Sarah Cardenas

If you're a parent worried about your child, a mom who's been running on empty, or someone fighting your way back from addiction, you're in the right place.

I'm Sarah Cardenas, a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW-C) and the founder of Two Sparrows Counseling in Bel Air. I work with children ages 4 and up, with moms, and with adults in recovery from substance use, gambling, or other addictions. I also offer Christian counseling for clients who want their faith to be part of our work together.

I'm a mom myself, so I know how much kids need support to grow, and how easily a mom's own needs slide to the bottom of the list. I also grew up in central Maryland and have seen what addiction does to families and communities here. Helping people come back from it is personal for me.

I'm warm, down-to-earth, and strengths-based. I meet you where you are, not where anyone thinks you should be.

With kids, I use play, art, storytelling, and movement to help them express what they can't yet put into words. With teens and adults, I draw on CBT, experiential therapy, and values-based techniques to build practical skills, and I keep the conversation honest and human.

Clients tell me I'm easy to talk to, and I hope you feel that from the first session: a safe, steady place to land.

For children: I start by meeting with you as the parent or guardian, without your child. We'll go over paperwork, talk through your child's history, and hear what's bringing them in from your perspective. Then I meet with your child. We go over confidentiality in kid-friendly terms and spend the first sessions simply getting to know each other, with no pressure.

For teens and adults: We'll start with paperwork, including informed consent and mandatory reporting guidelines. Then I'll ask about your background, your health, and your life, and what's bringing you in now. My goal from the start is the kind of real rapport that makes the rest of the work possible.

I offer in-person sessions in Bel Air and telehealth, with evening and Saturday availability.