Sarahbean Falo
MA, LMHC, LCAT
***summary***
Vivacious and Radiant. Resourceful, committed and compassionate. Culturally sensitive educator and clinician with 17+ years experience collaboratively working with children and families. Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (New York), Licensed Mental Health Counselor (Massachusetts), Montessori Certified 0-3 Lead Guide, EEC certified Lead Teacher and Director II (Massachusetts).
***education***
Certified Transformational Parenting Coach, September 2023
Jai Institute of Parenting, USA
Registered Circle of Security® Parenting Individual Facilitator, March 2023
Circle of Security International, Spokane, WA, USA
Certificate in AMI Montessori Assistants to Infancy, August 2018
The Montessori Institute, Denver, CO
M.A. in Expressive Therapies and Mental Health Counseling, May 2010
Lesley University, Cambridge, MA
B.F.A. in Visual Arts [cum laude], January 2005
SUNY Purchase School of Art and Design, Purchase, NY
***experience***
Early Childhood Parenting Coach
Superdelight Parenting Project. Cambridge, MA
Sept 2024-Present
Providing direct individual and small group coaching to parents and caregivers with children under age 12. Coaching encompasses psychoeducation, reflective listening and collaborative strategizing to support parents in maintaining balance and inner trust in this infinitely complex time and place in human history.
Collaborating with other Coaches, Parent Educators, and Therapists to provide the best possible service delivery.
Participating in ongoing mentorship and consultation relationships to ensure best ethical and service delivery practices, to ensure ongoing child-centered presence, messaging, and magic.
Navigating the entire back-end of business ownership, administrative tasks, insurance billing and EHR management.
Therapist in Private Practice
Sarahbean, LMHC. Cambridge, MA
Feb 2021-Present
Providing direct individual therapy services to children ages 2-15 in person and online. Presenting challenges include: increased depression and anxiety, new diagnosis of ADHD or ASD, frustration tolerance issues, self regulation challenges, a need ongoing parent-child relational support.
Supporting caregivers with consultations, resources and therapeutic interventions to identify stressors in the parent-child dynamic and process together to solve challenges.
Navigating the entire back-end of business ownership, administrative tasks, insurance billing and EHR management.
Child Development Specialist
The Early Years Project, Riverside Community Care. Somerville, MA
Jan 2020-Jan 2022
Supporting Caregivers of Young Children through the beginning of the Pandemic through email, phone, video conferencing and socially distant outdoor observations.
Aligning with and thinking together with parents, educators and directors about children’s behaviors, stress and self-regulation, child development, and the social-emotional needs of children under 6.
Co-leading and leading Facilitated discussions with groups of teachers, directors and families around the needs of children, self-compassion, and resilience.
Lead Toddler Montessori Guide
The Montessori Schools at Flatiron. New York, NY
August 2018-December 2019
Engaging in leadership with Associate guide in all aspects of Leading a Montessori Toddler community.
Empowering young children to be self-reliant through Montessori education and therapeutic relationship.
Connecting directly with families to identify the best ways to support children’s personal development through behavioral and environmental strategies.
Director of Aftercare and Summer Program.
Dandelion Montessori Co-op. Cambridge, MA
March 2016-August 2017
Managed the Aftercare program and Summer program, including staffing, scheduling, curriculum and parent communication for a group of 10 children.
Collaborated with founding families and Heads of School to provide a seamless learning environment for children, ages 2-4, through Montessori-inspired, arts-based curriculum.
Montessori Guide, Fellow, Interim Head-of-School.
Wildflower Foundation.
Snapdragon Montessori School. Cambridge, MA
September 2016-August 2018
Recipient of a Fellowship to train with a Lead Teacher/Head of School to facilitate beautiful, authentic Montessori learning environment for children age 18-33 months,.
Empowered young children to be self-reliant through Montessori education
Connected directly with families to promote best practices in navigating behavior and emotions with young children.
Managed all aspects of programming while Head of School was on Parental Leave for 6 months.
Early Childhood Educator
Rock and Roll Daycare. Cambridge, MA
October 2014-February 2016
Collaborated with a teaching team to offer positive social-emotional and developmentally appropriate experiences for a Toddler classroom.
Provided safety, through expressive arts education and consistency in all routines.
Connected directly with families to promote best practices in navigating behavior and emotions with toddlers.
Therapeutic Child Care Provider
Self-Employed. New York, NY
August 2011-October 2014
Facilitated consistent space for young children (age 0-7) on and off the Autism Spectrum in their natural environments, using Play and Movement programs individually and in groups.
Collaborated with families to identify the best ways to support a child's therapeutic process and/or personal development through behavioral and environmental challenges.
Initiated meetings with Early Intervention Therapists (including OT, PT, SLP and ABA) to support multidisciplinary approach to the child's therapy experience.
Clinical Trauma-Informed Mental Health Counselor
Project Hope, Counseling in Schools. New York, NY
August 2013-May 2014
Designed an arts-based therapeutic program, providing group and individual counseling services to the community of a K-8 NYC Public School that has been deeply impacted by Superstorm Sandy.
Collaborated with all levels of School staff to implement classroom strategies and parent connections to foster children's social/emotional development and academic success.
Designed and Implemented curriculum for Physical Education Classes to support children’s body awareness and sense of playfulness through basic hula hoop dance instruction.
Creative Arts Therapist
Arts RX, PLLC. New York, NY
February 2012-September 2014
Led dance/movement groups of children on the Autism Spectrum, ages 5-12, through community-based Special Needs Programs, in a supportive environment.
Identified group process and educate basic social skills while engaging with children through dance/movement activities, storytelling and visual arts.
Communicated effectively with Program Directors and parents to provide best possible Creative Arts Therapy services.
Mental Health Counselor + Expressive Therapist
THOM Boston-Metro Early Intervention Program. Boston, MA
February 2011-July 2011
Conducted home-based Expressive Therapy + Mental Health Counseling services, as well as collaborative assessment and evaluation, to families and children, birth to 3 years, with a range of developmental challenges.
Organized and maintain all records of services and evaluation.
Master’s Level Mental Health Clinician
Knight Children’s Center at The Home for Little Wanderers. Boston, MA
June 2010-February 2011
Provided Individual strengths-based Therapy with children, ages 9-13, who live in a Residential Treatment setting and who have experienced significant complex trauma.
Conducted family therapy sessions focusing on safety, stress management and healthy relationships.
Performed many levels of case management: connected with all collaterals, created treatment plans and assessments + communicated with families and a dynamic clinical team on a weekly basis.
Graduate Expressive Therapies Intern
NICE, Inc. Preschool. Roxbury, MA
Sept. 2008-May 2009
Engaged clients, age 2-4, in play therapy, visual art, music and dance to build a feelings-vocabulary.
Implemented treatment plans specific to the needs of traumatized children from a multicultural perspective.
Collaborated closely with parent coordinator to establish relationships with parents and provided individual parent counseling sessions.
Art Instructor
Mural Arts Program Big Picture After-School Program. Philadelphia, PA
October 2006- December 2007
Through basic art instruction, fostered a safe learning environment for children, ages 6-15, in low-income communities.
Created murals with students through creative process + cooperation + cultural awareness.
***strengths and interests***
Educational Equity + Anti-Bias curriculum
Montessori Education
Multi-modal Creative Arts Therapies
0-3 Child development
***testimonials***
“Sarah is an energetic, bright light in the world.” –Maggie Ritnour, LMHC, LCAT, ATR-BC.
“Sarah is an enthusiastic and skilled Expressive Arts Therapist who will have a lot of offer any agency who chooses to hire her.” –Cathy Malchiodi, PhD, LPAT, LPCC, ATR-BC.
“Sarah has a strong sense of justice and commitment to her work. She understands the impact of poverty, violence and racism as it impacts staff and the children. She assists others to see these issues and to think more clearly about them.” –Betsy Abrams, LICSW
***Fomalities***
Massachusetts Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) #12169
New York State Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT) #001603
Massachusetts EEC Certified Early Childhood Director II registration #9650353
AMI-certified 0-3 Montessori Lead guide and educator
Masters in Expressive Therapies and Mental Health Counseling, Lesley University - 2010
Bachelors of Fine Arts, SUNY Purchase - 2005
Professional Memberships:
Institute of Coaching, affiliate member
Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association
Massachusetts Association for Infant Mental Health
Association Montessori Internationale : USA
Continuing Education Trainings:
Foundations of Coaching with Dr. Liz Lasky (2024)
Child-Centered Play Therapy 101 with Dr. Dee Ray (2022)
Beyond Behaviors with Dr. Mona Delahooke (2021)
Hand In Hand Parenting Professional Intensive (2021)
Rainbowdance Child Attunement Program (previously endorsed practitioner) with Boston Children’s Foundation (2013)
Healing the Hurting Child: the necessary Dimensions of Child-Centered Play Therapy with Dr. Garry Landreth (2013)