What Makes Sara Shelton with Hope Renewed Marriage and Family Therapy a Good Neighbor?

In a recent episode of the Good Neighbor Podcast, host Sophia Yvette introduced listeners to Sara Shelton, founder of Hope Renewed Marriage and Family Therapy. This insightful conversation revealed not only Sara's professional expertise but also her personal journey that led her to become a dedicated marriage and family therapist after 18 years as a special education teacher. Her transition from classroom to counseling room came from a deeply personal place – experiencing marriage struggles early on with her husband and finding transformation through therapy herself.

Sara's practice offers a comprehensive approach to therapy, working with diverse clients ranging from children as young as four to couples facing complex relationship dynamics. What sets her practice apart is her specialization in working with neurodiverse couples – partnerships where neurological differences create unique communication challenges. This focus stems from her own life experience, as she helped diagnose her husband's neurodiversity and worked through their relationship differences, building a marriage that has now flourished for nearly three decades. This personal connection to neurodiversity gives Sara a unique perspective in helping similar couples navigate their relationships with understanding and compassion.

Beyond traditional therapy approaches, Sara incorporates innovative methods like animal-assisted therapy, utilizing her trained 84-pound Giant Schnauzer as a calming presence for clients. She also organizes therapeutic retreats, initially focused on helping fellow therapists avoid burnout, but expanding to serve couples dealing with betrayal and neurodiversity challenges. These retreats provide safe spaces for healing and growth in the beautiful setting of Colorado. When discussing the marketing of her practice, Sara emphasized the power of word-of-mouth referrals, though she maintains visibility through professional networks and online platforms like Psychology Today.

One of the most compelling moments in the interview came when Sara addressed common misconceptions about therapy. While society has made progress in destigmatizing treatment for conditions like anxiety and depression, she noted that seeking help for challenges like sexual betrayal, addiction, or neurodiversity differences still carries unnecessary shame for many. Sara passionately advocates for normalizing these therapeutic needs, emphasizing that help is both necessary and beneficial regardless of the specific challenge. Her message echoes her business name – hope can be renewed no matter what difficulties couples face.

When asked about the most critical element missing in troubled relationships, Sara didn't hesitate: communication. She explained that effective communication goes beyond just talking – it involves intentionally noticing and appreciating positive aspects of one's partner rather than fixating on frustrations. She suggested a powerful exercise of looking for traits you love about yourself in your partner, and examining whether traits that frustrate you might actually be mirrored in yourself. This shift toward gratitude and self-awareness creates a positive home environment that nurtures relationship growth and healing.

Perhaps most powerfully, Sara emphasized that couples shouldn't wait until they're at a breaking point to seek help. "Even if you don't wait until you're at the no hope or hopeless state in your relationship or in your life to reach out for help, the sooner you reach out, the sooner you can process and reconcile or renew or gain hope," she advised. This preventative approach to relationship care encapsulates Sara's philosophy – that with proper support, communication tools, and willingness to grow, relationships can become stronger than ever before. For listeners interested in learning more about Hope Renewed Marriage and Family Therapy, Sara can be reached through her website at livehoperenewed.com or by phone at 682-774-3881.

To learn more about Hope Renewed Marriage and Family Therapy go to: https://www.livehoperenewed.com/

Hope Renewed Marriage and Family Therapy

682-774-3881