Sara Nielsen , LCMHC, LCPC

Sara Nielsen is a licensed counselor who brings 19 years of clinical experience to her work in Alabama. She is credentialed as an LCMHC (Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor) in New Hampshire and an LCPC (Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor) in Kansas. Sara aims to create a calm, nonjudgmental space where people can talk about what matters to them.

She focuses on everyday problems like stress, anxiety, depression, and sleep troubles as well as more complex issues such as trauma, addictions, eating and body-image concerns, and relationship or intimacy-related struggles. She also supports people facing career strain, compassion fatigue, grief, and changes in life circumstances.

Sara uses approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and mindfulness. Sessions are collaborative and tailored to a person’s goals and preferences. She helps people learn skills, try new strategies, and notice what works in daily life.

Her style is interactive and guided by each person’s needs. She aims to reduce shame and judgment so people can speak openly about topics like gender dysphoria, LGBT concerns, co-occurring conditions, or family-of-origin issues. Practical coping steps and gradual change are part of the day-to-day work.

Therapy can look different for everyone, and Sara adjusts pace and methods to fit each situation. She offers sessions by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different schedules and communication preferences.

Approaches that translate well to online therapy

Sara commonly draws on cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing different behaviors to reduce symptoms such as anxiety, depression, or sleep disruption. Acceptance and commitment therapy helps people clarify values and take small steps toward a meaningful life while learning how to handle difficult thoughts and feelings.

The right approach often emerges through conversation. Sara works collaboratively with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences. She adapts techniques over time and checks in about what is working and what needs to change.

Online sessions can make regular therapy easier to fit into life. Video calls are useful for fuller conversations and skill practice, phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited, and live chat or text-based messaging can support brief check-ins, ongoing coaching, or people who prefer typing. These options make it simpler to schedule sessions, maintain momentum between meetings, and choose the format that best supports daily routines.