“Explore your curiosity, because that’s where you’re going to find you.”

In this episode, I sit down with Sara Whitley, licensed clinical social worker and owner of Complete Peace, to explore her journey from growing up in a hardworking family in Indiana to building a thriving private therapy practice in North Carolina. From her first job at KFC to navigating cross-country moves and career pivots, Sara’s story is one of resilience, curiosity, and faith in action.

We talk about her decision to leave behind the safety of a government role to start her own practice, how she’s built a mission-driven business rooted in compassion, and the challenges of balancing care for others with caring for herself. Sara also shares how her husband Jason’s recent health crisis reshaped her perspective on strength, priorities, and what it truly means to find peace in chaos.

Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro

(01:42) Early influences and work ethic

(03:21) Educational journey and early career

(07:49) Adventures and career shifts

(20:51) Building a career in social work

(21:06) Starting a private practice

(26:26) Navigating stress and mental health

(26:53) Challenges in the mental health industry

(31:41) Personal reflections on family dynamics

(34:51) Her husband Jason’s medical crisis

(49:38) Advice for aspiring social workers

Connect with my guest:

Sara Whitley, LCSW on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/s4r4whitley/

Check out Complete Peace: https://www.completepeace.net/

Connect with me:

Ami Graves on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amigraves/
The People of Work on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepeopleofwork/

Explore The People of Work: https://www.thepeopleofwork.com/