- Attachment focus
- CBT techniques
- EMDR available
About Sara
Sara Contreras is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with five years of professional experience. She works with adults dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and family concerns, and life transitions. Her practice also includes work with ADHD, bipolar concerns, intimacy-related issues, and compassion fatigue. Sessions are conducted in English and she practices in California.
Sara uses a mix of approaches depending on the person's needs. She draws on attachment-based ideas to look at how early relationships shape current patterns. She also uses client-centered techniques to follow each person's pace and CBT tools for practical skill-building. EMDR is part of her practice for people processing traumatic memories.
In a session she focuses on listening and helping people name what is happening in their relationships and emotions. She helps people notice patterns learned from family of origin and how those patterns show up today. Conversations include concrete tools for managing anxiety, sleep, anger, and low mood, and strategies for communication and setting limits.
Sara makes space for topics sometimes left out of typical therapy, such as kink and alternative sexual cultures, blended family dynamics, and caregiver stress. She also works with issues like abandonment, attachment difficulties, body image, dissociation, and coping with chronic illness.
To begin, she asks people to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session. Sessions are part of a subscription model that can be canceled at any time, and fees vary by location.
How therapeutic approaches shape online sessions
Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships influence current patterns. Online sessions can be a place to notice recurring roles, closeness, or conflict and practice different ways of relating. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on skills to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. In remote work this often includes brief between-session exercises and concrete strategies for sleep, anxiety, and mood. EMDR helps some people process distressing memories through a structured approach that pairs focused attention with guided bilateral stimulation; when EMDR is used, the therapist guides the pacing and processing collaboratively.Finding the right approach is part of the work. Sara will discuss what feels most useful and adjust methods based on the person's needs, goals, and preferences. The process is collaborative and aims to match technique to what the client wants to address, whether that is family of origin patterns, relationship issues, or managing symptoms like panic or low mood.
The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, require less travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins or evening appointments. It can also make it simpler to work around caregiving duties or work schedules while still focusing on practical skills and relationship patterns.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
5+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she work with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and family concerns, and coping with life changes. Her practice also covers ADHD, bipolar concerns, intimacy-related issues, and compassion fatigue.
What is her therapeutic style?
She blends attachment-based, client-centered, and cognitive behavioral approaches. EMDR is used when people need help processing traumatic memories.
How much experience does she have?
Sara has five years of professional clinical experience. She is a California LMFT.
Where is she located and licensed?
She is licensed in California and provides services from that state. Sessions are conducted in English.
Can people outside the U.S. work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted. Sessions are offered in English to people located in California.
What session formats are offered?
Session formats were not specified in the biography. Confirm current session options before booking to know how sessions are conducted.
How are fees handled?
Costs vary by location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time. Specific rates were not listed in the biography.
How do I get started?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session to begin the process.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Looking for someone else? Find them by surname.