Sarah Turnpaugh, LCSW

Sarah Turnpaugh is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in Virginia who offers steady, practical support for people facing stress, anxiety, grief, or trauma and abuse. She uses straightforward conversation and focused strategies to help people feel less stuck and more able to manage everyday demands.

Sarah draws on client-centered work to listen and build therapy around each person’s strengths. She also uses cognitive behavioral tools to help identify unhelpful thinking and try small changes that make daily life easier. These approaches are mixed with narrative and solution-focused techniques to help people clarify what matters and take concrete steps forward.

She has five years of clinical experience and works with adults and adolescents dealing with relationship strain, parenting stress, career shifts, compassion fatigue, and chronic health challenges. Sarah also supports people managing grief, self-esteem struggles, ADHD, anger, and the aftermath of divorce or domestic violence.

Sessions focus on clear goals and practical skills. Clients can expect an empathetic listener who asks questions, reflects what she hears, and offers strategies that can be practiced between meetings. The tone is respectful and down-to-earth rather than clinical.

If someone is ready to begin, the typical next step is to request an appointment and complete an initial matching process. That first conversation helps set priorities and map out what to work on together.

How therapeutic approaches shape online care

Client-centered therapy focuses on the person in front of the therapist. It involves active listening, reflecting what the client says, and adapting sessions to the client’s pace and needs. This approach helps people feel heard and involved in planning their goals.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions interact. It uses clear, practical exercises to test and change unhelpful thinking patterns, which can help with anxiety, depression, and stress-related problems.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Sarah will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what has helped or not helped in the past. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust them as needed during the course of therapy.

If you prefer online sessions, confirm the available session formats before booking. Many people find that online therapy helps fit appointments into workdays, reduces travel time, and makes it easier to keep regular meetings. Others appreciate shorter check-ins when time is tight or audio-only conversations if video feels like too much at first. Discuss format and scheduling options when you start so sessions can fit into your daily routine.