Meet Sarah

Sarah Abbatangelo is a therapist, licensed social worker, food allergy and chronic illness advocate, and a lover of painting, traveling, and peace and quiet (with a good book).

From Patient to Practitioner: A Journey of Understanding

My name is Sarah Abbatangelo, and I understand the weight of living with chronic illness because I carry it too.

As a licensed social worker, advocate, and proud member of the chronic illness community, I've walked the path that many of my clients are just beginning to navigate. My diagnoses read like a medical textbook: Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), Dysautonomia, Asthma, IgE allergies, and Cervical Instability — some discovered in childhood, others revealing themselves in adulthood when I thought I had life figured out.

The Night Everything Changed

Five years ago, a simple meal — a buffalo chicken quesadilla shared with a friend during college — became the catalyst that would reshape my entire relationship with food and my body. While my friend walked away unaffected, I found myself in the bathroom, confused and embarrassed, my body staging what felt like a revolt.

That night marked the beginning of my gluten-free journey, but more importantly, it opened my eyes to the profound emotional toll that dietary restrictions can take on a person's mental health.

Before this incident, I only had IgE allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, and shellfish from age 4. Little did I know how much worse my health could get.

Living the Reality I Treat

Every day, I experience what my clients describe in our sessions:

The anxiety of reading every ingredient label, twice
The social isolation of being "the one with dietary restrictions"
The fatigue that comes not just from managing symptoms, but from the constant vigilance required to stay safe
The grief of losing foods that once brought comfort and joy
The frustration of being misunderstood by well-meaning friends and family

This isn't just my professional expertise speaking — this is my lived experience.

Why MAP Exists

Through my work as a therapist, I've discovered that the most overlooked aspect of chronic illness isn't the physical symptoms — it's the emotional and psychological impact of living with conditions that others can't see or understand.

More Allergies Please (MAP) was born from the recognition that our community needs more than medical management. We need emotional support, practical strategies, and most importantly, we need to know we're not alone in this journey.

My Approach: Therapy That Gets It

When you work with me, you're not just getting a licensed social worker — you're getting someone who:

Understands the panic of accidentally eating something unsafe
Knows the exhaustion of explaining your condition for the hundredth time
Has felt the isolation of watching others eat freely while you calculate risks
Recognizes that "just avoid it" isn't helpful advice when "it" is everywhere

My therapeutic approach combines evidence-based practices with the deep understanding that comes from personal experience. I specialize in helping people navigate:

Emotional regulation when chronic illness feels overwhelming
Anxiety management around food safety and social situations
Grief processing for the life and foods you've had to leave behind
Boundary setting with family, friends, and healthcare providers
Identity reconstruction when illness changes how you see yourself

Beyond the Therapy Room

My advocacy extends beyond individual sessions. I'm committed to:

Education: Helping others understand that dietary restrictions aren't choices or preferences — they're medical necessities
Community building: Creating spaces where people with chronic illness can connect and support each other
Resource development: Providing practical tools and emotional support materials specifically designed for our community
Professional training: Teaching other healthcare providers how to better serve clients with chronic illness and dietary restrictions

The Personal Touch

When I'm not in the therapy room, you'll find me navigating the same challenges as my clients — researching restaurants before going out, packing safe snacks for travel, and yes, sometimes feeling frustrated by the limitations that chronic illness places on daily life.

But I've also learned something powerful: having dietary restrictions doesn't mean having a restricted life.

It means learning to live differently, not less fully.

A Message to Our Community

If you're reading this while feeling overwhelmed by your diagnosis, exhausted by the constant vigilance, or isolated by the lack of understanding from others — I see you. Your struggles are valid. Your feelings are normal. And most importantly, you don't have to figure this out alone.

Whether you're newly diagnosed and feeling lost, or you've been managing chronic illness for years but are struggling with the emotional aspects, I'm here to walk this path with you.

Because sometimes, the most healing thing we can hear is: "Me too. I understand. And it's going to be okay."