About Sara
Hello! My name is Sara and I’m a psychotherapist with offices in Santa Monica & Calabasas.
I also see clients across California via teletherapy - a necessity during COVID that turned out to be quite effective!
I enjoy working with a diverse group of clients.
Instead of specializing in only one form of psychotherapy, I trained in a variety of methods to broaden my perspective and provide compassionate, informed, and integrative care.
I work with adults, adolescents, children and couples and tailor my approach to meet the needs of each client.
My Background & Training
I am trained in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure therapy with response prevention (ERP), psychodynamic therapy (commonly referred to as “talk therapy”), and emotion-focused couples therapy (EFT).
I work collaboratively with psychiatrists, general doctors, and community mental health workers to meet the unique needs of each client. I trained at the UCLA Anxiety Clinics (pediatric & adult), the UCLA Mood Disorders Research Program, and served as a staff research associate at the UCLA Child & Adolescent Mood Disorders Clinic under Dr. David Miklowitz. I also trained in psychodynamic therapy at The Maple Counseling Center in Beverly Hills.
I earned my Bachelor’s Degree from New York University and my Master’s in Marriage & Family Therapy from the University of Southern California.
I was raised in Seattle and lived in New York City for many years before moving to Los Angeles. I start most mornings in the Santa Monica mountains on my bike or hiking with my husky dog. I truly believe that being a therapist is why I’m here; it’s what I’m meant to do.
How We Can Work Together
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Therapy for Individuals & Couples
Research has shown that the most critical factor in treatment success is the relationship between therapist and client. My ultimate goal is to create a safe, secure environment where my clients can openly and honestly share their experience.
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Supervision & Training
My practice provides supervision to MFT associates in California working towards their licensure. Please email info@svatherapy.com for more information. I also provide case consultation to licensed colleagues around the country looking to expand their knowledge of OCD and bipolar disorder.
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UCLA Research Affiliation (PCAY)
I am also a study therapist for an ongoing UCLA research study looking at the most effective methods for treating anxiety in children and adolescents. It is called Partners in Caring for Anxious Youth (PCAY). Parents of anxious children should check out this website and ask me for details.