- Years in practice
- 13
- Credentials
- LMHC
- Licensed in
- Florida, Washington
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Stress, Anxiety
- Focus
- Addictions
- Focus
- Self esteem
About Sara
Sara Van Slyke is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with 13 years of clinical experience. She practices from Washington and works with adults on concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, and parenting challenges. She emphasizes that each person knows their own story and brings strengths to the work of change.
In sessions she uses clear, practical talk and focused techniques to help clients build skills. She draws on cognitive behavioral ideas to address unhelpful thinking and behavior, and uses mindfulness to help manage intense emotions.
Background and approach
Sara also blends client-centered listening so people feel heard while they try new approaches. Sara aims to make starting therapy simpler and less daunting. She acknowledges that taking the first step takes courage and she helps people set small, manageable goals.
Conversations often include concrete strategies to reduce stress, improve sleep, and build motivation. For parents juggling many demands, she offers ways to handle anger, parenting strain, and relationship challenges without adding pressure. She can help with grief, trauma-related reactions, intimacy issues, eating concerns, bipolar management, and ADHD-related struggles.
The focus stays on practical tools that fit daily life. Sessions may include short skill practice, guided reflection, and collaborative planning. Sara helps clients track progress and adjust plans as needs change.
Her approach is straightforward and aimed at helping people feel more capable in their day-to-day roles.
What Sara works with
Everything Sara lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Sara helps people with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Eating disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- ADHD
Approaches Sara lists
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Existential Therapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Internal Family Systems
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
Practical approaches for online support
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and understanding each person's goals and strengths. It helps people feel heard while they explore changes and decide what matters most.Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect. It uses simple exercises and homework to reduce anxiety, manage mood, and change unhelpful habits.
Dialectical behavior therapy, or DBT, teaches concrete skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and better communication. It is useful when strong emotions or recurring conflicts get in the way of daily life.
Finding the best approach is collaborative. The therapist will work with the client to try methods that match goals, needs, and comfort. Plans are adjusted over time based on what helps most.
Online therapy offers several practical benefits. Video calls let people meet face to face from different locations. Phone sessions are a good option when bandwidth is limited or a camera isn’t preferred. Live chat and text-based messaging support brief check-ins, quick skill reminders, and ongoing encouragement between sessions. These formats make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules and to keep momentum between meetings.
Questions people ask about Sara
What concerns does she address?
Sara works with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, self-esteem, parenting challenges, relationship and intimacy issues, trauma and grief, eating concerns, anger, career stress, bipolar, and ADHD.
What is her therapy style like?
She blends client-centered listening with practical techniques. Sessions focus on skill building, problem solving, and supporting each person's strengths.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 13 years of professional experience supporting people through a wide range of concerns.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
Sara is an LMHC licensed in Florida and Washington and practices from Washington.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
How are sessions conducted?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.
What does therapy cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with her?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule based on the therapist's availability.
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