Welcome – I’m William Sawyer, MSW, LICSW, LCSW Online Therapy for Individuals and Couples in Minnesota & Florida I’m a therapist who help people and couples when life feels really hard. Most of the people I work with are men and women in relationships with each other. Many come to me when they’re feeling hurt, lost, or scared their relationship might fall apart. If you and your partner are fighting all the time, feeling distant, or just can’t seem to fix things, I want you to know you’re not alone-and things can get better. Even though I’m part of the LGBTQ+ community myself, I work with all kinds of people. I have a lot of experience helping men and women who are married or dating each other, as well as people from different backgrounds, including LGBTQ+ folks. My way of helping is gentle, caring, and never judgmental. When you’re stressed out, anxious, or overwhelmed, I help you slow down, breathe, and see what’s really going on. We’ll talk through your worries and pain, and I’ll give you tools you can use right away to feel calm and in control. My approach helps couples talk without yelling, listen without shutting down, and start feeling close again-even when things seem hopeless. I also help people who are dealing with anxiety, depression, ADHD, or feeling different from others. No matter what you’re facing, my goal is to help you feel safe, understood, and less alone. Together, we’ll find ways to ease your stress and bring back hope. If you feel like you’re at the end of your rope, or just want someone to talk to who gets it, I’m here for you. We’ll work together to heal old wounds and help you feel stronger-both as a person and as a couple. If you’re ready to feel better, let’s talk.
Starting Out: What You’ll Feel-You might come to therapy feeling really stressed, sad, or just plain tired of fighting. Maybe you’re worried all the time, or you and your partner can’t stop arguing. You might feel like you’re always distracted, can’t finish things, or like nobody really “gets” what you’re going through. Sometimes, life just feels too heavy to carry by yourself. You’re probably hoping for some relief-maybe even right away. You want to feel calmer, more understood, and less alone. You want things to get better, but you’re not sure how. What You’ll Do-You’ll Show Up and Be Honest You don’t have to have all the answers. Just come as you are. Tell me what’s really going on, even if it’s hard to say. You might talk about feeling anxious, sad, or angry. You might talk about fights with your partner, trouble at work, or feeling different from everyone else. You’ll Try New Things We’ll talk about ways to handle stress, calm down when you’re upset, and talk about your feelings without blowing up or shutting down. You’ll practice these skills in real life. Sometimes you’ll try something new and it won’t work right away-and that’s okay! We’ll keep trying together. You’ll Notice Patterns You’ll start to see how your thoughts, feelings, and actions are connected. Maybe you’ll notice that you get upset when you feel ignored, or that you shut down when you’re overwhelmed. We’ll look at these patterns together, so you can understand yourself better. You’ll Make Choices If you’re in a relationship, you and your partner will decide what you want-whether that’s working things out, changing how you talk to each other, or sometimes, deciding to part ways in a healthy way. If you’re here on your own, you’ll decide what kind of life you want and what steps you’re willing to take to get there. What I’ll Do I’ll Listen Without Judgment From the first session, you’ll have a safe space where you can say anything. I won’t judge you or tell you how you “should” feel. I’ll listen closely to what you say-and what you don’t say-so you feel truly heard. I’ll Use Proven Approaches I use tools that really work, like Internal Family Systems (IFS) to help you understand your feelings, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy to help you set and reach goals, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for changing unhelpful thoughts and habits. For couples, I use Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and the Gottman Method to help you talk, listen, and solve problems together-even if you’v
What Makes Me Different as a Therapist for Individuals and Couples If you’re looking for a therapist, you might wonder what actually makes someone great at this work-especially when it comes to helping individuals and couples. For me, my greatest strength is that I truly see my clients. I make it my mission to pay close attention, to listen deeply, and to create a space where you can tell your story in your own way and at your own pace. When I work with couples, my focus is on helping both partners really see and hear each other again. I know that sometimes, the most powerful thing I can do is teach people how to be kind to each other-to talk, to listen, and to find out what they actually like about one another. It sounds simple, but learning to be genuinely nice and open with each other can be life-changing for a relationship. What I Bring to the Table Empathy: I do my best to step into your shoes and understand what you’re feeling, without any judgment. I want you to feel safe and valued-especially if you’ve experienced trauma or struggle with anxious attachment. Active Listening: I listen closely, not just to your words but also to your feelings and body language. My goal is to understand what you’re really saying, even when it’s hard to express. Helping You Connect: For couples, I’ll guide you to talk in new ways, so you can express yourselves honestly and kindly. I’ll teach you practical skills for having real conversations, rebuilding trust, and finding friendship again. Patience and Flexibility: I know that change doesn’t happen overnight, and I’m here to support you at your own pace, adapting my approach to fit your unique needs. Fairness and Non-Judgment: I don’t take sides or assign blame. My job is to make sure everyone feels heard and to help you work together toward solutions. How I Work My greatest strength is that I genuinely see you. Whether you come in alone or as a couple, I’ll help you tell your story and learn how to really listen to each other, too. I want to help you be kind to yourself and to those you care about, to communicate openly, and to discover what truly matters in your relationships. In simple terms: I help people talk, listen, and be nice-because that’s where real change starts.
You may be feeling like life is just too much right now. Maybe you wake up every day with a heavy feeling in your chest, or you go to bed with your mind spinning about things you wish you could change. You might be worried all the time, even about little things, and it feels like your brain just won’t turn off. Or maybe you feel sad, like you’re stuck in a dark cloud that won’t go away, no matter what you do. If you’re in a relationship, you might feel like you and your partner are always fighting or ignoring each other. Maybe you used to be close, but now it feels like you’re just roommates. You could be scared that your relationship is falling apart, and you don’t know how to fix it. Sometimes you might even wonder if you’ll ever feel happy together again. Some days, you might feel angry for no reason, or you get upset really easily. Other days, you just feel numb, like nothing matters. You might even feel like you’re different from everyone else, like you don’t fit in or nobody really understands you. If you have trouble paying attention, finishing things, or remembering stuff, you might feel frustrated or embarrassed, especially if people get mad at you for it. You may have tried to handle things by yourself. Maybe you’ve tried to just “be positive” or ignore your feelings, but it hasn’t worked. You might feel alone, like nobody gets what you’re going through, even if you have people around you. I understand how hard this can be. I know that life can feel messy and painful, and that asking for help can be scary. But I also know that things can get better. I’m a therapist who helps people and couples when things feel really tough. Most of the people I work with are men and women in relationships with each other, but I help all kinds of people, including those who feel different or have ADHD, anxiety, or depression. My approach is gentle and caring. I never judge you or tell you to “just get over it.” I listen and help you figure out why you feel the way you do. I’ll teach you tools to handle stress, calm down when you’re upset, and talk about your feelings without yelling or shutting down. If you’re in a relationship, I can help you and your partner talk and listen to each other, even if you’ve been fighting for a long time. I’ll help you remember what made you close in the first place and show you ways to solve problems together. If you’re feeling anxious, I’ll help you find ways to stop the worry from taking over your life. If you’re feeling sa
As a counselor, I use Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy to help individuals and couples unlock their inner worlds and relationships. By exploring the diverse “parts” within each person, I guide clients toward healing, self-awareness, and compassionate leadership. In individual therapy, this journey fosters personal growth and resilience. In couples counseling, it reveals how internal dynamics shape interactions, leading to deeper empathy and more harmonious connections. My approach creates a safe, transformative space for clients to discover their authentic selves and nurture more fulfilling relationships.
As a couples counselor, I ignite connection and spark transformation using the Gottman Method. This powerful approach helps partners decode each other’s love languages, diffuse conflicts, and reignite the spark that brought them together. By shifting from criticism to curiosity and defensiveness to dialogue, couples learn to build a fortress of trust, intimacy, and shared adventure. Together, we create a blueprint for a relationship that’s vibrant, resilient, and filled with laughter and joy.
I am deeply committed to providing compassionate, gender-affirming care and have dedicated over 200 additional CEU hours to specialized training in this area. My education and experience equip me to support individuals exploring their gender identity, navigating transitions, or seeking a safe space to be authentically themselves. I firmly believe in the importance of affirming care and strive to create a welcoming, nonjudgmental environment where clients feel seen, respected, and empowered on their journey.
I approach anxiety and depression through the lens of trauma-informed care, recognizing how past experiences can shape current struggles. By creating a safe and supportive environment, I help clients explore underlying triggers with compassion and without judgment. Together, we build practical tools for emotional regulation, self-awareness, and resilience, empowering clients to reclaim their sense of control and well-being. My goal is to honor each person’s unique story while fostering healing and growth at their own pace.