About Sara

Sara Contreras is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in California. She brings five years of clinical experience and focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, and ADHD-related concerns. Her style is direct and compassionate, aimed at making therapy understandable and practical for busy parents.

Sara creates a calm space where clients can talk through difficult thoughts and feelings without judgment. She listens closely to what matters most and helps people set small, achievable goals.

Background and approach

Sessions are conversational and focused on real-life changes rather than long explanations. She draws on attachment-based ideas to look at how relationships shape patterns of thinking and feeling. Cognitive behavioral tools help clients notice unhelpful thoughts and try different behaviors.

For those coping with traumatic memories, she uses EMDR as one option among others to reduce the hold of distressing experiences. Sara also supports people dealing with grief, intimacy concerns, sleep problems, parenting stress, and career pressure. She works with people navigating identity and relationship questions, including LGBT topics, and addresses issues like body image and codependency.

Practical strategies and careful listening are central to her work. Her schedule includes some mornings and selected evenings on Monday, Wednesday, and some Thursdays, with other appointment times available by arrangement. New clients start by filling a short matching questionnaire and then scheduling a first session that fits their needs.

Therapeutic approaches adapted for online care

Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how early bonds shape current relationships and feelings. It helps people recognize patterns that affect connection and trust, and then try new ways of relating to partners and loved ones.

Client-Centered Therapy centers conversations on the client's experience. The therapist listens deeply, reflects what is said, and supports people in making choices that match their values and goals.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions. It offers practical exercises to challenge unhelpful thoughts and build routines that reduce anxiety and improve daily functioning.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with each person about concerns, goals, and preferences, and then recommend or combine methods that seem most helpful. That decision is collaborative and can change as progress is made.

Online sessions use video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different needs. Video is useful for full conversations and visual cues. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and texting can be easier for quick updates, brief coaching, or when writing helps someone sort thoughts. These options make it easier to schedule therapy around busy days and varied routines.

Questions people ask

What concerns does she help with?
Sara supports people with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, depression, ADHD, grief, intimacy issues, sleep problems, parenting stress, career concerns, and related topics.
What is her therapy style like?
She uses a warm, conversational approach that focuses on clear goals and practical steps. Sessions are aimed at helping clients try new behaviors and track small changes.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has five years of professional experience working with adults on a range of concerns including trauma, mood issues, and relationship patterns.
What are her credentials and where is she located?
She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) licensed in California. Her practice is based in California.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.
How does pricing work for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model 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 then schedule a session according to the therapist's availability.

What this therapist works with

Experience
5 years
Licensed
California
Languages
English

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