Sarah Axley

Recognizing when help is needed is an important step, and Sarah Axley encourages that acknowledgement as the beginning of positive change.

Sarah Axley is a licensed clinical social worker practicing in Virginia. She completed her studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, earning degrees in psychology and social work, and she also holds a post-baccalaureate certificate in aging studies from VCU’s Department of Gerontology. She has provided psychotherapy since 2009 and obtained her clinical license in 2012 while working in outpatient mental health services.

Her clinical experience spans an outpatient mental health clinic, an intensive community-based setting, and hospital-based care where she is currently employed full time. Over the years she has worked with people of all ages and backgrounds and with a range of diagnoses, including depressive disorders, bipolar spectrum disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma-related disorders, substance use disorders, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and autism spectrum disorders.

Sarah is an LGBTQ+ informed psychotherapist and has experience supporting clients through grief and loss. She has also provided psychotherapy to help people manage stressors related to COVID and the current social and political climate.

She approaches therapy as a collaborative process, helping clients gain insight, build skills to manage symptoms, shift thinking patterns, and improve communication to reach their goals. Her work draws on evidence-based approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational enhancement therapy, mindfulness training, and other clinically supported methods. She works from a strengths perspective, helping clients identify resilience and practical tools to manage challenges.

Sarah sees clients on Monday and Wednesday evenings and on Saturday late morning and afternoons. Between sessions, clients will often complete tasks or exercises to support progress toward their goals.

If Sarah appears to be a good fit for what someone is seeking in a psychotherapist, she invites prospective clients to take the next step toward beginning therapy in Virginia.