About Sara
Sara Barrientos is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 13 years of clinical experience. She helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, parenting strain, relationship or intimacy concerns, and trouble sleeping. She also supports those coping with life changes, trauma and abuse, anger, bipolar mood concerns, and issues around self-esteem.
She works in a down-to-earth way that focuses on practical steps. Sessions aim to find what matters to the person and build manageable habits.
Background and approach
She offers straightforward tools and gentle encouragement so people can make changes that fit their daily lives. Her background includes long-term work with older adults in intensive outpatient group programs for depression and anxiety. She has also worked with adolescents and adults on behavioral health concerns, people experiencing homelessness, and individuals navigating loss and relationship strain.
That range shapes how she tailors care for different life stages. Sara emphasizes collaboration. She helps clients set clear goals, picks strategies that match those goals, and checks progress along the way.
She describes herself as compassionate and respectful, aiming to lift and motivate people where they are in their journey. She uses approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Existential Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy. Sara practices in Illinois as an LCSW and conducts sessions in English through a variety of online formats.
Therapy approaches and what online sessions look like
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying values and taking committed actions toward them. It helps people build a life that matters to them despite difficult thoughts or feelings. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and teaches practical skills to change unhelpful patterns. It is often useful for anxiety, depression, and sleep problems.Choosing an approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the person about their goals and preferences, try strategies, and adjust as needed. Together they decide which methods feel most useful and practical for day-to-day life.
Online sessions offer flexibility and easier access to regular care. Video calls allow face-to-face conversations and visual cues. Phone sessions are helpful when video is not possible or when bandwidth is limited. Live chat or text-based messaging can be used for quicker check-ins, brief coaching, or when someone prefers written communication. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules and to keep momentum between sessions.
Frequently asked questions
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
Also works with
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Communication problems
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Family conflicts
- Forgiveness
- Intimacy-related issues
- Life purpose
- Money and financial issues
- Parenting issues
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Relationship issues
- Sleeping disorders
- Trauma and abuse
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 13 years
- Licensed
- Illinois
- Languages
- English