Sara Nielsen

Compassionate, pragmatic therapy for meaningful change

LCMHC, LCPC Alabama

Experience: 19 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Eating
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages: English

About Sara

Sara Nielsen is a licensed mental health counselor with nearly two decades of clinical practice and a broad therapeutic toolkit.

Background and approach

She holds LCMHC and LCPC credentials and brings 19 years of experience supporting people through challenges such as anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, eating and food-related issues, addictions, bipolar concerns, compassion fatigue, and ADHD. Her background also includes work on intimacy-related struggles, relationship and communication problems, grief, career concerns, and body image issues.

Her counseling style emphasizes collaboration and practical skill-building. Sessions are interactive and guided by each person’s goals, with techniques drawn from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), mindfulness approaches, and client-centered principles.

She adapts strategies to match client needs, focusing on strengths and concrete coping tools while addressing co-morbid issues like codependency, impulsivity, and hoarding when relevant. Based in Alabama, Sara offers a nonjudgmental atmosphere and frames therapy as a partnership aimed at realistic change and improved daily functioning.

Prospective clients can expect an empathetic clinician who works to tailor the approach to personal preferences and life circumstances.

Combining practical approaches with flexible online care

Sara uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients identify and shift unhelpful thought and behavior patterns; this approach often focuses on concrete strategies to reduce anxiety, improve mood, and change problematic habits. She also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which emphasizes values-based action and learning to live alongside difficult thoughts and feelings rather than fighting them. Both approaches can be useful for concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma-related distress, and difficulties with motivation or coping.

Choosing the right method is a collaborative process. Sara partners with each person to clarify goals, experiment with techniques, and adjust the plan based on what proves most helpful. She blends skills training and reflective work so the client’s preferences and life context guide decisions about which approaches to emphasize.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase convenience and fit care into busy lives. These options make it easier to access consistent support, practice skills between sessions, and maintain momentum while balancing work, family, and other commitments.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Sara work with most often?

Sara addresses a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, eating and food-related issues, addictions, bipolar symptoms, relationship and intimacy-related issues, grief, and career-related stress.

How would you describe her therapeutic style?

Her style is collaborative, interactive, and strengths-focused, mixing practical skills and reflective exploration to help clients meet their goals.

What is her clinical background and experience?

She has 19 years of clinical experience working with a broad array of mental health concerns and uses multiple evidence-informed approaches tailored to each client.

Which credentials and location apply to this therapist?

She holds LCMHC and LCPC credentials and practices from Alabama.

Does she provide services in other languages or to international clients?

Sessions are offered in English, and she is not accepting international clients at this time.

What session formats does she offer?

Available formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different preferences and schedules.

How are costs and billing handled?

Cost varies by location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the first steps to begin working together?

To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Trauma and abuseEating disordersDepression Coping with life changes

Also works with

AddictionsLGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesSleeping disordersAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoachingCompassion fatigue ADHD

Additional focus areas

Body imageCo-morbidityCodependencyCommunication problemsDivorce and separationDomestic violenceEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHoardingImpulsivityInfidelityJealousyLife purposeMood disorders Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD Panic disorder and panic attacks PhobiasPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPost-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSexual assault and abuseSexual dysfunctionSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaTrichotillomaniaWomen's issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

19+ years

Licensed

Missouri, Kansas, New Hampshire, Alabama

Languages

English