Sara
Harris, MFT

Psychotherapist in Private Practice, HeartMatters

Forestville, California

A psychotherapist based in Northern California, Sara Harris, MFT, has built her practice not only on her training, but also her life experiences. To mark a critical milestone in her life, Harris embarked on a vision quest, a four-day fasting experience on her own in the wilderness, during which time she explored her inner self as well as the wider world. After she completed her vision quest, she plunged herself into an intensive regimen of study and research on the subject. Building on what she learned, Harris expanded her psychotherapy practice to include eco-psychology, which recognizes that although human minds are shaped by the modern social world, they evolved in the natural world and retain a deep connection to it. Sara Harris, MFT, also became a wilderness guide to help others train for their personal vision quests. Harris also co-founded the EarthWays Collective, a group of psychotherapists who lead individuals on these rites of passage and provide a variety of continuing education courses for psychotherapists interested in eco-psychology.

Another area of her practice that has grown from her personal experience is cardiac therapy. Sara Harris, MFT, underwent open heart surgery to correct congenital heart disease. Afterward, as she did after her vision quest, Harris immersed herself in research into the heart. Among her findings was the fact that heart patients, especially those scheduled for surgery, can be helped by a form of psychotherapy called cardiac therapy. Harris earned certification as a Champion of WomenHeart, for which she currently serves as a community advocate. She is also a preferred provider of the HeartMath program, which is an integral element of her cardiac therapy.

Sara Harris, MFT’s personal interests closely follow her professional life. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, camping, and other wilderness activities. She also counts gardening among her hobbies. Harris holds Master’s degrees in Transpersonal and Clinical Psychology from John F. Kennedy University.