Sarah Spurling, LCSW

Sarah Spurling is a licensed clinical social worker who focuses on helping adults who feel overwhelmed, exhausted, or emotionally stuck. She works with people whose thoughts race, motivation is low, or who feel like they are going through the motions. Her style aims to be warm and relational so clients can show up without masking or over-explaining.

Sarah supports adults dealing with anxiety, stress, grief, low self-esteem, trauma and abuse, and LGBT concerns. She also helps people navigating identity and neurodivergence, including autism and late-in-life diagnostic questions. Her practice attends to everyday challenges so progress fits into real life.

Her approach centers on building trust first. Sessions focus on understanding patterns of thinking and daily habits that keep problems stuck. Practical coping tools are introduced and adjusted to fit a person’s routine and needs rather than forcing generic strategies.

Sarah draws from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and existential ideas to shape conversations and exercises. She balances skill teaching with a supportive therapeutic relationship to help people feel more grounded over time.

With three years of clinical experience and an Illinois LCSW, Sarah offers focused, straightforward help for adults facing complicated emotions and life changes. She encourages small, sustainable steps that can make daily life feel more manageable.

Therapeutic approaches used in online work

Sarah commonly uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting driven by them. ACT emphasizes values-based action so clients can move toward what matters, even when emotions are strong.

She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify and shift unhelpful thinking patterns and the everyday habits that maintain distress. CBT sessions often include concrete exercises and small behavior changes that can reduce anxiety and improve mood.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist works collaboratively to figure out which methods match a person’s goals, needs, and preferences. That choice can change over time as progress is made or priorities shift.

Confirm the available session formats before booking since specific online options are not listed here. Many people appreciate that online therapy can fit into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and make it easier to keep work and care responsibilities on track. Licensed professionals can adapt techniques used in sessions so tools and practice fit into everyday routines.