Sarah Axley, LCSW

Sarah Axley is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in Virginia with 15 years of clinical experience. She works with adults facing stress, anxiety, addiction, grief, low self-esteem, depression, relationship and family concerns, trauma and abuse, sleep problems, parenting strain, anger, bipolar-related issues, and codependency. She also supports people dealing with aging and geriatric concerns, chronic illness or pain, caregiver stress, isolation, and other overlapping challenges.

Sarah trained in psychology and social work at Virginia Commonwealth University and completed a Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Aging Studies through VCU’s Department of Gerontology. She has provided psychotherapy since 2009 in outpatient clinics, intensive community-based settings, and in a hospital setting where she currently works full time. She earned her LCSW in 2012 after clinical work in outpatient mental health services.

Her practice draws on familiar, practical approaches rather than technical labels. Sessions emphasize clear collaboration - deciding together whether to process emotions, practice coping skills, shift unhelpful thinking, or work on communication. Clients can expect straightforward skill-building between sessions to support change in daily life.

Therapeutic methods she uses include cognitive behavioral strategies, mindfulness work, motivational interviewing, narrative techniques, and client-centered ways of working. Sarah describes herself as LGBTQ+ informed and has experience helping people navigate grief and stress tied to social circumstances, including recent public health and political challenges.

Her style is focused on identifying strengths and building concrete tools. She encourages people to recognize small steps that add up, and she helps translate those steps into manageable tasks that fit into a busy life.

How her approaches translate to online sessions