Sara DeVaney

Sara DeVaney is a licensed clinical social worker in Oregon with 19 years of professional experience. She helps people who are struggling with stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, and motivation. She approaches each person with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. Sara tailors conversations and plans to each person's needs and goals.

Many people come to her when life feels overwhelming or when past hurts get in the way of daily living. She also supports those facing trauma or abuse, relationship problems, grief, addictions, eating concerns, bipolar challenges, compassion fatigue, ADHD, and anger. Her work is straightforward and focused on practical steps that fit into real life.

Sara uses a mix of approaches to match what a person needs. She draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people notice what matters to them and make actions that match those values. She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thinking and shift behavior patterns. Narrative and client-centered ideas help her listen closely and shape the work around each person's story.

Her sessions emphasize collaboration: she and the person set goals and track progress together. She aims to create a space where people can try new ways of coping without judgment. Taking the first step toward change can feel hard, and she offers steady support through that process.

If someone wants to begin, they follow the site steps to match and schedule a first session with her.

How her approaches translate to online therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people clarify their values and take small committed actions toward them, even when difficult thoughts or feelings are present. It can help with anxiety, depression, anger, and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at patterns of thinking and behavior, and provides simple exercises to test thoughts and build new habits for mood and stress management. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes an accepting, listening stance where the person leads the conversation and the therapist reflects and supports exploration.

Finding the right fit is part of the work. Sara will talk with each person about their goals and preferences and then suggest approaches to try together. She often blends techniques based on what helps someone make steady progress and feel more in control of daily life.

Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Many people find online sessions easier to fit into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins during a workday, and reduce travel time. Online work can also make it simpler to practice skills between sessions and to bring real-life situations into conversation so solutions feel practical and relevant.