Sarah E. Fargo O’Brien, LCSW, a licensed clinical social worker, has built a distinguished career in mental health and wellness. As the clinical director and owner of her private practice, Thrive & Shine Counseling, Mrs. O’Brien has dedicated herself to providing exceptional psychotherapy services. Her practice addresses a wide range of mental health issues, including anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, and trauma-related conditions. With a particular focus on supporting non-using partners and spouses of individuals struggling with addiction, Mrs. O’Brien has profoundly impacted the lives of countless clients through her compassionate and evidence-based approach.
Mrs. O’Brien’s academic foundation laid the groundwork for her remarkable career. She earned a Master of Social Work in clinical/medical social work from Virginia Commonwealth University. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in psychology and sociology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. These achievements reflect her early commitment to understanding human behavior and the complexities of mental health, which continue to inform her work today.
Over the course of her career, Mrs. O’Brien has held numerous impactful roles. She served as the chief mental health officer for the Circle of Friends Club, advocating for mental health awareness and community engagement. She was also the director of student wellness for Transformation Kitchen, supporting and guiding individuals who had been overlooked for living-wage employment as they gained culinary skills. Her contributions as a subject matter expert and trauma-informed leadership strategist for the Integrate Trauma Informed Network advanced trauma-informed practices in diverse settings. Additionally, as an ambassador for Own Your Stigma, she worked tirelessly to promote the destigmatization of mental health issues, fostering greater understanding and acceptance.
Entrepreneurial and innovative, Mrs. O’Brien has extended her professional reach through various initiatives. She is the social media manager and website designer for her practice, Thrive & Shine Counseling, roles she has performed with dedication since the practice’s inception. Her ambassadorships with Loop Earplugs and Dendro Technologies Inc. (CalmiGo) reflect her commitment to leveraging cutting-edge tools and resources to enhance mental health and well-being. Mrs. O’Brien’s early career experiences include serving as an outpatient clinician at Hanover County Community Services Board and as a counselor at Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, where she honed her clinical and crisis intervention skills and deepened her understanding of complex mental health challenges.
Mrs. O’Brien’s most significant professional accomplishment is founding and managing her own business without prior experience or formal education in business. Despite these challenges, she has achieved remarkable success, consistently turning a profit for nine consecutive years. This achievement underscores her resilience, adaptability, and unwavering dedication to her clients and mission. Beyond her clinical work, Mrs. O’Brien is an accomplished author with a talent for articulating complex concepts in accessible and relatable ways. She has contributed to the “Rattled Awake Anthology Series” and “A Message to My Family,” as well as written articles on attachment styles, resilience, effective communication strategies, and trauma-informed leadership. Her work has been featured on platforms like Authority Magazine, Canvas Rebel, Bold Journey, and Medium. Additionally, she authored a compelling chapter on the systemic bullying of mental health care providers in agency settings, showcasing her advocacy for systemic change and her ability to address critical issues in the field.
Mrs. O’Brien’s dedication to trauma-informed care is evident in her creation of the “Trauma Informed Response Guide,” an innovative tool designed to help new clinicians and non-clinicians recognize and respond to mental health crises. This guide offers a step-by-step approach to identifying and providing appropriate care for individuals experiencing mental health challenges, bridging the gap between theory and practice in mental health interventions.
Looking to the future, Mrs. O’Brien envisions expanding her professional endeavors to balance work and personal life while elevating her financial status. She aims to establish a distinguished niche in the consulting field, offering her expertise to individuals, businesses, executives, and leaders in trauma-informed care and leadership practices. Her plans include integrating these trauma-informed approaches into her consulting services and emphasizing the value of holistic support in promoting organizational and individual well-being. Additionally, she remains committed to literary pursuits, with aspirations to author another compelling book that reflects her passion for storytelling and healing narratives.
Mrs. O’Brien’s civic involvement and professional memberships highlight her commitment to advancing the field of social work and mental health. As the membership chair for the Virginia Society for Clinical Social Work, she has played a pivotal role in fostering professional development and collaboration among social workers. Her work with the Integrate Trauma Informed Network as a vetted trauma-informed leadership strategist further underscores her dedication to creating systemic change in mental health care, business practices, and workplaces.
Outside of her professional life, Mrs. O’Brien channels her creativity and passion into various personal pursuits. She enjoys reading, writing, walking her dog, listening to music, crafting, and making jewelry. Despite facing familial estrangement due to unhealthy dynamics, she has transformed her experiences into a source of strength and inspiration for others seeking healing. Her unwavering commitment to creating meaningful and impactful change reflects her resilience.
Mrs. O’Brien’s vision for the next chapter of her career is ambitious and deeply impactful. She aims to expand her consulting services and further integrate trauma-informed practices in all places and spaces where people are while advocating for mental health awareness and systemic change. Her journey exemplifies the power of dedication, innovation, and compassion in creating a meaningful impact on mental health and beyond.