Sarah Persha founded Pacia Life Portland (and Bend Oregon) from 2015 - August of 2019. A decision was reached to move Pacia Life's West coast location from Portland to San Diego. 

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Sarah still coaches young adults as a GAP year and Education Specialist. She is also an Educational Consultant and you can learn more about her services HERE. 

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As Founder of Pacia Life Portland, a Pacia Life Collaborative, Sarah Persha, MA, Young Adult Transition Specialist, is a mental health specialist, GAP specialist, dean of Pacia Life Resource Coaches and Educational Consultant. Sarah has worked with teens and young adults and their families for over 25 years in both schools and programs and in private and collaborative practice in Bend, Lake Oswego, and Seattle.
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For Emerging Young Adults, Sarah provides the coaching and support services often needed to successfully navigate the task of healthy independence in the launching years: high school completion, continued Life Skills curriculum, college, and career development, internships, vocational exploration, study abroad and Gap year opportunities.

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In addition, working with emerging young adults who are striving for social and emotional health as well as career exploration, Sarah has created unique coaching and support services that invites each young adult to design their personal plan that is right at that moment in time. This model offers a point of performance executive function support while guiding young adults into community integration and contribution, connecting them with local resources and mentors in their areas of interest for greater understanding and exposure in both directions, both for the student and for the community of mentors.

Originally from San Francisco Bay Area, daughter of a wooden boat builder and a former airline executive turned artist, Sarah traveled in Europe, Middle East, Israel, sailed the Mediterranean, driving around Mexico and Canada, and settled in Oregon ready for college.

Portland Community College and Lewis and Clark were her undergraduate campuses, then the Leadership Institute of Seattle at Bastyr University for her Master’s degree in family systems theory/psychotherapy.

Sarah serves the non-profit American Gap Association, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, interfacing with experiential education programs worldwide and educating teams of global education leaders on current issues and trends relating to emerging young adults.

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Sarah maintains a 28-year relationship with IECA (Independent Educational Consultants Association) that began as an admission director, and now as Professional Member and committee member.
HECA membership (Higher Education Consultants Association) and NATSAP affiliate membership (National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs) are maintained yearly.

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In addition, she is certified with national fitness organizations and adds her experience in healthy physical fitness practices to her team leadership and coaching sessions with her students.

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She is an accomplished artist (jewelry designer and textile arts) and outdoor enthusiast.