Sarah Axley, LCSW

Sarah Axley is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who helps people facing stress, anxiety, grief, addiction, and relationship struggles. She greets new steps with encouragement and aims to make the first move feel doable. Her tone is practical and supportive for people who are worried and unsure where to begin.

Sarah trained in psychology and social work at Virginia Commonwealth University and completed a post-baccalaureate certificate in Aging Studies through VCU’s Department of Gerontology. She has provided psychotherapy since 2009 across outpatient clinics, intensive community settings, and hospital care. She earned her license as a clinical social worker in 2012 and brings 15 years of clinical experience to her practice.

Her work combines familiar approaches such as client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness training, motivational interviewing, and narrative therapy. Sarah uses those methods to help people change thinking patterns, build coping skills, and improve communication. She emphasizes a strengths-based view and encourages practical steps between sessions to support progress.

Sarah has worked with people facing depression, bipolar-spectrum conditions, anxiety, trauma, substance use concerns, and autism spectrum issues. She describes herself as LGBTQ+ informed and has experience helping people cope with grief and stress tied to social and public-health challenges.

She views therapy as a collaboration where goals are set together and homework between sessions matters. Sarah sees clients during weekday evenings and on Saturday late mornings and afternoons, and she invites people to reach out when they feel ready to begin.

Therapeutic approaches and how they translate to online work

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and helping people set their own goals. In practice this means sessions concentrate on what matters most to the client and use empathy and reflection to move forward. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect; it helps people learn practical ways to shift unhelpful thinking and try new behaviors. Mindfulness therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices that reduce stress and improve sleep and mood.

Choosing the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work collaboratively to identify which methods fit a person’s needs and preferences. Goals, comfort with different techniques, and what has or hasn’t worked before guide the plan together.

The original biography does not specify which online session formats are offered, so confirm current options before booking. In general, online formats can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. They also let people use tools like worksheets, thought records, and recorded mindfulness practices between meetings to support real-world progress.