Her Story
About Sara
Sara Moore is a counselor based in West Plains, Missouri, where she has provided mental health services for a total of 20 years. She works part-time in a small private practice housed in a converted home, offering individual counseling to five or six clients per day as well as couples counseling. Moore earned her bachelor's degree in psychology with an emphasis in counseling from Southwest Baptist University in her early twenties. She is completing her master's degree in mental health counseling from the University of the Cumberlands. She has passed the NCC examination and meets the qualifications for NBCC certification. Moore is a member of the American Counseling Association, Chi Sigma Iota honor society, and the CITI research group. She leads support groups three times a year at the West Plains Pregnancy Resource Center, a nonprofit for women and families who have experienced miscarriage or stillbirth. Moore values treating every client as a valuable human being deserving equal attention and validation, and she strives to create a safe, nonjudgmental space as an attentive listener.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sara
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think it is good to know that most things are temporary, feelings are temporary, and thoughts are temporary. Most circumstances are temporary. Be open to change and keep the big picture in mind in those moments, rather than focusing on the moment.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Be open to change and be prepared for struggles. Every successful individual has struggled. People will remember your wins more than your struggles if you accept the struggles and do not identify with them. Character is key.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
The mental health field is not going anywhere. It's going to be here. People need safe counselors and caring counselors. The field will continue to offer opportunities. Also, most of us deal with imposter syndrome time to time. But, if you have the heart and you're willing to learn as a lifelong learner, the imposter syndrome will come and go, but it isn't valid.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Insurance and mental health coverage are tricky. That is definitely one of our number one issues. Some insurance doesn't cover mental health, and then you have individuals who can't afford it on their own. That's a big systematic issue. We're constantly dealing with insurance and balancing the need for livelihood and compassion for everyone needing services. Knowing when people are in crisis and when they need to be sincerely, nonjudgmentally just seen and heard with love.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I think every human being is valuable. And so it doesn't matter age, gender, choices, past or present; it doesn't matter who walks into that room. They are a valuable human being, and everyone deserves equal attention and equal validation. It doesn't matter a person's ethnicity, race, intellect, or any of it. Every human being is valuable. It's not about me being any type of authority or professional that's over them. Making sure I'm being the best listener I can possibly be on that level playing field.
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