Sara Doudna-Klein, LMFT

Time in Practice

      Sara Doudna-Klein has been assisting people for over 20 years in overcoming numerous obstacles to living a healthy , balanced and purposeful life.  She is licensed in the state of California as a Marriage and Family Therapist.  She is qualified to treat many conditions and personality problems that contribute to unsatisfactory relationships with others.

Clinical Approach

      Over her years of clinical study and life experience, Sara has developed an eclectic approach to helping others.  She draws from many psychological concepts and techniques to create a unique treatment plan for each individual, couple or family.  She possesses the intuitive ability to deeply understand and connect with people and situations from a broad spectrum of life.  With an attitude of respect, acceptance and nonjudgment, she creates an atmosphere of comfort and safety, no matter what the topic of discussion.

Areas of Expertise

   Addictions:

         Sara has a special interest in helping people in the process of recovery from addiction to drugs and alcohol and their families.  She helps  them repair and develop their spiritual life and their family and work relationships after the devastation of addiction.  She guides them through the healing of childhood trauma to overcome family of origin patterns that have contributed to failed relationships, depression, anxiety and numerous personality problems.  She strongly supports the "12 Step" lifestyle as the basis for continued recovery. 

   Divorce:

         On Saturday mornings, on the campus of Chapman University in Orange California, groups of parents and kids meet with a highly skilled team of mental health professionals trained and supervised by Sara Doudna-Klein.  The parents learn skills and develop attitudes that ease the stress of divorce and minimize the effect on children. The Children, through structured activities, learn to cope with the family changes that affect children of divorce.

         Thirteen years ago, "Kids First" www.kidsfirstoc.org was founded by Gerald L. Klein, Family Law Specialist, to help families in divorce.  Sara has worked with him since that time developing the curriculum, overseeing the administrative office, and training and supervising the clinical staff. Kids First is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the best interest of children of divorce.