Licensed Independent clinical social worker
Meet Sara
Sara Lassig, LICSW, PhD, MA, ACHP-SW, HEC-C, is a licensed independent clinical social worker, therapist, educator, and advance care planning specialist with nearly two decades of experience. She is a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Social Worker and a Certified Health Care Ethicist.
Dr. Lassig has extensive experience supporting individuals living with chronic and terminal illnesses — including but not limited to dementia, cancer, heart and lung disease, and Parkinson's disease as well as the family members and caregivers who love and support them. She brings nuanced expertise in helping caregivers navigate the emotional, practical, and ethical complexities inherent in caregiving and family systems.
For more than 20 years, Sara has presented and taught at the university level and local, state, and national levels on topics including caregiving, grief and loss, ambiguous loss, dementia care, and serious illness. She also provides clinical supervision for social workers and consultation for professionals seeking to deepen their skills in these areas.
A passionate advocate for advance care planning, Sara empowers and assists adults of all ages including those who consider themselves healthy to complete advance directives so their values and wishes are clearly understood and honored.
As a family caregiver herself, Dr. Lassig understands firsthand the challenges and complexities of navigating serious illness, family dynamics, grief, loss, and caregiving. This lived experience is woven into everything she does bringing both professional expertise and genuine compassion to every client she serves.
Expertise & Training
Education
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Ph.D., Family Social Science, University of Minnesota (2008)
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HEC-C (Certified Health Care Ethicists)
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M.S.W., Social Work, University of Minnesota (2008)
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M.A., Family Social Science- Gerontology, University of Minnesota (2006)
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B.S., Psychology (Gerontology minor), University of Wisconsin – LaCrosse (2002)
Clinical Training
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APHSW-C (Advanced Palliative Hospice Social Worker, Certified)
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LICSW, Social Work, State of Minnesota (2010-present)
Specializations
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Grief and bereavement (including anticipatory grief and ambiguous loss)
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Loss related to illness, disability, or life transitions
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End-of-life support and emotional preparation
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Advance care planning and advance directives
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Family caregiving stress, burnout, and role transitions
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Supporting families navigating dementia and cognitive decline
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Serious illness support (for individuals, couples, and families)
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Communication and decision-making during medical crises
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Legacy work and meaning-making
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Chronic illness adjustment
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Caregiver–care recipient relationship dynamics
Beyond the Office
When I'm not working, you'll find me fully immersed in the "brutiful" chaos of life. I'm a proud mom to two school-age kids who keep me laughing, humbled, and forever on my toes. I also assist in the daily care of my mom who is living with late-stage dementia and is cared for by my dad as a primary caregiver a role that has deepened my understanding of love, grief, and the quiet strength it takes to show up every day.
I'm a weight room regular and a volleyball enthusiast, movement keeps me grounded and reminds me that our bodies carry so much of our story. I'm a firm believer in the power of relationships across generations, and I actively seek out and nurture connections with people whose life experiences look very different from my own.
Social justice isn't just something I care about, it's something I live. I'm committed to showing up in my community, using my voice, and doing the ongoing work of building a more equitable world.
These experiences don't just shape who I am as a person they shape how I show up for my clients.