- Stress and anxiety
- Addiction support
- Relationship work
About Sara
Sara Hoesly is a licensed mental health counselor, MA LMHC and a licensed professional counselor, VA LPC, with 17 years of experience. She helps people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, anger, relationship and family concerns, trauma and abuse, grief, parenting challenges, intimacy issues, self-esteem struggles, bipolar disorder, and major life changes.
Sara trained in psychology at SUNY Albany and completed graduate degrees at Columbia University in psychological counseling. She has worked in outpatient mental health and addiction treatment centers, day treatment programs, and as a contractor for the Department of Children and Families. That mix of settings gives her experience with both individual and group work.
Her style is practical and collaborative. She works with clients to set goals and choose steps that fit their daily life. The client’s perspective guides decisions about pacing, focuses, and what to try next.
In sessions she draws on evidence-based therapeutic techniques and adapts them to the situation. That might look like learning skills for managing strong emotion, practicing different ways to respond in relationships, or creating plans for coping with cravings and relapse risks.
Sara emphasizes straightforward conversation and clear steps. She helps people talk through what’s getting in the way of changes they want to make. If you want a therapist who offers experience across addiction, mood, and anger-related concerns, she may be a fit.
How her approaches translate to online work
Evidence-based techniques she uses focus on practical skills and problem solving. One common approach teaches concrete emotion regulation and coping skills for strong feelings like anger and anxiety. This helps people notice triggers, slow down their reaction, and try alternative responses.Another approach emphasizes behavioral planning and relapse prevention for addictions. That involves identifying risky situations, building routines, and rehearsing specific steps to reduce cravings or avoid setbacks. Both approaches are useful for mood disorders and life transitions because they focus on actions you can try between sessions.
Finding the right approach is part of the first few meetings. The therapist and client work together to choose which techniques to use based on needs, goals, and preferences. That collaborative process makes it easier to adjust methods if something isn’t working.
Confirm the session formats before booking because the biography does not list them. Online sessions can make it simpler to fit therapy into a busy day, offer a shorter check-in when time is limited, or remove travel time so people can meet between other obligations. Talk with the therapist about what will work best for your schedule and comfort.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Experience
17+ years
Listed in
Virginia, Massachusetts
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What types of concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, anger, relationship and family issues, trauma and abuse, grief, parenting concerns, intimacy issues, bipolar disorder, and coping with life changes.
How does she approach therapy?
Sara uses a collaborative, practical approach. She and the client decide together which evidence-based steps and skills to try.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 17 years of professional experience in mental health and addiction settings, including outpatient care and day treatment programs.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She holds MA LMHC and is a VA LPC. She practices from Virginia.
Can I see her if I live outside the United States?
International clients are not currently accepted. Sessions are provided in English.
What session formats does she offer?
Please confirm current session options before booking, as specific formats are not listed in the biography.
How are sessions priced?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Choose the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.