Sarah Axley, LCSW
Practical, story-focused therapy that builds everyday skills
Details
| Name | Sarah Axley |
|---|---|
| Credentials | LCSW |
| Based in | Virginia |
| Licensed in | Virginia |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English |
| Years in practice | 15 |
About Sarah
Sarah Axley is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 15 years of experience who helps people facing stress, anxiety, grief, depression, addictions, and questions about identity. She speaks plainly and listens closely to understand what matters most to each person. Sarah encourages practical steps and small changes that fit daily life.
She trained in social work at Virginia Commonwealth University and completed a postbaccalaureate certificate in aging studies. Sarah has provided psychotherapy in outpatient clinics, intensive community settings, and a hospital environment since 2009.
Background and approach
She earned her license in clinical social work in 2012 and has worked with people who have a wide range of concerns, including mood disorders, trauma, substance use, and autism spectrum issues. Sarah draws on Narrative Therapy and Client-Centered Therapy to help people tell and reshape the stories they live by.
She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness practices, and motivational interviewing when those approaches fit a person's goals. Sessions focus on understanding patterns, building coping tools, and trying practical strategies between meetings. She works from a strengths perspective and treats clients as collaborators in the process.
That means setting clear, realistic goals and practicing skills outside sessions to make steady progress. Sarah also supports people coping with caregiving strain, chronic health concerns, isolation, and end-of-life topics. Her style is direct but warm, aimed at helping people gain clarity and usable tools.
Conversations cover what is happening now and what steps feel doable next. If someone prefers a respectful, story-focused approach with concrete strategies, Sarah may be a good fit.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Grief among the things Sarah works with, alongside the areas below.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Grief
- Self esteem
- Depression
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Communication problems
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- First responder issues
- Guilt and shame
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Intellectual disability
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Mood disorders
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Sarah among the ways she works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Sarah among the ways she works.
- Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by Sarah among the ways she works.
- Motivational Interviewing: Listed by Sarah among the ways she works.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Sarah among the ways she works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Sarah directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Sarah directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
How her approaches translate to online therapy
Sarah uses Narrative Therapy to help people examine and reframe the stories they tell about themselves and their relationships; this approach is useful for identity questions, grief, and long-standing patterns. She also uses Client-Centered Therapy, which centers the person’s experience and priorities and creates space for them to guide the direction of work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is another frequent tool she uses to identify unhelpful thinking patterns and practice small behavior changes that reduce anxiety or lift mood.Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the therapy process. She works with clients to choose methods that fit their goals, preferences, and day-to-day reality. Together they set concrete goals, try strategies in real life, and adjust the plan as needed so the work feels useful and doable.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is often used for full sessions with face-to-face conversation, phone works well when bandwidth is limited or for shorter check-ins, and text or chat can support brief updates, skill practice, or ongoing encouragement between meetings. These options aim to make therapy more flexible and easier to fit into busy schedules.
Common questions about this listing
What concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addictions, bipolar issues, trauma and abuse, sleep problems, anger, self-esteem, parenting stress, relationship and family concerns, and related topics.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her approach is collaborative and practical, blending Narrative Therapy, Client-Centered work, CBT, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing to match each person’s needs and goals.
What kind of experience does she have?
She has practiced psychotherapy since 2009 and has 15 years of clinical experience in outpatient, community-based, and hospital settings.
What credentials and region apply to her practice?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensed in Virginia and practices with that credential.
Are sessions offered in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.
Which session formats are available?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging for online work.
How are costs handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Sarah are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Sarah where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.
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