Dr. Sara Willott
I have been a licensed therapist for 14 years and have worked in various settings including emergency room, foster care, and a gender-affirming medical clinic. In addition to my clinical training, I hold a PhD in East-West Psychology. I often help clients explore not only what they think and feel, but also how emotions, trauma, and old survival strategies show up as tension, disconnection, protective patterns, or ways of relating. I am especially attentive to the ways people are shaped by family systems, culture, social expectations, and institutions. My goal is to create a space that is compassionate, discerning, and real—where clients can feel deeply understood while also being supported toward change, agency, and a more authentic relationship with themselves.
First session
Clients can expect thoughtful questions and open conversation in a comfortable atmosphere as we begin getting to know each other.
Strengths
My work stands out because I draw from both depth-oriented psychotherapy and trauma-informed, body-based approaches. I integrate psychodynamic and relational thinking with EMDR, Compassionate Inquiry, CBT, mindfulness, and parts work. This allows therapy to be flexible: sometimes we focus on insight and meaning, sometimes on nervous system regulation, and sometimes on practical ways to respond differently to old patterns. One of the greatest strengths I bring to sessions is the ability to listen deeply while also helping clients make meaningful connections between their thoughts, emotions, body sensations, relationships, and life history. My approach is warm, collaborative, and engaged. I am not a passive listener only; I ask thoughtful questions, notice patterns, and help clients explore what may be underneath symptoms, stuckness, or repeated relationship dynamics. I also value humor and wit in therapy, and when appropriate, I find that moments of lightness can help people feel less self-critical and more at ease even when dealing with the really, really hard stuff.
Ideal clients
I enjoy working with people who are thoughtful, curious, and looking for a life that feels more genuinely their own. Many of my clients are creatives, LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent, or people who have never felt completely at home in conventional environments. I also work well with professionals and students who may be successful on the outside while struggling with anxiety, burnout, disconnection, or uncertainty about whether the path they are on still fits. My clients are often navigating relationships, identity, major life transitions, work stress, and questions about meaning and purpose. They may be reconsidering old roles, expectations, or definitions of success and wanting more balance, clarity, and connection in their lives. I especially enjoy working with people who want to better understand themselves, strengthen their relationships, move through periods of change with more confidence, and create a life that feels more authentic, grounded, and sustainable.
Treatment methods
Attachment-based
I draw from attachment theory to understand how early relationships can shape the way we experience ourselves, others, and the world around us. This framework is one component to helping people develop more secure, supportive, and healthy patterns of connection.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT to help people identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, building healthier coping skills.
EMDR
EMDR can be used to support folx as they work through painful or overwhelming memories at a pace that feels manageable. Some people find this approach more effective than talk therapy. Over time, many people find experiences feel less intense and intrusive with the use of EMDR.
Trauma Informed Care
My approach to trauma-informed care is rooted in compassion, curiosity, and respect for each person’s unique story. Drawing from Gabor Maté’s Compassionate Inquiry, EMDR, somatic practices, and other evidence-informed approaches, I help clients gently explore the deeper roots of their experiences, reconnect with their bodies, build a greater sense of safety, and move toward healing at a pace that feels right for them.
Psychodynamic
My foundation is psychodynamic. Here we can explore how past experiences, relationships, and patterns outside of conscious awareness may shape their present emotions and behaviors. Through a supportive therapeutic relationship, clients can gain insight into recurring patterns and develop healthier ways of relating to themselves and others.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
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Licensed in
- CaliforniaLicense 28342
- ColoradoLicense CSW.09928324