We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sarah Finley. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sarah below.

Sarah, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

For six years, I worked as a school social worker — and I loved it. I loved supporting kids and families, the laughter and little wins that made every day special, and the bigger victories like helping students overcome challenges or improving systems to better serve everyone. It was demanding work — mentally, emotionally, and physically — but it was deeply meaningful. I truly couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else. I loved the community, the structure, and the sense of purpose it gave me. During my last year in the schools, everything shifted. My husband and I had been struggling with infertility, and I began IVF treatments. Between the endless doctor’s appointments, procedures, and medications, I started to feel like I was running on empty. My energy and emotional capacity were depleted, and for the first time in my career, I wasn’t able to show up as the version of myself I had always been proud of. It was humbling — and eye-opening. Through this experience, I became acutely aware of how much emotional, mental, and physical labor women carry — not just in education, but across all professions. We’re encouraged to chase success and give our all at work while simultaneously being the caretakers, nurturers, and emotional anchors in every area of life. The result? Burnout, guilt, and disconnection from ourselves. That realization became the defining moment of my career. I didn’t lose my passion for social work — I simply found a new direction for it. I decided to open my own practice, Let’s Unpack That Therapy, where I now support women and girls navigating burnout, perfectionism, people-pleasing, and the pressure to “do it all.” My work today feels like an extension of my own healing — helping women give themselves permission to rest, set boundaries, and reclaim their sense of worth and voice.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a therapist and the founder of Let’s Unpack That Therapy, where I work primarily with women and adolescent girls. My focus is on helping clients navigate the things so many of us quietly struggle with—burnout, perfectionism, people-pleasing, boundaries, and relationship patterns—through a gender-based lens. I love this work because it allows me to look beyond surface-level “symptoms” and really explore why we feel and act the way we do. So many of the challenges women face aren’t just personal—they’re societal. We’re often taught to be accommodating, helpful, and agreeable from such a young age that it becomes second nature to put everyone else first. My job is to help clients step out of shame and self-blame, and instead see that these patterns make sense in context—and that they can absolutely be changed. I was drawn to this field because I’ve personally experienced what it feels like to believe that your worth is tied to how helpful, kind, or “perfect” you are. As a child, I thought being the most agreeable person in the room or constantly being of service to others was what made me valuable.. With Let’s Unpack That Therapy, I want to help women and girls know the opposite is true—your voice, your needs, and your boundaries have always mattered- and you don’t have to quiet them to make others feel more comfortable. What I’m most proud of is creating a space where clients feel seen, validated, and empowered to make meaningful change. My work is really about helping women move from just surviving to truly thriving—and reconnecting with their most authentic selves in the process.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

The biggest lesson I’ve had to unlearn is that being agreeable and saying yes to everything doesn’t equal hard work, success, or even grit. For a long time, I thought that taking on more—more tasks, more responsibilities, more hours—was the best way to prove my value. But I’ve learned that true professionalism and success come from discernment: knowing what actually needs your time and energy, being able to prioritize effectively, and communicating honestly about workload and capacity. This came to light during my time as a public school social worker. Like many in education, I was often faced with limited resources and staff, and I found myself taking on responsibilities that stretched far beyond my role—from managing challenging student behaviors to fielding parent concerns and handling administrative duties. I said yes out of fear—fear of being seen as unhelpful, incapable, or difficult—but in the process, I was burning out and losing the ability to do the work that mattered most: supporting my students in meaningful, clinical ways. Eventually, I realized that by saying yes to everything, I was unintentionally saying no to the parts of my job that truly needed me. That shift in perspective changed how I work, lead, and support others. Now, I view boundaries not as barriers, but as essential tools that make me more effective, balanced, and present—in both my personal and professional life.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Honestly, social media has been the most effective strategy for growing my clientele. I used to think referrals from schools, universities, and doctors’ offices would be my main source of clients—and while that outreach has been helpful—it was really Instagram that made the biggest impact. Having a professional page where I can share the kind of work I do and speak directly to the people I hope to help has been extremely helpful. I focus a lot of my content on the themes that come up most often in my practice—things like boundaries, people-pleasing, burnout, perfectionism, and relationship patterns. When people see posts that resonate with them, my hope is that it creates a sense of connection and understanding. What’s also been surprisingly powerful is the organic exposure—people sharing my posts or stories with friends, or engaging with something that hits home. I’ve also run a few targeted Instagram ads, which have been great for visibility, but the most meaningful growth has come from creating authentic, relatable content that feels human—not clinical or overly polished. At the end of the day, social media allows me to show up as myself—someone who’s both professional and approachable—and that’s what seems to resonate most with clients.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.letsunpackthattherapy.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letsunpackthat_therapy/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahmullery

Image Credits

Hi! I’m just realizing I don’t have a ton of pictures of me working because much of my work is HIPPA protected and I can’t share photos of myself with students who’s parents haven’t provided written permission. Let me know if there is anything else I can provide! Thanks so much!