PuttingFamilyFirst

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SD Portrait of Sara Dabney
Online therapist

Sara Dabney

Calm, practical therapy for real life

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Credentials
LCSW
Experience
5 years
Licensed in
Florida
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Sara

Sara Dabney is a licensed clinical social worker who blends practical skills with a calm, down-to-earth presence. She uses evidence-based tools to help people manage stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and other struggles. Sara trained in social work at the University of South Florida and brings five years of clinical experience to her practice.

She practices in Florida and works in English. Her background includes studies focused on child maltreatment and graduate research involving HIV and PTSD symptom patterns.

Background and approach

Before social work she trained as a yoga teacher and earned a massage therapy license in 2014, which informs her interest in mind-body approaches. She is credentialed as an LCSW - licensed clinical social worker - with license number FL LCSW SW17947. In sessions she draws from cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and client-centered care.

That means she helps people notice patterns, try small behavioral experiments, and practice skills that calm the nervous system and change unhelpful thinking. Motivational interviewing is used when making changes feels especially hard.

Sara lists a wide range of concerns she addresses, including trauma and abuse, addiction, eating and body image issues, LGBT concerns, intimacy-related issues, parenting, adoption and foster care, and caregiving stress. She also names chronic illness, communication problems, dissociation, and divorce among areas she supports. Her style is straightforward and accepting.

She aims to meet people where they are and build practical steps that fit everyday life. The focus is on what helps clients take the next step.

Therapeutic approaches and how they work online

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, focuses on noticing thoughts and values and taking action toward what matters. It can help with anxiety, depression, and navigating big life changes by teaching flexible ways to respond to difficult thoughts and feelings. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and behavior and uses small experiments and practical exercises to shift unhelpful patterns. It is useful for anxiety, depression, and stress. Mindfulness Therapy helps people build present-moment awareness through simple practices that reduce reactivity and improve emotional regulation.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will listen to the client’s goals and try approaches that fit their needs and preferences. Over time methods can be adjusted based on what helps most, so the plan evolves with the client.

Online therapy offers flexibility with video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options make it easier to use therapy around work, school, and caregiving responsibilities. Sessions can include guided exercises, skills practice, and real-time coaching, so people can apply what they learn immediately in their daily lives.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Less about arguing with difficult thoughts, more about loosening their grip and acting on what matters to you anyway. Values and committed action carry the work, which suits conversation at a distance.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Frequently asked questions

What issues does this therapist address?
Sara works with many concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, addictions, eating and body image issues, intimacy-related concerns, parenting, and caregiving stress.
What is her therapeutic style like?
She uses a mix of evidence-based approaches with a practical, accepting style. Sessions focus on skills, noticing patterns, and small changes that can fit into daily life.
What training and background does she have?
Sara earned a Master of Social Work from the University of South Florida and has five years of clinical experience. Her earlier training includes yoga teaching and a license in massage therapy earned in 2014.
Where is the therapist licensed and based?
She is licensed as an LCSW - licensed clinical social worker - in Florida with license number FL LCSW SW17947.
Which languages are available for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are offered?
Therapy is available via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
How are fees and payment handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience
5 years
Licensed
Florida
Languages
English

Next step

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