Sarah Levin, LPC
Prior to becoming a counselor, I was on the path toward becoming a physician. I obtained my degree in neuroscience, then worked as a researcher for several years in the fields of neurology and public health before attending medical school. Two years into my medical training, however, I was wrestling with the feeling that I wasn’t spending enough time doing what was truly important to me – which was, fundamentally, to be with people, especially if they are suffering. It has always been a driving force in my life, borne from a sensitive, empathic temperament. While the field of medicine is fascinating and exciting, I found that the components of authentic connection and vulnerability seemed to play second fiddle to the more intellectualized aspects of the field. I wanted to connect with patients in a more in-depth way than I could during morning rounds in a hospital or during 15-minute office visits. A career in counseling seemed to be a more appropriate fit for me in response to this realization. Leaving medical school felt like an overwhelmingly risky move, but I have no regrets. I feel very privileged and grateful to get to know my clients as well as I do, and to be a source of support for them during the dark times – as well as the not-so-dark times.
In my spare time, I enjoy a variety of hobbies: playing the violin, figure skating, art-making, and challenging myself in the kitchen.