About

Sierra Schaidle, LMFT

she/her

My Background

My research and training was heavily focused on issues of diversity, building relationship satisfaction, and the in-between spaces of identities that are often overlooked. I’m curious about the liminal spaces in our lives and what makes you you. I firmly believe that “The person isn’t the problem. The problem is the problem.” For me, this means that we’re going to look at the context and systems you live in to try to find solutions to your concerns. When it comes to doing therapy, my goal is to take away shame, blame, and guilt, and build towards a sense of trust and awareness, whether it’s with yourself or a loved one. I work with therapy clients from Illinois and Indiana through anxiety, life transitions, relationship issues, healing from trauma, and so many other common issues. Life isn’t easy! You don’t have to do it alone.

Credentials

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Indiana
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Illinois
MS Marriage and Family Therapy from Purdue University Northwest


EMDR-Trained
Level 2 Gottman Method Couples Therapist

I am a no-AI therapist. I do not knowingly use AI in any of my services or platforms.

My Therapy Approach

  • Focuses on the story you tell yourself about your life and how the words we use affect us

  • (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Developed to help with trauma, this highly-researched approach to therapy is fantastic for working through difficult memories, anxiety, or other big experiences you aren’t sure how to handle.

    You can learn more about EMDR from EMDRIA here.

  • A structured approach to couples therapy with decades of research behind it. This approach incorporates assessments into improving partners’ communication

  • Using the idea that we are all made up of many parts, this approach can help us explore different aspects of ourselves that we may or may not like.

  • I take great care to be sensitive to all of someone’s life experiences and use a combination of strong empathy and ongoing education of how to treat trauma.

  • These approaches focus on the body and how it impacts how we process our experiences and emotions.

  • I am welcoming to and experienced working with anyone within the LGBTQ+ community, including gender-diverse clients and poly relationships.

  • I come from a non-judgmental standpoint on relationships and am honored to work with whatever relationship dynamics you may come in with.

I can help with…

  • Improving your sense of self-awareness and feeling like you know yourself better

  • Building confident, secure, and fulfilling relationships

  • Managing conflict within your relationships

  • Unlearning patterns from your childhood

  • Healing from traumas, whether they’re systemic, single-incident, or ongoing

  • Managing life transitions such as graduation, marriage, separations, childbirth, death of a family member, moving, job changes, or chronic illness

  • Challenging feelings of anxiety, shame, or guilt

  • Reclaiming your identity or exploring who you are

  • Exploring your gender identity

  • Coming out

My Limitations

Unfortunately, I can’t be an expert in everything. If these issues are a primary reason for coming to therapy, I may not be the best fit for you:

  • Grief

  • Substance abuse

  • Issues with minor children or parenting

  • Eating disorders

What is Unfolding Insight?

One of my top values and something vital in therapy is understanding, both of ourselves and of others. My favorite poem by Rainer Maria Rilke uses the word “unfold” as a way of referencing this kind of openness and exploration. It’s like peeling back our layers to get to our core. Insight is another powerful tool in therapy that is related to having a deep understanding of something. Together, the words “unfolding insight” bring to my mind the powerful journey of self-discovery and empowerment that I want to embody in my therapy work.