Chair

Sarah Gaer is a suicide loss survivor and holds a Masters Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She has twenty five years’ experience in the field of mental health care. She is a proud alumna of Holyoke Community College Class of ’98 and Antioch New England University Class of ’09. Her graduate degree work was focused on military veterans and trauma.

Sarah has worked as an outpatient clinician, on a crisis team, in residential settings both for those with chronic mental health challenges and substance use disorders and with youth. She led a team of crisis counselors following the June 1st, 2011 tornado in Western and Central MA through a FEMA Crisis Counseling Program (CCP) and was the Senior Team Leader for the FEMA funded CCP responding to Covid-19 in Massachusetts.

Director of Media

Michael McGrath is a licensed mental health counselor with over 10 years of experience in helping people who struggle with suicidal thoughts. He has worked in various settings, including residential and outpatient treatment programs, and has experience working with children and adolescents. He is trained in the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) Framework, an evidence-based intervention that focuses on building a collaborative relationship with the client in order to help them navigate their way through moments of profound distress. Michael is passionate about supporting individuals in finding hope and meaning in their lives, and empowering them to cope with their challenges in a safe and effective way.