Sarah Carlson
MSW Program Director and Assistant Department Head
Sarah Carlson is a licensed clinical social worker in the state of Michigan and earned her MSW from the University of Wisconsin - Madison in 2013. She graduated with her BSW from Northern Michigan University in 2008. Sarah has focused her social work practice in mental health with children and families and has practiced in wilderness therapy, residential care, and community mental health. Her specialization has been in trauma treatment with individuals and families and she is passionate about educating current and future professionals on effective trauma-focused care and trauma-informed practice. She has been instrumental in non-profit and mental health program development and building knowledge of secondary traumatic stress (STS) among direct care workers.
Sarah hopes to contribute to research in the prevention of secondary traumatic stress as well as using the natural environment, relationships, and other methodologies to prevent and treat STS. Sarah believes firmly in the healing power of the natural environment and has brought wilderness and nature into her past and present practice. She plans to integrate this into the new MSW program at NMU as the Upper Peninsula and Marquette County provide a naturally accessible setting to integrate nature into social work education.
Sarah serves on the board of directors and operates the mentor program for a local mountain biking organization for at-risk youth and practices self-care with mountain biking, skiing, snow-shoeing, yoga, and meditation.
