Welcome! I am Sarah McHale, the Founder and Clinical Director of Sacred and Free, LLC. I am happy that you have either intentionally found Sacred and Free or if you have stumbled upon us. Whatever brings you, you are welcome here.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and Integrative Health Educator. I am a certified specialist in the recovery from substance use, trauma (physical, sexual, and emotional), grief, women’s health, and the emotional components of terminal illness and the death and dying process for patients and their families.

My treatment approach focuses on the connection between the mind and body; and when a client desires, spirit. It is a holistic approach to therapy that honors the body's wisdom. I combine research-based somatic tools with a variety of evidenced based psychotherapy orientations. Simply put, I help my clients learn how their minds and bodies work together to release what no longer serves us and seek more of what does.

I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Temple University and Master of Science in Clinical and Counseling Health Psychology from The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine where my studies focused on the  use of evidenced-based treatment modalities. My osteopathic training afforded me experience with the brain-mind-body connection and the ability to teach it to my patients. I obtained a post-masters certification from Chestnut Hill College where my studies were focused on the treatment of trauma and bereavement. 

Over the course of eighteen years in the field my experience opened the door for extensive work on the mind+ body + spiritual connection in mental health. While I do not subscribe nor tout any specific religious affiliation, I offer exploration of individual spirituality from a Depth /Integrative Psychology perspective for those interested.

I have worked in both inpatient and outpatient settings over the course of my career. Serving as both the Clinical Coordinator and Program Development Coordinator for Eagleville Hospital in Montgomery County, PA, I executed both administrative and clinical supervisory roles.  I have extensive experience in providing clinical supervision and specialize in working with other clinicians in both a therapist-patient relationship or separately in a supervisory capacity.

I work primarily with adults and on occasion children 8 and up in family settings.  

In addition to individual therapy I offer evaluations, workshops, groups.

All services are available via tele-health AND in-person. All sessions and consultations are by appointment only.

“It is a sacred gift to sit in the joys and the pains of another.  It is my responsibility to treat each moment we work together with compassion and grace as I honor the privilege it is to be allowed into someone’s most vulnerable experiences.  I genuinely care about every one of my clients and their progress. It is in this spirit that I choose to see a select group of clients to whom I can provide the best possible care.” -Sarah McHale, LPC, CAADC, CCTP

Hi! I am Jess Kirk, Senior Therapist for Sacred and Free, LLC. I am a National Certified Counselor with speciality areas in trauma, ADHD, concussion management, resiliency, trauma and grief recovery. I hold numerous education program certifications.

I work with adults in recovery from grief, trauma, addiction, families and spouses of addiction, women’s health and fertility, and a wide array of mood disorders including anxiety and depression. If desired, I incorporate non secular spirituality based concepts to form a holistic approach to treatment. I also work with adolescents aged 5-18, as well as adults 18+ in individual, family, and group settings. 

In addition to counseling, I offer student evaluations, record reviews, consultation, and school advocacy for parents and their children. I will work with your schools to help facilitate academic success for your child.  I has immersed myself in the needs of our communities over the course of my career.  I have served as a Therapeutic Support Staff for children with developmental and intellectual disabilities in the school and home setting.  As a Mobile Therapist, I provided counseling to parents and siblings of children with mental health needs.

Over the course of the last 11 years and presently, I have held a title as an Elementary School counselor where I serve children ages 5-13 throughout the Delaware Valley.  As a cyber school counselor, I provide services that range from individual counseling, group counseling, and therapeutic yoga with a strong focus on interpersonal and self-management skills. 

Jess earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Kutztown University and her Masters in Counseling and School Counselor Certification for grades K-12 from West Chester University.  Her decision to join Sacred and Free, LLC and add Licensed Professional Counselor to her repertoire came after years of working with children and adults in the educational setting and a desire to connect further.

“It is an honor and privilege to listen to your story and work toward change and healing.”  -Jess

Mallory Grivner is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with extensive training in grief and loss, trauma recovery, life adjustments and career stress.  She is experiences in supporting spouses and family members of addiction. She holds certifications in hospice and palliative care and cognitive behavioral therapy. She is well versed in a myriad of theoretical perspectives and clinical interventions. 

Mallory initially earned her Bachelor’s degree in Japanese from Pennsylvania State University and subsequently spent a few years working in Hawaii in hotel management.  It was during this time, that her desire to work more closely with people in a helping capacity was realized.  She returned to academia and obtained her master’s degree in Social Work from Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania.

During Mallory’s extensive tenure in community and inpatient hospice she has supported a diverse group of terminally ill patients and their families.  Mallory has helped countless individuals and families understand and process grief and traumatic experiences. Her understanding of the medical intervention and physical experience provides her the opportunity to teach it to her patients and in turn has shown to increase ability to effectively cope and heal.

Mallory’s approach is collaborative and conversational.  She individualizes therapeutic technique and theoretical frameworks to best suit the needs of her clients.  Mallory treats individuals 16 years and older, in individual and group settings.  It is her hope to continue serving this community by helping people to identify their concerns and encourage healing and positive growth.   

“I view therapy as the road to the connection back to the self; implementing new ways of self-talk that is aligned with authenticity, releasing old belief systems that no longer serve us, and return us back to the core of who we are.  I believe in the power of humor, joy and laughter to balance heavier emotions and remind us that life carries a wide range of feelings. Therapy is not simply about feeling better in the short term. It is about gaining the insight to inspire positive change.” – Mallory

Hi, I am Linnea Schrantz! I am a National Certified Counselor experienced in individual therapy, group therapy, and evaluations with ages 12+ dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma, identity development, and relationship concerns.  I use a combination of person-centered therapy, mindfulness, psychodynamic theory, and somatic embodiment (the mind body connection) to create individualized and evidenced based support for my clients.

My passion lies in helping people develop and foster a grounded and centered sense of themselves. I find that this helps us have a foundation to find meaning and increase empowerment during times of transition. I believe that a trusting and warm relationship is necessary in collaborating with my clients. I will always start by fostering this and embodying both trust and warmth for you. These core values help my clients find unique ways to consciously process hardship and foster their confidence.

I earned my Bachelor’s in Human Services from Stevenson University and my Master of Arts in Counseling from Edinboro University. My professional experience prior to Sacred and Free includes working within Student Affairs divisions in higher education and providing individual therapy at Columbus State University’s counseling center. It is through the lens of my personal and professional experience in these realms that I have learned the importance of mindfulness in both mind and body and hope to be able to guide you to its usefulness as well.

"It is an honor to be beside those seeking self-exploration and self-enlightenment. I take great care for my clients while on this journey of healing. I hope to assist you in easing burdens while also celebrating you and your life. I aim to provide a safe and comforting environment where sharing our your story can come with more ease. Through this lens we can discover, uncover, and refine the tools you already possess to have more peace in your life." -Linnea

Hi, I am Brittany Dellaquila! I specialize in providing guidance to individuals and families facing life's challenges. I have a Master's degree in Counseling and an undergrad degree in education. My experience and education were focused on Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling. My safe, supportive, and empathetic environment enables my clients to explore their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in order to make choices that best serve their longer term goals.

After obtaining seven years of experience in school counseling I expanded my services to include working with adults in individual therapy setting. I am passionate about my work with children, parents, and individual adults. I provide mental health evaluations, IEP consultation and advocation, in addition to treatment.

My approach to counseling is integrative, drawing upon various therapeutic techniques, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, solution-focused therapy, and mindfulness to best suit the specific needs you have. I believe in tailoring therapy to fit each individual’s unique needs and preferences, and working collaboratively with my clients to help them reach their goals.

My ultimate goal as a counselor is to help my clients live more fulfilling, meaningful lives. I believe that every person has the capacity for growth and change, and I am honored to be a part of that journey. If you are ready to take the first step towards healing and transformation, I would be honored to work with you. 

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." - Lao Tzu

Hi, I'm Emily Cody, a master’s-level clinician who specializes in working with adults and couples. I have specialized training in family systems dynamics and sex therapy. My approach to therapy includes a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solutions-Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and mindfulness skills. I focus on taking an open approach with each client to understand their specific needs in treatment. I have experience working with clients who are navigating anxiety, depression, relationship issues, life transitions, and building self-esteem.

I graduated from West Chester University with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies before I received my Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Thomas Jefferson University.

I am here to guide you through this journey to reconnect with your true self. As we work together, we will examine how past experiences have created patterns of thought, emotions, and belief systems. By unpacking damaging thoughts and patterns that one may be holding on to, we can work together to create a different way of being. Ultimately, I define my role as someone who does not tell my clients what to see, but help them to discover where to look. I utilize my warm therapeutic approach to establish an alliance full of empathy and free of judgment. It would be my honor to help you on this journey.

I believe that the main goal of therapy is to help us come to terms with our past and move on with our lives. Sometimes, events in our lives can be stressful. We may experience traumatic situations that negatively impact the way we see ourselves, the way that we see others, the way that we see the world, and the way that we see our future. We may have developed survival mechanisms that were necessary in our past, but they are now preventing us from reaching our goals or getting along with others. The good news is that with courage, curiosity and introspection we can change even the most deep-seated negative beliefs about ourselves and others.

I have been trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) among other modalities. I define myself as an IFS informed EMDR therapist. In my years practicing EMDR, I have learned about the power of neuroplasticity. When something stressful or traumatic happens, we might logically understand that it was not our fault, but the reaction we have when we relive the memory is that we are not good enough. EMDR is helpful in changing negative beliefs about ourselves into more regenerative beliefs. From IFS, I learned to think about our mind as a plural, where our personality is a combination of different interconnected parts in a complex system. When we apply this notion to our own mind, it helps us to be more compassionate towards ourselves. DBT skills have a foundation in mindfulness and can help us regulate emotions, increase our tolerance to distress and be more effective in communicating our needs and emotions.

A famous psychiatrist once compared the therapeutic relationship with the relationship between two fellow travelers, and that idea really resonates with me. I don’t think that any person is immune to suffering, and that we are all together in trying to find out what is meaningful and how to cope with difficulties. I see my role as a therapist as one that creates a learning environment that is based on compassion and that can create the conditions necessary for introspection, self acceptance and healing. I also believe that our need for emotional and physical safety in therapy can vary based on our lived experiences.

“The goal of therapy is to come to terms with our past and move on with our lives.” -Pedro

I am a licensed Clinical Psychologist led by a desire to understand individuals and the systems in which they live. I think about mental health symptoms and disorders as pieces of our whole human experience, inextricably linked to our inner world, our genetic makeup, our histories, the relationships in our lives, the communities where we live, the systems in which we operate, and our spiritual realms.

If you are seeking treatment, you may be trying to escape, fix, or improve something about your life. But you also may be seeking something more, new, bigger for your life. My approach to therapy blends a focus on alleviating mental health symptoms and seeking personal growth and alignment with your values.

I offer treatment for depression, anxiety, anger management, major mood disorders, personality disorders, and grief and loss. I value the use of evidence-based treatments to improve mental health and achieve desired outcomes.  I seek to understand my clients and match interventions with their individual needs. I draw from cognitive and behavioral therapies, mindfulness-based approaches, and motivational interventions. Most importantly though, therapy must be an experience based on a solid, trusting relationship. Our work will always be grounded in a non-judgmental, open space. 

I have a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Drexel University and a BA in Psychology from Georgetown University. I am licensed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. I have over a decade of experience in the public behavioral health system, working at the individual and system-levels to improve outcomes. I have worked with adults and adolescents across a variety of community-based and institutional settings, conducting evaluations and providing treatment. 

In addition to my work with Sacred and Free, I operate a forensic psychology practice, providing forensic mental healthassessment, expert witness, and consulting services. My forensic work has focused on advancing policies and programs for justice-involved individuals with behavioral health disorders. I have led initiatives with courts, jails, state hospitals, state prisons, and probation and parole. I have directed clinical program development with the forensic population and provided clinical oversight and supervision. I work with jurisdictions across the country to enhance systems that serve individuals with serious mental illness and co-occurring disorders.

Jim Gotwald graduated from West Chester University with a degree in Psychology, focusing on Industrial Organizational Psychology. In the corporate world, he has held various Operational Management, Project Management, and Sales positions. He is passionate about coaching and helping people, and currently runs a non-profit organization. In his spare time, Jim enjoys cooking, sports, and spending time with his wife and 2 kids.