Sara Barrientos

Sara Barrientos is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 13 years in the field. She helps people manage stress, anger, anxiety, depression, and grief. She also supports parents, people facing relationship or family concerns, and those coping with major life changes.

She has spent a decade working in an intensive outpatient group program for older adults dealing with depression and anxiety. That work gave her regular experience supporting senior citizens and addressing aging and caregiver stress. She has also worked with at-risk youth and with individuals facing parenting, relationship, and loss-related challenges.

In sessions she focuses on practical steps people can use right away. She uses approaches that include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice patterns and try new choices. She also draws on existential and solution-focused ideas to clarify values and set small, realistic goals.

Sara aims to be compassionate and straightforward in the room. She encourages people, helps them set goals, and offers accountability to support change. Her style is direct but caring, centered on what each person wants to achieve.

People who choose her can expect a collaborative process that balances short-term problem solving with attention to deeper life questions. She works in Illinois and conducts sessions in English. To start, follow the site’s intake steps to match and schedule a first appointment.

How her approaches work in online therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice painful thoughts and feelings and then choose actions that fit their values. It is useful for anxiety, stress, grief, and anger when someone wants to act differently despite uncomfortable emotions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) teaches practical skills to change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. CBT often helps with worry, low mood, sleep problems, and coping with life changes.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will listen to your goals and preferences and recommend techniques that suit your situation. This is a collaborative process and adjustments can be made as therapy progresses.

Confirm the currently offered session options before booking, since specific formats are not listed here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, shorten travel time, and allow for continuity when life is hectic. It can also let people choose sessions that focus on skill practice, brief check-ins, or deeper reflective work depending on what feels most useful.