Sarri Gilman’s Brief Bio

I have lived and worked on Whidbey Island, in the Langley community since 1986. I raised my family here and I have strong ties to this place.

I work as a private practice therapist part time, and part of the time I work on issues that are important to me in the world. Being a therapist is deeply satisfying. There is a momentum in a therapeutic contract with clients and it allows me to join with people eager to make changes. I am skilled at navigating through pain and it is satisfying to travel with people to the other side of pain. I enjoy focusing my attention one a single person or a single family during therapy sessions. Watching someone heal or have an insight is a profound experience, unlike any other.

Community work is a different experience than private practice. In community work I get to apply my skills to large-scale issues in size and scope and I create multiple partnerships to tackle the task at hand.

 I am the founder of Cocoon House, a teen shelter and housing program for youth who have run away, are chemically addicted, and who have been abused. I served as Executive Director of Cocoon House for ten years. 

After leaving Cocoon House, I was given a one million dollar grant to work for three years to improve conditions for children in family shelters. I worked with a housing authority and ten family shelter programs to improve their services for children who were exposed to homelessness. This model was the first of its kind and leveraged tremendous ongoing support for the children in shelters.

Presently, I am the Executive Director of Leadership Snohomish County. I do this as a part-time job, 15 hours per week.  I work with leaders form different companies, seeking to identify ways they can make a difference in their communities. This is a year round project.

In addition, I am a regular columnist for The Herald. My column is now in its sixth year and the focus is on living with meaning and purpose.

I have raised twin daughters, and two step-children. I have a wonderful husband and I feel blessed. I enjoy songwriting, knitting, swimming, and time with my constant companion Chihuahua, Romeo.

I see clients in my office in Langley, Washington.