PuttingFamilyFirst

The therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp and we will earn a commission if you use our link - at no cost to you.

SP Portrait of Sarah Plano
Online therapist

Sarah Plano

Supportive counselor with practical coping tools

Credentials
LCMHC
Experience
17 years
Licensed in
North Carolina
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Sarah

Sarah Plano is a licensed counselor who uses a client-centered approach to guide people through difficult times. She draws on 17 years of clinical experience to listen closely and help clients find practical ways forward. Her style is straightforward and respectful, with a focus on what a person needs right now.

She commonly helps with stress and anxiety, depression, grief and loss, and relationship struggles. Career concerns, addiction, parenting challenges, and intimacy-related issues are also part of her practice.

Background and approach

She also addresses issues tied to body image, attachment, and blending families. Sarah uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and client-centered methods to shape sessions. That means she helps clients notice patterns in thinking and behavior, set small reachable goals, and guides conversations around each person's priorities.

Sessions are adapted to fit individual preferences and circumstances. Sarah holds the Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor credential, LCMHC, and practices in North Carolina. She offers sessions in English and does not take international clients.

Therapy sessions are available by video call, phone, live chat, or messaging depending on what a client prefers. To begin, a person selects the Start Therapy button, completes a short matching questionnaire, and schedules according to the therapist's availability. The subscription-based model for sessions can be canceled at any time.

Therapeutic approaches for online family and parenting concerns

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening without judgment and following the client's lead. It helps people feel heard and helps identify what matters most to them in parenting or family stress.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts affect feelings and actions. It is useful for managing anxiety, depression, and unhelpful patterns that affect relationships or parenting choices.

Solution-Focused Therapy emphasizes small, practical steps and clear goals. It is often used to find immediate, workable changes for specific problems like communication or coping with life changes.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, needs, and preferences, and then suggest approaches that fit. Sessions can shift over time as needs change, so clients and the therapist decide together what works best.

Online therapy offers flexibility for busy family lives. Video calls allow face-to-face connection, phone sessions remove travel time, and live chat or text messaging can fit quick check-ins or people who prefer writing. These options make it easier to fit ongoing support into a hectic schedule while keeping the focus on progress and practical tools.

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.

Solution-Focused Therapy

Rather than examining the problem at length, this looks at what is already working and builds on it. Sessions tend to be practical and forward-looking, with small achievable steps, which translates readily to shorter online conversations.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns can I bring to therapy?
Clients commonly seek help for stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and parenting issues. Other focuses include career difficulties, addiction, body image, and trauma or abuse.
How would you describe the therapeutic style?
Sessions blend client-centered listening with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution-Focused techniques. That means conversations center on the client's priorities, while also working on thinking patterns and practical goals.
What is Sarah's background and experience?
She has 17 years of professional work experience supporting people with a wide range of concerns. Her approach emphasizes respect, sensitivity, and tailoring the plan to each person's needs.
Where is this therapist licensed?
Sarah is licensed in North Carolina as an LCMHC, license number NC LCMHC 8779.
Which languages are offered for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
Therapy is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences.
How does payment and cost work?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability. Sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What do I do to start therapy?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Next step

Talk to Sarah

  • Takes a few minutes
  • Nothing to set up just to look
  • Stop at any point