(she/her)
Hi all, I’m Sara! I’ve spent the past 9 years working in the mental health field, across inpatient, outpatient, emergency room, and residential levels of care. I am licensed in 4 states (MN, IL, WI, and MA) I strive to create a space where individuals feel safe, understood, and empowered to explore their experiences with curiosity and self-compassion. My passion for this work comes not only from professional training but also from personal experiences that have deepened my appreciation for resilience, compassion, and authentic human connection. I also believe therapy doesn’t have to feel heavy all the time—when appropriate, humor can be a meaningful part of the healing process and help make difficult conversations feel a little more approachable. I specialize in working with individuals experiencing OCD, anxiety, and hoarding disorder, and frequently use evidence-based approaches such as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) to help clients build confidence in facing fears and reclaiming their lives.
Your first session is an opportunity for us to get to know each other and begin building a comfortable, supportive therapeutic relationship. We will discuss what brought you to therapy, the challenges you have been experiencing, and what you hope to achieve from our work together. This is also the place for you to ask questions! Therapy can be overwhelming, and I want this to be a place where you feel heard and supported.
Many clients come to therapy feeling ashamed of their thoughts, behaviors, or struggles. I prioritize creating a space where you can talk openly without fear of judgment. My goal is for clients to feel understood, supported, and safe while working through difficult experiences. While I bring structure and direction to our work—especially when using approaches like ERP—I also tailor treatment to each person’s unique needs, pace, and comfort level. Beyond symptom relief, I help clients build skills that allow them to manage uncertainty, regulate emotions, and navigate future challenges with greater confidence.
I am best positioned to work with adults who feel stuck in cycles of anxiety, self-doubt, emotional dysregulation, or overcontrol, and who are motivated to better understand themselves and make meaningful change. Many of the clients I work with are high-functioning, insightful individuals who appear capable on the outside but experience significant internal distress, such as chronic worry, perfectionism, guilt, shame, or difficulty trusting themselves or others. Ultimately, I work best with clients who are open to reflection, willing to engage in skill-building, and ready to take an active role in their healing process—even if they feel unsure, overwhelmed, or apprehensive at the start.
Top specialties
Anxiety
Obsessive-Compulsive (OCD)
Phobias
Other specialties
Coping Skills
Depression
I identify as
White
Woman
Adults (18 to 64)
Illinois
Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)
I have been practicing ERP for the last 5 years. I attempt to take an educational approach by explaining and providing examples before having a client work with me to create their exposure hierarchy and rate the level of discomfort for exposure. During the session, we will spend some time doing exposure, which will include some quiet time to sit with the discomfort and then process after the exposure is complete.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
ACT is one of my favorite modalities as it really focuses on acceptance of our internal experiences, committing to more value-aligned behaviors, and taking action (doing the hard things!). There are a lot of great metaphors used in this modality that resonate with people. This modality also ties into the ERP work very nicely.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is a practical and effective approach that helps people understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and behaviors. When we become aware of these patterns, it becomes easier to make sense of our experiences and respond to them in healthier ways. Spending time with a client to process their experience will help gain more insight into them as a person.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
DBT is used to help clients build practical skills for managing intense emotions, improving relationships, and responding to stress in healthier ways. DBT focuses on learning tools in four main areas: mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. In sessions, we work together to understand patterns that are causing distress and practice specific skills that can help you respond more effectively in difficult moments. The goal is to balance acceptance of your current experiences with making meaningful changes that support the life you want to live.
5 ratings with written reviews
May 19, 2026
She treats you like a human she doesn't make you feel weird. She's able to help you but do it with humor and laughter. Makes talking to her very easy feels like its easier to talk to her then any other therapist I have had before. Sweet and kind, makes yo feel safe.
May 12, 2026
Above everything she’s been so real. She meets me where I’m at while challenging me. It feels so natural and makes me feel very seen.
May 2, 2026
Sara is able to blend humor and words of encouragement together. She is able to help me while also making me feel very relaxed and at ease talking to her. She's great at communicating and hasn't canceled an appointment. I have had past issues with providers canceling at the last minute. But Sara reassured me during my first appointment that she's not that kind of person. I can trust her and talk to her about anything.