Dr. Sara Lewis-Stankus

Dr. Sara Lewis-Stankus is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with 26 years of professional experience. She works with adults facing stress, anxiety, relationship questions, self-esteem concerns, career uncertainty, and life-purpose coaching. She offers a straightforward way to talk about the barriers that feel stuck in day-to-day life.

Her approach centers on practical conversation and real-world strategies. She uses techniques from Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), EMDR, and the Gottman Method to address patterns that cause repeated frustration. That can mean looking at thoughts that escalate anxiety, habits that undercut confidence, or communication habits that harm relationships.

Sara helps people untangle issues like abandonment, attachment concerns, caregiver stress, chronic illness or pain, and the loneliness that can follow major changes. She also addresses body image, guilt and shame, impulsivity, and the fallout from divorce or separation. Work and career topics are part of her practice, including coaching around next steps and motivation.

Sessions are conversational and goal-focused. Clients can expect to identify small, testable changes between sessions and to practice new ways of responding to old problems. The tone is practical: notice what isn’t working, try something different, and track what changes.

She practices in West Virginia and works with English-speaking clients, including people located outside the United States. Before booking, confirm the current session formats that are offered so those arrangements match your needs.

Approaches used in online sessions

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting so clients can name what matters and decide next steps. It helps when someone feels unsure about goals or needs straightforward conversation about priorities.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the connection between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches concrete exercises to change patterns that fuel anxiety or low self-esteem. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) adds skills for emotion regulation and managing impulsive responses, which can help with strong reactions or relationship conflicts.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to pick methods that fit their needs, goals, and preferences. That may mean combining listening-based work with CBT or adding DBT skills to address emotional intensity.

Confirm the session formats before booking so you know what is offered for remote work. Many people find remote sessions easier to fit into busy days, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Talk with the therapist about how to structure sessions to match your schedule and goals.