Sara Barrientos, LCSW

Sara Barrientos is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Illinois who helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and changes that come with aging. She also supports those coping with caregiving strain, relationship and communication problems, parenting challenges, sleep difficulties, anger, bipolar mood concerns, and intimacy-related issues.

She draws on 13 years of social work experience and long-term work in programs for older adults. She has spent a decade in an intensive outpatient group therapy program for senior citizens with depression and anxiety, and also has experience with at-risk youth, adolescent and adult behavioral health, and clients facing loss and marital concerns.

In sessions she aims to uplift and encourage people while helping them set practical goals. She focuses on small, achievable steps and offers accountability to help clients follow through. Her approach is warm and straightforward, and she will meet each person where they are in their life.

Sara uses several therapeutic methods to guide conversations and practice new skills. She often blends strategies that help people notice their thoughts, test unhelpful beliefs, and commit to meaningful actions. She also helps people clarify values and find workable solutions when life feels stuck.

Her background working with older adults and caregivers informs her work with aging-related concerns and the stresses around caring for others. She conducts therapy in English and practices in Illinois as an LCSW.

How therapy approaches guide online work

Sara often uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people notice difficult thoughts and feelings and choose actions that align with their values. ACT can be useful for anxiety, stress, and when life changes make decision-making harder.

She also draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to identify unhelpful thinking patterns and practice different responses. CBT is practical and skill-focused, often helping with depression, sleep problems, and mood symptoms by teaching thought testing and behavioral experiments.

Finding the right fit is part of the process. Sara works collaboratively to match approaches to a client's goals, needs, and personal preferences. She will discuss options and adapt methods so work in therapy feels meaningful and doable.

The original biography does not list specific session formats, so please confirm which online or in-person options are currently offered before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, shorten travel time, and allow quick check-ins when schedules are tight. Different formats can also mean less need to be on camera or allow a shorter focused session during a break, depending on what is arranged.