Sarah Ross

Sarah Ross is a Washington-based mental health counselor who has been licensed since 2003 and brings 27 years of professional experience to her practice. She is licensed in Washington as a mental health counselor - her license number is LH00008167 - and she also holds certification as a thanatologist, specializing in grief and loss.

Her career has included roles as a clinical supervisor and clinic director, and she has worked in a variety of settings beyond private practice. Those settings include community mental health programs where she supported individuals with chronic mental illness, drug court programs collaborating with substance use counselors, and marital counseling centers where she taught communication skills to couples.

Sarah has treated people facing depression, anxiety, relationship and family conflicts, phase-of-life transitions, grief and loss, and challenges such as low self-esteem often experienced by adult children of alcoholics. She also addresses trauma and abuse, parenting and career difficulties, compassion fatigue, and general coping with life changes.

She encourages anyone seeking help to recognize the courage it takes to begin therapy and to feel proud of taking that step. Sarah aims to provide a nonjudgmental therapeutic environment defined by positive regard and encouragement. Her style is interactive - she helps clients identify the “blind spots” that may be limiting them so they can experience moments of clear insight.

Sarah emphasizes that meaningful change in therapy requires commitment from both client and counselor, and she avoids presenting therapy as a quick fix. Her approach is eclectic and adaptable; she often draws on cognitive-behavioral, Adlerian, and psychodynamic techniques - holding the view that feelings influence thoughts, thoughts shape beliefs, and beliefs form systems of meaning. She adjusts her manner as needed, offering a more coaching-style, cheerleading stance for some clients and a gentler, nurturing approach for others, and she looks forward to building a strong therapeutic alliance with those she works with.