerns. My intention as a therapist is to allow people to understand, embrace, and express their unique identity in a safe, warm, and nonjudgmental space. My approach is trauma informed, and I strive for cultural humility – as I will never fully understand what a day in anyone else’s shoes is like.

We might be a good fit if you’re looking for a therapist that is patient, compassionate, accepting, and embraces their quirks (trying to be “normal” is overrated!). Curiosity, compassion, and creativity are my top values and I strive to bring those values into session by using art, movement, music, narrative, and other creative outlets to reach places that words cannot. However, my therapy room is also a space for humor, memes that explain how you’re feeling, and laughing at the absurdities that come with being a person. When I’m not working, I love to cuddle with my cats, Callie and Koa, listen to throwback Pop Punk songs, sew and go for walks in the sun.