- Stress and anxiety
- Trauma and grief
- Practical goal work
About Sarah
Sarah Turnpaugh is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in Virginia. She offers calm, practical support for people feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, grief, or big life changes. She aims to help clients build confidence and find more balance in everyday life.
Sarah listens first and then helps clients set small, doable goals. Her sessions focus on what matters most to each person, whether that is coping with trauma, managing symptoms of depression, or improving communication with others. She works with adults and adolescents and addresses parenting and family-related concerns as they come up.
Her background includes five years of clinical practice supporting people through loss, compassion fatigue, caregiver stress, and chronic illness. She also assists those dealing with attachment concerns, abandonment, body image, and challenges that first responders often face. Sarah names coping with natural or human-caused disaster among the issues she supports, alongside work with domestic violence and divorce recovery.
Therapy sessions draw from approaches like client-centered work, cognitive behavioral techniques, motivational interviewing, narrative methods, and solution-focused strategies. These methods help clients clarify values, change unhelpful thoughts, and take practical steps toward goals. Sarah talks through examples and helps people practice new skills between sessions.
She encourages people to reach out when they are ready to make changes. To begin, visitors complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first appointment according to the available options.
Therapeutic approaches and how they work online
Client-centered therapy places the client's concerns at the center of each session and emphasizes listening and empathy to help people feel heard and understood. It can be helpful for stress, low self-esteem, grief, and relationship worries.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. It is often used for anxiety, depression, and practical coping skills, and involves clear steps and homework between sessions.
Motivational Interviewing helps people find internal reasons to change and build motivation for difficult steps. It pairs well with goal-focused work like managing career transitions, recovery after separation, or adjusting to life after a disaster.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with clients about their needs, goals, and preferences and suggest strategies that fit their situation. Together they will adjust methods over time if something is not working.
If you are considering online therapy, confirm the current session options before booking. This profile does not list specific formats, so ask whether phone or video sessions are offered and which will best fit your schedule. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, allow for shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce the time spent traveling to appointments.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
5+ years
Credentials
Virginia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Sarah commonly address?
She helps with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, self-esteem, depression, and relationship and family issues. Additional focuses include caregiver stress, chronic illness, first responder issues, and coping after disasters.
What is her overall therapeutic style like?
Her approach is warm and client-centered, with a focus on listening first and setting practical goals. She blends conversational work with techniques that help change thoughts and behaviors.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has five years of experience providing therapy in clinical settings and working with adults and adolescents on a range of concerns.
What are her credentials and where is she located?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, listed as VA LCSW, and practices in Virginia.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can she take clients from other countries?
She is not accepting international clients at this time.
How much do sessions cost and how are they billed?
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?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to therapist availability.