Sarah Gerstenzang is a Columbia University trained licensed clinical social worker. She also has experience as a birth, foster/adoptive and kinship parent.
Sarah has extensive experience working with foster and adoptive families. She provides attachment-focused family therapy as well as consultation and training for prospective foster and adoptive parents. Additionally, she offers training and supervision for clinical, educational and other professionals working with children who have experienced complex developmental trauma.
Board President, Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition of NY (AFFCNY), a statewide organization that provides information, support and advocacy for foster and adoptive families.
Co-Founder of the Adoption Foster Care Therapist Network
Advisor, Effects of Early Life Adversity on Brain Development (NIMH grant with Nim Tottenham, Ph.D. at Columbia University).
Curriculum reviewer for TAC (the first credentialed adoption curriculum for mental health professionals in the United States; also listed on the California Evidenced-Based Clearinghouse)
Board Member, Fostering Families Today magazine
Training in Child Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT) with Sue Bratton, Ph.D.
Adoption and Attachment Therapy Partners, observation of intensive clinical work.
Fundamentals of Family Therapy at Ackerman Institute for the Family
Level 1 training in Theraplay© with Daphna Lender, LCSW
Previously:
Advisory Board National Adoption Competency Mental Health Training Initiative (NTI) at the Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.) (five year federal grant/2015-2020)
Executive Director AFFCNY; Associate Project Director for The Collaboration to AdoptUSKids (a multi-million dollar federal grant to recruit foster and adoptive parents for children in foster care); Senior Policy Associate for Children’s Rights (researched, wrote and presented on multiple child welfare topics) and; Adult Client Coordinator at the Community Help Service (a mental health clinic for English speakers in Brussels, Belgium)
Proficient in French
