Meet your Therapist

Franklin Sarker, MA, LPCC, NCC

Is anxiety and depression keeping you from enjoying your life? Have your deep wounds kept you from moving forward? Maybe you find yourself repeatedly feeling shame, anger, and fear. Perhaps, you long for closeness in your relationships but somehow end up keep getting hurt. Are you having trouble knowing who you are and finding belonging? If you wish to change that..

You have taken the right step!

I can help you find your footing, have better relationships, and live a grounded identity. As a result of my own story, I work with my clients not just as a professional but a fellow human in the journey of life. Chaya Counseling website is named after my mother Chaya who has been suffering from schizophrenia since I was 8 years old. It was the influence of profound loss that led to her condition. Personally, I have struggled with mental health challenges myself. I know what it is like to feel stuck and overwhelmed. Through my own counseling and motivation to change I have overcome significant challenges.

Professionally, I have a degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and had the privilege of studying the mind. I am trained by the Gottman Institute in Couples Therapy and borrow from neuroscience to bring healing to the mind, body, soul, and relationships. I am a culturally aware, attachment oriented, existential therapist that values the dignity of all people regardless of gender, race, disability, ethnicity, religion, politics, or sexual orientation. Reconciling with the loss and tragedy of our lives and facing our fears is a painful but worthwhile journey. I am here to walk with you through it!

Legal Disclaimer: This is a personal website not a business or organization.

Specialties

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Spiritual/ Existential

  • Relationships

  • Attachment

  • Identity

Approach

“The world is made of stories, not atoms”
— Muriel Rukeyser

In my approach to counseling, I take a story centered, body based and existential approach. I pay attention to human biology, psychology and spirituality. According to my philosophy, human beings are much more than biochemical processes. I see beauty, justice, wholeness, and love as sacred. I am passionate about helping people connect deeply with others, themselves, the earth and the sacred.

One particular specialty of mine is to help people untangle their spiritual hurt in religious contexts and from religious people. Part of your story might include feelings of shame, guilt and fear experienced in religious contexts. Your spiritual life does not have to end because of the spiritual hurt and abuse you experienced. I can help you re - establish a spiritual life of freedom and intimacy. A life of vitality and belovedness waits for you should you choose to live an authentic identity and tell a better story.

How it Works

  • Gain better understanding of your story and the unhelpful patterns that hold you back.

  • Develop deep self awareness and learn to see things from a different perspective

  • Learn how to take action and form the habits that will help you live the life you want

Therapy can be broken down to three stages - exploration, insight, action. However, even before that, the most important step is to believe in the process and learn to trust a stranger. In the first several sessions, we will be exploring your story to understand the hurt and unhelpful patterns that keep you from enjoying life. Then, we will try to understand the root of the issues. This will likely involve understanding your emotions and relationships you have had. The goal of this stage is to gain new perspectives. Finally, I will help you create new habits that establish the changes which bring life and vitality to you.

Part of this process involves shifting the nervous system from functioning on auto pilot to learning to have control over your responses. This work may be hard and take time. Along the way, you may see yourself in new light and even have a more grounded identity. At the end, my hope is that you will learn to live and tell a better story and feel a deeper connection to your self, the world and the sacred.