Name: Sarah R. Branch
Title: Founder, Chief Executive Officer
Company: Crash Box Therapy
Location: Madison, WI
Education: Associate Degree in Human Services, Madison Area Technical College (2018)
Career History: Chief Executive Officer, Founder, Crash Box Therapy (2024-Present); Owner, Earthly Temptations (2020-Present); Case Manager; Human Services Worker; Certified Nursing Assistant; Retail
Sarah R. Branch has established a nearly 20-year career in healthcare and human services, combining experience in caregiving, case management and community support with an entrepreneurial focus on holistic wellness. As the founder and chief executive officer of Crash Box Therapy, established in 2024, Ms. Branch oversees operations that provide supportive environments for stress relief, reflection and emotional well-being. She also owns Earthly Temptations, founded in 2020, extending her commitment to wellness.
Crash Box Therapy reflects Ms. Branch’s focus on creating spaces where individuals can heal, develop self-acceptance, and learn constructive ways to manage stress and frustration. She manages marketing, social media, community outreach, partnerships, client bookings, inventory and staff scheduling, while maintaining the space. In addition, Ms. Branch guides clients through stress-relief activities, leads meditation sessions and facilitates journaling sessions, combining executive responsibilities with direct client engagement.
Establishing Crash Box Therapy and Earthly Temptations represents a significant professional milestone for Ms. Branch. She identifies the creation of both businesses as her greatest accomplishment; each began as an idea and developed into an organization serving the Madison community. Her work has received recognition through emerging business honors from the Madison Black Chamber of Commerce in 2020, a Wisconsin Economic Development Marketplace nomination in 2023, a People’s Choice Award nomination in 2024, and a Rising Star nomination from Destination Madison for the 2025-2026 year. Just this year, BRAVA Magazine named her among Women to Watch, and she was featured in “Sarah Branch: Breaking the Mental Wellness Mold.”
Prior to entrepreneurship, Ms. Branch developed a service-oriented career shaped by caregiving and human services. Growing up with two family members with special needs and learning from her mother that individuals should serve others laid the foundation for her professional approach. Ms. Branch became a certified nursing assistant while in high school and subsequently worked in healthcare, human services, case management and retail. These experiences strengthened her commitment to connecting individuals with resources that support fulfilling lives.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Ms. Branch contributes to the Madison community as a mentor to local business owners and a volunteer with Black Girl Magic, Urban Triage and Black Women’s Wellness. She maintains memberships with the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, the Fitchburg Chamber of Commerce, Destination Madison and Dane Buy Local.
Ms. Branch earned an associate degree in human services from Madison Area Technical College in 2018. Her personal interests, including gardening, herbal products, painting, journaling and writing poetry, reflect her connection to creative and restorative practices.
Reflecting on her career, Ms. Branch attributes her success to maintaining an open mind and heart, remaining spiritually aligned with her purpose and drawing strength from her faith, ancestors and personal experiences. She believes these experiences have fortified the empathy needed to help others navigate hardship. Looking ahead, Ms. Branch plans to develop partnerships with youth-serving organizations and pursue motivational speaking, using her experiences to encourage others to build confidence, pursue their purpose and work toward greater well-being.