Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah West.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
From an early age, my soul always belonged to the wild beauty of nature. As a kid, I spent days alone outside immersed in my imaginative worlds in nature. In college, I studied modern dance before going on to become an archaeologist. Although my heart is that of a healing practitioner and artist, archaeology attracted me because I could spend my days in remote landscapes immersing myself in the wilderness.
After a transformative year abroad exploring Australia’s Outback and Namibia’s Kalahari, particularly learning from the Bushmen, it inspired a great respect for the wisdom of indigenous people and deepened my love for wild desert landscapes.
Returning to the US, I found solace in the town of Moab, Utah, surrounded by breathtaking wilderness. Soon after, I became pregnant with my first and only child. Motherhood brought its challenges, including insomnia, which led me on a long healing path. I started studying yoga and meditation, which continued for many years. I eventually started leading mindfulness meditation groups. My journey of healing continued as I explored and trained in various modalities, including somatic therapy, mindfulness, expressive arts healing, shadow work, soul work, and nature-based practices.
Along the way, I never lost connection to my work as an artist. I am continually creating, using mediums such as photography, writing, painting, dance, and sculpture.
Nature has always been my anchor, a source of inspiration, solace, and belonging. Living on the edge of the wilderness for many years now, I’m continually nourished by its beauty. This connection feeds my desire to guide others back to that same source, using art, therapy, and nature-based experiences like wilderness vigils. There is such wisdom in the wild, and I hope that we become responsible stewards who always protect the sacredness of nature.
As Robin Wall Kimmerer writes, “We need a paradigm shift, moving from the fallacy of human exceptionalism to the reality of our interconnectedness and reciprocal relationship with the living world.” This message resonates deeply and is what I hope to embody in every aspect of my life.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The greatest challenge I have known in my life is insomnia. It began after my daughter was born, spurred by her poor sleeping throughout her early years. I’ve become intimately acquainted with insomnia, knowing it far more deeply than most.
The most difficult aspect of insomnia is the lack of understanding, even from medical professionals. Despite visiting several sleep clinics, I was often met with puzzled looks, and medical professionals did not quite understand my insomnia. This lack of recognition made it difficult for people in my life to sympathize with me, which often left me feeling isolated in my struggle.
I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a holistic therapist, I guide individuals on their path to healing and self-discovery. My approach uses the body’s wisdom to process emotional wounds, often rooted in past traumas, that may be holding them back. I work with depression, anxiety, inner critics, body symptoms, and creative blocks. I facilitate the restoration of their nervous system, promoting greater calm, clarity, and resilience to stress. I also guide people towards their inner wisdom and essential nature, reclaiming lost gifts and forgotten strengths along the way. Empowering the discovery of purpose and meaning in their life that is in service to the greater wellbeing of the world.
Together, we embark on a journey to reconnect with our authentic selves, reclaiming lost gifts and forgotten strengths. Whether it’s a deep pain that seeks healing or a forgotten passion yearning to awaken, I offer a safe space for people to explore and reconnect with their authentic nature.
My journey from healing trauma and finding my gifts has been the compass that guides my work as a therapist. This transformative path has not only brought me profound satisfaction in my life but has offered me great compassion for those I work with. Having taken this path myself, I hold a unique understanding of the struggles and triumphs involved in the path of healing and discovery.
My therapeutic practice is informed by my unique lived experiences. My deep connection to the earth grounds me in understanding the interconnectedness of life and its cycles. This, combined with my inquisitive nature, fosters a space of exploration with open-mindedness and creativity. I am highly sensitive and attuned to emotional nuances, which creates a safe space where people feel heard and understood.
My work as an artist has offered me a deep respect for self-expression and the inherent wisdom held within each person.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting.
Everyone’s healing path is profoundly unique, unfolding at its rhythm. Honor your pace, welcome patience, and celebrate all the small victories.
Pricing:
- $125-$150 Sliding scale Therapy Sessions
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sarahwesthealingarts.com and www.sarahwestfineart.com
- Instagram: @sarahwestartist_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarah.jeffreys.395/
