Dr. Sara Lewis-Stankus, LPC, LMHC

Dr. Sara Lewis-Stankus greets people with calm, practical support for stress, anxiety, relationships, self-esteem, and career concerns. She is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) and a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) with 26 years of experience. Her style is nonjudgmental and focused on helping people change everyday thoughts and habits that hold them back.

She helps people notice the patterns that keep them stuck. In sessions she talks through fears, doubts, and behavior that get in the way of goals. Work often includes building confidence, improving communication, handling conflict, and finding better ways to cope with stress and anxiety.

Her approach draws on several methods to match different needs. Sessions can include practical skill-building from cognitive behavioral ideas, emotion regulation and coping skills inspired by dialectical behavior approaches, and a client-centered stance that follows each person’s pace. She also uses elements from the Gottman Method and EMDR when appropriate to address relationship dynamics and past upsetting memories.

Dr. Lewis-Stankus emphasizes collaboration. She and the person seeking help set clear, doable goals and track progress over time. The aim is steady change through small, repeatable steps people can use in daily life.

Her practice in West Virginia supports English-language clients and she accepts international clients as well. People who want to begin are invited to use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

Approaches that translate to online work

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and following what matters most to the person. It helps people feel heard and decide on goals that make sense for their life. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) looks at everyday thoughts and behaviors and teaches practical skills to change them, which can be practiced between sessions. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) offers concrete tools for managing emotions and improving relationships, useful when stress or impulsivity interfere with daily functioning.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, needs, and preferences and then suggest which methods to try first. Decisions are collaborative and may shift as progress is made.

The biography does not specify exact online formats, so confirm session options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when that suits the day, and remove the need to travel. Many people find that skill practice and behavior changes translate well to remote sessions, and the therapist will help tailor the work to each person’s routine and goals.