Dr. Sakara Wages

Dr. Sakara Wages is a CCS service provider with deep roots in critical pedagogy, trauma-informed care, and culturally responsive support. She holds a Ph.D. and MSW from UW–Madison and blends academic expertise with real-world experience to support youth, adults, and families across several CCS service arrays: Psychoeducation, Wellness Management and Recovery, Family Psychoeducation, and Employment Skill Training.

Sakara’s approach to psychoeducation centers anti-oppressive practice, helping individuals explore how race, identity, and systemic barriers shape their wellness journeys. She uses education as a tool for healing and transformation, often drawing from Black Feminisms and Critical Theory to guide conversations that reconnect people to their self-worth.

In recovery and wellness work, Sakara collaborates with participants to create practical, culturally grounded plans that support emotional regulation, self-advocacy, and identity development. Her background as an educator allows her to make complex ideas relatable and empowering.

With families, Sakara offers compassionate support that helps caregivers and children strengthen communication, understand behavioral patterns, and build trust—especially for those who feel unseen in traditional systems.

She also supports youth and young adults in developing employment and academic goals, navigating barriers, and embracing their professional identities with confidence and clarity.

As founder of Subversive Social Work, Sakara champions equity and liberation in all she does. Her experience teaching college-level courses and her commitment to anti-oppressive care make her a powerful ally on any care team.