Sara DeVaney, LCSW, LICSW

Sara DeVaney is a licensed clinical social worker with 19 years of experience in Oregon. She focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma. She also supports clients dealing with motivation, self-esteem, addiction, grief, and ADHD. Sara aims to meet people where they are and treat them with respect and compassion.

Sara adapts conversations and plans to each person's situation rather than using a one-size-fits-all method. She listens for what matters most to the client and builds steps that feel practical and doable. Sessions often include setting clear goals and trying small changes between meetings.

Her approach blends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and client-centered techniques. That mix helps people notice unhelpful thoughts, clarify values, and practice actions that match their goals. Motivational Interviewing and Narrative Therapy are also part of her toolkit when exploring ambivalence or reshaping personal stories.

People who come to Sara typically want straightforward support and tools they can use day to day. She aims to create a calm space where honest conversation leads to clearer choices. The work focuses on what the client wants to change and how to get there.

Starting therapy is framed as a step-by-step process. Sara helps people identify priorities, try strategies, and adjust the plan over time so progress fits real life.

How evidence-based approaches translate to online care

CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing them with practical experiments. It helps with anxiety, low mood, and patterns that get in the way of everyday functioning. ACT - Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - encourages noticing difficult thoughts and feelings while committing to actions that reflect personal values. That can help with avoidance and motivation. Client-centered therapy emphasizes listening, empathy, and working at the client’s pace to build trust and clarity.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist collaborates with the client to choose methods that fit their needs, goals, and preferences. Together they try techniques, review what helps, and adjust the plan as progress is made.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make care more flexible. Video is useful for in-depth conversations and exercises, phone can work well when bandwidth is limited, and messaging lets people check in between sessions or use brief coaching-style support. These options help people fit therapy into busy schedules and maintain continuity when travel or life changes make in-person visits difficult.