About Carolena Sarkisian, MA, AMFT

 I started playing sports for the same reason that most of us do; because they’re fun. Over the years I was fortunate to become a competitive athlete. Yet, I didn’t realize until much later the impacts and experiences that I was going through – some through physical injury, others through emotional stress – simply by turning playtime into the makings of a vocation.

As I grew older and left my athletic career behind with no sort of closure or reflection, I was confronted with my first obviously traumatic psychological experience – my father’s passing. I began my therapeutic journey to really dive into and understand my emotional state and just how much of it I had ignored along the way, instilling a profound appreciation for the influence of mental health on overall wellness. My time spent earning my master’s degree in Kinesiology brought me back into familiar territory with a new focus on understanding the mind-body connection and how imbalances manifest. The idea of being sound of mind and sound of body helped me start to see the pieces of the puzzle, and, reflecting on my own athletic career that I eventually unpacked and processed allowed me to see the bigger picture of wellness. I

recognized that physiology and psychology go hand in hand, influencing my philosophy on what truly comprises wellness. Thus, I gravitated towards a comprehensive approach to health, an approach to psychology, perhaps motivated by the field of kinesiology, one that considers the human form as a whole, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, together.

My journey through pursuing a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology taught me the skills and techniques necessary to turn my fears into power. I believe every child, teen, and individual can turn their negatives to positives and grow from their hurdles. Through effective clinical practices, you can learn how to navigate through the setbacks and pain. Life happens for us, not to us. I believe how we manage what we go through

turns us into the best versions of ourselves.

Each individual’s and family’s story are unique. We all have a narrative and a path we are walking on. By offering individual and family sessions, I am interested in helping and working with all walks of life on their journey. I believe in others and their stories; and hope to help each individual guide, heal, and grow to reach their fullest potential.