Sarah Axley, LCSW

Sarah Axley is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in Virginia who brings a compassionate, strengths-based approach to therapy. She earned her education at Virginia Commonwealth University with degrees in psychology and social work and completed a Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Aging Studies through VCU’s Department of Gerontology. As an LCSW she is licensed to provide clinical social work and psychotherapy, a credential she obtained in 2012 after beginning clinical practice in 2009.

Sarah has worked across outpatient mental health clinics, intensive community-based settings, and currently provides care full time in a hospital setting. Her clinical experience spans a wide range of concerns, including depressive and bipolar spectrum disorders, anxiety, trauma-related disorders, substance use conditions, schizophrenia spectrum and autism spectrum disorders. She is also experienced in grief and loss work and has supported clients navigating stress related to COVID and broader social and political changes. Sarah is an LGBTQ+ informed therapist and works with individuals of diverse backgrounds and life stages.

Therapeutic work with Sarah emphasizes collaboration - whether the goal is to process difficult emotions, build skills to manage symptoms, shift unhelpful thinking patterns, or improve communication within relationships. She integrates evidence-based methods such as cognitive behavioral strategies, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness training, tailoring those tools to each person’s needs. She practices from a strengths perspective and helps clients apply skills between sessions, believing much of the change happens through regular practice and real-life application. Sarah sees clients Monday and Wednesday evenings and Saturday late mornings and afternoons, and she aims to create a respectful, practical path toward the client’s goals.

Therapeutic Approaches and Accessible Online Care

Sarah integrates client-centered therapy into her work, focusing on the individual’s own goals and experiences and creating space for people to explore their values and strengths. This approach helps when the priority is building insight, increasing self-understanding, and shaping a treatment plan that fits the person’s life.

She also uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which involves identifying and adjusting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce symptoms like anxiety and depression and to build practical coping skills. Mindfulness therapy is another component of her work, offering tools to manage stress and increase present-moment awareness through simple attention and breathing practices.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Sarah works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods align with their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting techniques over time as progress and priorities evolve.

Online therapy options - including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging - make it easier to fit care into a busy life and to maintain continuity when circumstances change. These formats offer flexibility in scheduling and allow therapists and licensed professionals to work with people across different locations while focusing on effective, goal-oriented treatment.