We were lucky to catch up with Sarah Blacker recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Sarah, thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
As a singer/songwriter, empath and healer at heart since childhood, I’ve written about and processed my own experiences through song, with the hopes that others will relate and find solace in shared human experience. My musical path led me to the Berklee College of Music in Boston where I discovered the field of Music Therapy; the perfect synthesis of everything I loved and knew (and also built a humbly successful career as an original, touring and recording artist).
At Berklee we took a handful of psychology classes and learned to be group and individual session facilitators with an understanding of the brain, body and humanity, and musical interventions as our skillset. Once graduated and board-certified I took all of my lived experiences and training into the field, working in myriad settings and finding a home with adolescents with neurodivergence, geriatric and hospice settings and most dedicatedly, in the mental health field working in inpatient and outpatient mental health facilities, shelters, and skilled nursing homes.
I had been working as a Music Therapist for over 20 years when the pandemic hit. Between songs, I had always used my training and person to create a safe space and help people process difficult emotions; I always felt that I wanted to know more about the brain and actual theoretical techniques to help people within conversation. Two weeks before the pandemic happened, I had left my full time job as Music Therapist / Activities’ Director to return to contract Music Therapy and performing. And then, everything fell away and I had no certain income nor employment.
It was then that I decided to leap. I had always wanted to get a graduate degree as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC, Psychotherapist) and had never allowed myself the time. Now, with nothing but time on my hands, I gathered all of the information I could on how to begin the long and arduous journey towards licensure and eventually private practice. I applied and was accepted to enroll in studies at Salem State University, and spent the entire pandemic on Zoom (save one weeklong in-person DBT intensive), acquiring psychoeducation, information and training to further my abilities to help people heal in a new way.
Schooling led to practicum, to internship, and then to a job as Intensive Outpatient Coordinator at a small Mental Health and Substance Use recovery group where I learned the artful mastery of the spreadsheet, an expertise in counseling those with complex trauma, and poly-diagnoses including substance use, and the arduous maelstrom of insurance authorizations. I also burned out and longed for a change of pace. (Remember, I’m an empathetic/Highly Sensitive Person).
Having then accrued all hours necessary for licensure, I passed my exam and became officially, Sarah Blacker, MS, MT-BC (Music Therapist, Board Certified), LMHC… and then, I took an even bigger leap.
As a Capricorn, grounded in nature, pragmatic in approach, I once again gathered all information I could accrue on systems, supports, necessary steps and began my private practice.
It was really hard to trust that I would be ok and I needed some nudging off the ledge to make the final leap towards independence, and within 2 weeks (as my husband said would happen), I had systems in place and was ready to accept clients. Within 3 months I had a full caseload and now, 5 months in, I’m beyond grateful for the work I do, the freedom and creativity I am allowed and the ability to support myself doing what I love most.
There are many ups and downs and things do fall apart. Each week holds a hard lesson and I utilize my supports. I still crash and burn and I always get back up…eventually. I cope with all that I have and track my progress. I make mistakes and I learn from them.
I have 3 careers and a side hustle (Music Therapist, psychotherapist, singer/songwriter) and a story for another day is my side hustle as dog-momager for my chocolate lab, Bruce (@brucefromsalem).
My favorite quote has always been, “leap and the net will come.” I spent my 20s and 30s living in line with these words; in my 40s, this leap was by far the hardest; it was also immesaurably the most rewarding.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
www.sarahblacker.com
@sarahblacker (instagram)
Facebook.com/sarahblackermusic
YouTube.com/sarahb113
I’m a multi-instrumentalist, self-taught on guitar and ukulele and trained on piano, voice and percussion.
I have toured internationally and nationally and have recorded 4 full length albums and 5 EPs of original music.
I have twice been named Performer of the Year in the New England Music Awards (most recently in ’24) and am a Boston Music Award nominee.
I perform regularly throughout New England with my band, Sarah Blacker & the Light
As a therapist I am person-centered, process-oriented, holistic, creative and improvisational in nature; I choose to meet people where they are at in order to remove obstacles that prevent them from a life worth living.
I’m DBT certified and hold expertise in CBT, Motivational Enhancement Therapy, and Substance Use Counseling.
My dog’s instagram: @brucefromsalem
Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?
I think there are several things that are most helpful to succeed in the field(s) I am in.
1) Self-Care – take breaks, treat yourself each day, and create a healthy lifestyle that allows you to be your best self
2) Self-Awareness – know yourself and your needs, and allow yourself to build a career that works for your mental, physical, spiritual, emotional, social health and safety. Also know how burnout shows up for you.
3) Be flexible – there is so little that we can actually control and when bumps in the road show up, use them as opportunities to grow, re-create, breathe or re-assess. Change is a constant.
4) Laugh at the systems we have to work within – humans have built so many systems and confines that we have to operate in; none of them are perfect. When things go wrong, remember, it’s not you, it’s the system.
5) Have a good support system – seek supervision or friendships that you can lean on when you need support and actually reach out when you need it. It’s a learned skill to be authentic and ask for help but 99% of the time, people really do want to know all of you and get rewards from helping others.
6) Track your progress – use to do lists, check things off, set goals, and give yourself credit for how far you’ve come and for making it through each day.
Have you ever had to pivot?
I used to tour full time as a musician. It was a lonely, unhealthy lifestyle that was consistently dysregulating, isolating, and also exciting with extreme highs and devastating lows. I was constantly chasing and searching, and had few relationships due to always being on the road.
I was in a total car-wreck and the following year an abusive relationship. I endured some pretty significant physical and emotional injuries and had to pivot to a job that allowed me to be in one place.
I chose to work for 3 years as an Activities’ Director / Habilitation therapist while receiving physical therapy, and counseling, moving to my dream city, getting married and rebuilding the scaffolding for a much more resilient life.
Because I gave myself this time to heal and learn how to be a healthier human, I was better prepared for the next chapter of my life that allows me to do all of the things that I love, all while taking good care of myself and choosing where to put my energy.
Added bonus: I now have over 65 plants!
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.sarahblacker.com
- Instagram: sarahblacker
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sarahblackermusic
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-blacker-0b9804331/
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/sarahb113
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/sarah-blacker
