LPCC, 5 years of experience
New to Grow
I’m Sarai Tovar, a licensed therapist dedicated to providing compassionate, trauma informed care that fosters healing and personal growth. I specialize in crisis intervention and draw from proven, evidence based therapies tailored to your unique needs. I’m passionate about working with individuals across all ages who are navigating life’s mental health challenges—whether it’s anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, grief, anger, personal growth, or the unique experiences faced by members of the United States Armed Forces. My approach is collaborative, supportive, and focused on helping clients build resilience, strengthen relationships, and move toward meaningful change.
In our first session, my goal is to create a safe, comfortable, and judgment free space where you can begin to share your story at your own pace. We’ll spend time getting to know each other and discussing what brought you to therapy, what you hope to gain, and any concerns or questions you may have. I’ll also explain how the therapy process works, review confidentiality, and outline what you can expect from me as your therapist. Together, we’ll begin to identify your goals and start building a plan tailored to your unique needs. You don’t need to have everything figured out — this first meeting is simply about establishing trust, understanding your experiences, and taking the first step toward healing and growth.
What sets my approach apart is that I combine trauma-informed care with evidence based therapies tailored to each client’s unique needs. I focus on creating a safe, collaborative, and empowering space where clients feel heard, validated, and supported as they navigate life’s challenges. I draw from modalities such as T-CBT, DBT, ACT, EMDR, and crisis intervention strategies, integrating them to meet each client where they are. I emphasize practical skills, emotional regulation, and self compassion, helping clients develop tools they can use both in and outside of therapy.
I’m best suited to work with individuals who are ready to take meaningful steps toward healing and growth, even if they’re feeling overwhelmed or uncertain about where to start. I often work with clients who are facing a crisis, anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, grief, anger, or the effects of trauma, as well as those seeking personal development, stronger relationships, or emotional balance.
My therapeutic approach is grounded in trauma informed care. Over the years, I’ve worked with many clients whose presenting concerns; such as anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, or emotional dysregulation—were connected to past traumatic experiences. Understanding how trauma impacts the brain, body, and behavior has shaped the way I build rapport and structure treatment. I apply the core principles of trauma informed care—safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, and empowerment—in every aspect of therapy. From the very first session, I focus on creating a sense of physical and emotional safety, being transparent about the therapeutic process, and allowing clients to move at their own pace.
In my practice, I use ACT techniques to help clients who struggle with anxiety, depression, trauma, and life transitions. I guide clients in developing greater awareness of their thoughts and emotions through mindfulness exercises, while also helping them identify and clarify their core values. From there, we work collaboratively on setting realistic goals and taking committed action toward those values, even in the presence of discomfort.
In therapy, I use CBT to help clients identify unhelpful thinking patterns, challenge cognitive distortions, and replace them with more balanced and realistic perspectives. I also incorporate behavioral interventions, such as exposure work, activity scheduling, and skill building exercises, to support lasting behavioral change.
n my practice, I integrate DBT both as a structured treatment model and as a set of flexible, skills-based interventions. I often teach and reinforce the four core DBT skill modules: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. For example, I help clients develop mindfulness practices to increase awareness of their internal experiences without judgment, and distress tolerance skills to navigate crises without resorting to harmful behaviors.
I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy and use it as part of my trauma-focused treatment approach. In my practice, I begin by ensuring clients have a strong foundation of stabilization and coping skills before moving into trauma reprocessing. I use the standard eight-phase EMDR protocol, starting with history-taking and treatment planning, followed by preparation, assessment, desensitization, installation, body scan, closure, and reevaluation. Throughout this process, I focus on maintaining safety, trust, and collaboration, ensuring clients feel in control and supported at all times.