Sara Sutherland, LMSW

Sara Sutherland is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people manage stress, anxiety, grief, depression, and life changes. She emphasizes being seen and heard, and she works to create a genuine, supportive connection. She aims to help clients make practical changes and grow toward who they want to be.

Sara studied social work and psychology at Hope College and completed a master’s degree in clinical social work at Western Michigan University. She brings eight years of experience from roles in private practice, health care, and hospice settings. That variety has shaped her ability to support people facing chronic or terminal illness, end-of-life concerns, and caregiving stress.

In sessions she uses straightforward methods that fit each person’s needs. She draws on Client-Centered Therapy to build trust, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to address unhelpful thoughts and habits, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy to teach practical coping skills. Mindfulness and Emotionally-Focused ideas also inform her work when they match a client’s goals.

Her approach is collaborative and down-to-earth. She listens first, then helps people set small, realistic steps for change. Conversations focus on what matters day to day, such as managing emotions, improving communication, or handling triggers.

Sara works with a wide range of concerns including relationship and intimacy issues, substance struggles, parenting challenges, ADHD, bipolar mood concerns, body image, and isolation. People who want plainspoken support and tangible tools to change habits often find her style useful.

How her approaches guide online work

Sara often uses Client-Centered Therapy to create a warm, nonjudgmental space where people feel heard. This approach helps when someone needs acceptance and understanding before making changes.

She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify and change unhelpful thoughts and everyday habits. CBT is useful for anxiety, depression, and stress because it focuses on clear, practical steps. Dialectical Behavior Therapy techniques appear in her work to teach emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will listen to your goals and preferences and suggest methods that match what you want to work on. Together you can try approaches and adjust them based on what is helpful.

If you prefer online therapy, confirm current session options before booking since formats are not specified here. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It can also let you use video or audio depending on bandwidth, or schedule sessions that better fit a workday break.