Sara Sutherland, LMSW
Michigan · 8 years in practice
Sara Sutherland is a licensed master social worker (LMSW) based in Michigan who helps people facing stress, anxiety, grief, depression, and major life changes.
License and registration
- LMSW, Michigan
- 6801106679 · expires March 2028
- NPI
- 1063004455 · national provider identifier
- Years in practice
- 8
- Languages
- English
Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check the license with the issuing state board, and the NPI with the national registry.
About Sara
Sara Sutherland is a licensed master social worker (LMSW) based in Michigan who helps people facing stress, anxiety, grief, depression, and major life changes. She focuses on practical support for coping, building self-esteem, and managing relationship and intimacy concerns. Her style is warm and straightforward, aimed at helping people feel seen and heard quickly.
She trained in social work and psychology at Hope College and completed a master’s degree in clinical social work at Western Michigan University.
Background and approach
Over eight years she has worked in independent practice, health care settings, and hospice care. That variety gave her experience with chronic and terminal illness, caregiver stress, and end-of-life concerns. Sara mixes several approaches in sessions.
She uses Emotionally-Focused Therapy to address attachment and relationship patterns, client-centered work to follow each person’s pace, and cognitive-behavioral techniques to tackle unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. Mindfulness and elements of dialectical behavior therapy are used to build distress tolerance and emotional regulation skills. In a typical session she listens first, then helps set small, doable goals.
She offers concrete tools for coping with anxiety, grief, and mood shifts. Over time the work focuses on clearer communication, managing intense emotions, and rebuilding confidence. Sara aims to create an honest, supportive space where people can make steady changes.
She welcomes questions about approach and process and helps people find the best next steps for their situation.
Focus areas and approaches
Everything Sara lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Grief
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- Compassion fatigue
- Addictions
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Intimacy-related issues
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Bipolar disorder
- ADHD
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Attachment issues
- Body image
- Cancer
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Co-morbidity
- Communication problems
- Family problems
- Fertility issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Mood disorders
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Personality disorders
- Post-traumatic stress
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Sara names
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Narrative Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.
Online support
How therapy approaches translate to online care
Sara blends Emotionally-Focused Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in ways that work well online. Emotionally-Focused Therapy focuses on identifying emotional patterns and improving attachment-related interactions, which helps with intimacy and relationship concerns. Client-Centered Therapy prioritizes the person’s own pace and perspective, making it easier to build trust through conversation and reflective listening. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at thoughts and behaviors to develop practical strategies for easing anxiety and depressive symptoms.Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work together. The therapist collaborates with each person to pick methods that match their goals, concerns, and comfort with online formats. That collaboration helps tailor sessions so the tools chosen feel useful and realistic for day-to-day life.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video calls let people talk face-to-face when visual cues matter. Phone sessions can be lower bandwidth and easier to fit into a busy day. Live chat and text messaging are useful for brief check-ins, skill practice between sessions, or when typing helps organize thoughts. These options make therapy more flexible and easier to keep up with alongside work, caregiving, or health needs.
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Questions people ask
What concerns does Sara commonly address?
She helps with stress, anxiety, grief, depression, coping with life changes, compassion fatigue, addictions, LGBT concerns, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting stresses, anger, self-esteem, bipolar disorder, and ADHD among other challenges.
What is her general therapeutic style?
Sara uses a warm, straightforward style that aims to make people feel seen and heard. She listens first, then works collaboratively to set small, practical goals.
What experience does she bring?
She has eight years of experience working in independent practice, health care, and hospice settings, which shaped her work with chronic illness, end-of-life concerns, and caregiver stress.
What are her credentials and where is she located?
She holds a Licensed Master Social Worker credential (LMSW) and practices from Michigan.
Which languages are offered for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
She provides video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.
How is cost and starting therapy handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To begin, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.
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