SARA FIELDSON
5803 Old Legacy Drive, Fort Collins,CO
Summary
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) with extensive experience leading behavioral health, addiction recovery, crisis intervention, and residential treatment programs. Proven success directing clinical operations, developing evidence-based services, supervising multidisciplinary teams, and building community partnerships that improve client outcomes and organizational effectiveness. Skilled in trauma-informed care, program development, clinical supervision, crisis response, and regulatory compliance across behavioral health and substance use treatment settings.
Experienced in serving diverse populations through individual therapy, crisis stabilization, case management, residential recovery programming, and community-based behavioral health initiatives. Adept at collaborating with healthcare providers, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community stakeholders to expand access to care and strengthen service delivery systems.
Combines advanced clinical expertise with executive leadership experience gained across healthcare, nonprofit, and business sectors. Recognized for developing innovative programs, mentoring staff, managing complex operations, and fostering client-centered environments that support long-term recovery, housing stability, and overall well-being.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Northern Colorado Clinical Director
Denver Rescue Mission – Harvest Farm
Wellington, CO
05.2025 - Current
- Directed clinical operations and long-term residential programming at Harvest Farm, ensuring high-quality, trauma-informed, evidence-based service delivery aligned with organizational mission and regulatory standards.
- Oversaw development, implementation, and continuous improvement of clinical services, enhancing participant outcomes, housing stability, and program effectiveness.
- Pursued state licensing with the goal of achieving compliance with BHA, Medicaid, state, and federal regulations, including licensure, billing standards, and clinical best practices.
- Supervised multidisciplinary teams including clinical staff, case management, care coordination, and intake personnel; conducted performance evaluations, mentorship, and professional development initiatives.
- Provided crisis intervention support, clinical supervision, and leadership during urgent behavioral health situations to ensure continuity and quality of care.
- Led cross-functional staff meetings and collaborated with organizational leadership to strengthen communication, operational alignment, and service integration across Northern Colorado facilities.
- Managed program budgets, grants, and government contracts to support operational sustainability and program expansion.
- Partnered with operations, development, and community organizations to improve service coordination, strengthen community resources, and support funding initiatives.
- Represented organizational programs at meetings, community partnerships, training sessions, and public events to promote stakeholder engagement and organizational impact.
- Supported continuity of care across homelessness resolution, shelter, and residential programs through strategic collaboration with internal leadership teams.
Therapist
Hawthorn Counseling LLC
Fort Collins, CO
08.2024 - 09.2025
- Provide psychotherapy to adults, and couples in a private practice setting.
- Develop collaboratively and implement individualized treatment plans utilizing varying approaches including person-centered, trauma informed, Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), or narrative therapy depending on client needs and goals.
- Manage all aspects of private practice including scheduling, billing, marketing, and electronic health records (EHR).
- Provide virtual therapy services to increase accessibility and support continuity of care.
- Provide psychiatry referrals and other resources as requested.
- Maintain client confidentiality and ensure ethical standards in line with HIPPA guidelines.
Community Health Clinician
Poudre Fire Authority
06.2024 - 05.2025
- Triage patients referred by Poudre Fire Authority crews post 911 interaction.
- Review patient records in Epic for relevant data pertaining to medical and mental health.
- Collaborate with medical staff, public health agencies, and community organizations to coordinate services and referrals.
- Maintain accurate documentation in compliance with HIPAA and organizational standards.
- Provide in-home psychoeducation and resource coordination for patients with complex social, medical, and mental health needs.
- Attend interagency meetings.
- Collaborate with program manager and teammates to create program policy and procedure.
- Visit Poudre Fire Authority stations to provide patient updates and program information to online firefighters.
Mobile Response Clinician
SummitStone Health Partners – Longview Mental Health Campus
Fort Collins, CO
03.2024 - 05.2025
- Provide crisis intervention to support stabilization, crisis assessment, and de-escalation of Larimer County community members.
- Provide client care to include care coordination, behavioral health related screenings and assessments, individual and group therapy, brief therapy, case management, and related clinical services.
- Serve as a clinical resource person to building site(s), clinical staff, case managers, medical providers and collaterals.
- Collaborate with other staff in providing, planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating clinical services, including collaborating with Clinical Managers and Program Supervisors.
- Perform behavioral health screenings and assessments.
- Provide care coordination within SummitStone Health Partners, community agencies, and resources.
- Provide onsite collaboration with medical providers to provide behavioral health assessments for those clients identified with behavioral health needs.
- Complete clinical documentation.
- Support and foster team values within the treatment team to provide support and remove barriers.
- Participate on committees (both internal and external), in meetings, and works on projects as assigned.
- Mental Health Walk-In Clinic, Crisis Stabilization, & Withdrawal Management facility
Behavioral Health Clinician, Behavioral Health Urgent Care Clinic
SummitStone Health Partners – Longview Mental Health Campus
Fort Collins, CO
03.2024 - 05.2025
- Provide clinical assessment, diagnosis, individual, and group therapy, crisis intervention, and case management services for child and adult clients experiencing mental health symptoms, substance use disorder symptoms.
- Develop, document, and monitor treatment plans, monitor and document treatment services, interactions, and progress. Ensure that documentation and maintenance of client chart meets agency, state, federal, etc. audit standards.
- Collaborate with internal (i.e. medical, psychiatric, clinical, case management, peers, etc.) and external (i.e. referral agencies, family, friends, etc.) treatment team members and/or supports around a client's treatment plan goals, treatment, and treatment progress.
- Coordinate with collaterals and/or partner agencies during a client's treatment to ensure sustainable support and step-down services are in place.
- Answer 988 Colorado Mental Health/Suicide Prevention Hotline.
- Mental Health Walk-In Clinic, Crisis Stabilization, & Withdrawal Management facility
Associate Director of Residential Programs
Denver Rescue Mission – Harvest Farm
Wellington, CO
01.2023 - 01.2024
- Collaborated with Program Director to develop third party provider relationships to increase on-site client supports. Expanded services included MAT, psychiatry, mental health counseling, dental, and medical care. Oversaw services to ensure appropriate delivery of care and satisfactory provider experience.
- Developed and revised programs, policies, and procedures aligned with best practices.
- Worked with DRM data specialist to develop processes and prompts within EHR platform to facilitate proper recording and coordinate efforts around EHR training and reporting.
- Created intervention plans for clients with cognitive challenges, mental health crises, and medical difficulties.
- Assisted in the development and implementation of on-site clinics (influenza and hepatitis A vaccinations, and COVID testing).
- Guided preparation of staff training manual.
- Seventy-six bed residential recovery program for men
Clinical Social Work Intern – Foundation and Advanced
Denver Rescue Mission – Harvest Farm
Wellington, CO
05.2020 - 07.2023
- Provided client counseling and created therapy notes under LCSW Supervision.
- Created, implemented, and evaluated ten (10) week group therapy program on guilt, shame and relational efficacy.
- Supported clients in obtaining health insurance, vital documents, legal support, employment, medical, vision, and dental care, and long-term housing.
- Resourced clients when needs fell outside of position purview.
- Monitored client program engagement and compliance.
- Seventy-six bed residential recovery program for men
Case Manager Supervisor
Denver Rescue Mission – Harvest Farm
Wellington, CO
03.2022 - 01.2023
- Facilitated weekly clinical staffing meetings, discussing with treatment team new clients, client progress, and client concerns.
- Facilitated client care team meetings, established and maintained routine communication between team members, and troubleshot interdepartmental communication challenges.
- Supervised program intake process including referrals, client assessment, and logistics planning. Developed case plan and goals collaboratively.
- Supervised case managers adherence to protocols necessary for client program success and long-term stability goals:1) creation of supportive community, 2) full-time employment/sustainable income, 3) continued sobriety, 4) 50% of earned income saved, and 5) permanent housing.
- Held weekly case management staff and one-on-one meetings.
- Audited notes and documentation in agency EHR platform.
- Reviewed procedural and documentation compliance including: disclosures, assessments, counseling plans, DAP notes, reviews, termination, and discharge summaries.
- Seventy-six bed residential recovery program for men
Case Manager
Denver Rescue Mission – Harvest Farm
Wellington, CO
03.2021 - 03.2022
- Expanded the case management team.
- Onboarded and trained new case managers and interns.
- Managed scheduling and payroll of six direct reports.
- Trained and supervised staff using established protocols to support client long-term recovery goals.
- Seventy-six bed residential recovery program for men
Founding Partner and Director of Community Outreach
TEKids - Technology Education for Kids, LLC
Morgantown, WV
01.2012 - 01.2017
- Managed response to incidence reports with clients and care teams.
- Responsible for case management of up to 23 clients.
- Initiated disciplinary actions per program policy and procedures as required.
- After- and in-school STEM enrichment program
Vice President Marketing
TKG International
San Mateo, CA & Warsaw, Poland
01.2000 - 01.2005
- Completed all required Licensed Addiction Counselor coursework.
- Completed foundation and advanced internship requirements for MSW program.
- Commercial real estate development company
Vice President Vineyard Development
Tri-Valley Vineyards
Livermore, CA
01.1999 - 01.2005
- 120-acre Commercial Wine Grape Vineyard
Education
Certified Addiction Counselor training program -
Colorado Counselor Training
Loveland, COMaster of Social Work - Clinical Social Work
Boston University
Boston, MAProfessional Certificate - Marketing
UC Berkeley Extension
San Francisco, CABachelor of Arts - English Literature, Additional area of study – ASL
University of Rochester
Rochester, NYSkills
- Program, Policy, & Procedure Development
- Case Management & Client Advocacy
- Cultural Competency
- Trauma-Informed Care
- EMR Systems (SimplePractice, Epic ,& Scribe)
- Microsoft Office Suite & Google Apps G Suite Proficient
- American Sign Language and French Proficient
Affiliations
National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Member
The Women's Foundation of Colorado
Certification
- Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) – License #ACD.0002642
- Licensed Clinical Social Work (LCSW) - License #CSW.09933242
- CPR & First Aid Certified
- Certificate from Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy Medical University of South Carolina
- Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Trained
- QPR Suicide Prevention Trained
- Chronic Anxiety: Powerful Treatment Methods to Break the Anxiety Cycle Trained
Timeline
Northern Colorado Clinical Director
Denver Rescue Mission – Harvest Farm
05.2025 - Current
Therapist
Hawthorn Counseling LLC
08.2024 - 09.2025
Community Health Clinician
Poudre Fire Authority
06.2024 - 05.2025
Mobile Response Clinician
SummitStone Health Partners – Longview Mental Health Campus
03.2024 - 05.2025
Behavioral Health Clinician, Behavioral Health Urgent Care Clinic
SummitStone Health Partners – Longview Mental Health Campus
03.2024 - 05.2025
Associate Director of Residential Programs
Denver Rescue Mission – Harvest Farm
01.2023 - 01.2024
Case Manager Supervisor
Denver Rescue Mission – Harvest Farm
03.2022 - 01.2023
Case Manager
Denver Rescue Mission – Harvest Farm
03.2021 - 03.2022
Clinical Social Work Intern – Foundation and Advanced
Denver Rescue Mission – Harvest Farm
05.2020 - 07.2023
Founding Partner and Director of Community Outreach
TEKids - Technology Education for Kids, LLC
01.2012 - 01.2017
Vice President Marketing
TKG International
01.2000 - 01.2005
Vice President Vineyard Development
Tri-Valley Vineyards
01.1999 - 01.2005
Professional Certificate - Marketing
UC Berkeley Extension
Bachelor of Arts - English Literature, Additional area of study – ASL
University of Rochester
Certified Addiction Counselor training program -
Colorado Counselor Training
Master of Social Work - Clinical Social Work
Boston University