About
- Client-centered approach
- Cognitive behavioral tools
- Motivational interviewing
About Sara
Sara Lopes is an LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor) based in Massachusetts with eight years of clinical experience. She helps people coping with stress, anxiety, addiction, trauma, depression, relationship strain, parenting pressures, grief, and related concerns. Sessions are offered in English and her background includes work with people facing homelessness, serious mental health challenges, and substance use issues.
Sara favors a client-centered way of working. She pays attention to who a person is and moves at their pace. That practical stance guides which approaches she draws on, such as cognitive behavioral techniques, dialectical skills, motivational interviewing, mindfulness, and narrative work.
In practice she mixes hands-on tools with conversations about meaning and life stories. Clients can expect to talk through current problems and try small experiments between sessions. She aims to help people see shifts sooner rather than later and to build confidence in everyday steps forward.
Sara has done extensive social work with low-income communities, focusing on housing stability and access to services. That experience informs how she responds to practical barriers and life stressors alongside mental health symptoms.
Her online hours run Monday through Saturday, with Sunday reserved as a personal day. For new clients she currently offers messaging and live chat sessions rather than phone or video. To begin, readers are asked to use the directory's matching process and schedule a first session.
How sessions work
How Sara uses CBT, DBT and client-centered ideas online
Sara uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and try practical behavior changes. CBT is often used for anxiety, depression, panic, and some addiction-related habits and money or work stress.She also draws on dialectical behavior therapy skills for emotion regulation and distress tolerance. DBT techniques teach specific skills for managing intense feelings, handling interpersonal strain, and reducing impulsive reactions.
Client-centered therapy underpins how she works. That means she listens for what matters to each person and adjusts pacing and focus accordingly. Choosing an approach is collaborative - the therapist and client decide together which methods to try based on needs, goals, and preferences.
Practical benefits of online work include fitting sessions into busy schedules and keeping regular contact through messaging and live chat when that suits daily life. Because formats can differ, confirm which session types are available before booking. Her current arrangement for new clients is messaging and live chat rather than phone or video, and this can make shorter check-ins and flexible timing easier to arrange.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
8+ years
Listed in
Massachusetts
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of issues does she help with?
Sara works with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, depression, relationship and family concerns, parenting, grief, and other related issues listed on her profile.
What is her approach in sessions?
She uses a client-centered style and combines methods like cognitive behavioral techniques, dialectical behavior therapy, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, and narrative work to address practical and emotional problems.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has eight years of experience working in mental health and addiction settings, and years of social work with low-income and housing-challenged populations.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is an LMHC with an MA and practices from Massachusetts.
Does she offer sessions in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English. She is not currently accepting international clients.
Which session formats does she provide?
For new clients she currently provides messaging and live chat sessions only. Confirm session options before booking if you need phone or video.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies by location and services. Sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I start working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session through the platform.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is in danger, use the crisis numbers.