Sarah Mailhot, LICSW

Sarah Mailhot is a Rhode Island licensed clinical social worker with 18 years of experience. Sarah uses a respectful, direct style that aims to make sessions feel manageable from the first meeting. Sarah focuses on practical strategies to reduce overwhelming feelings and improve day-to-day functioning.

Sarah works with people who are struggling with stress, anxiety, anger, depression, ADHD, and LGBT-related concerns. She also helps with issues tied to attachment, caregiver strain, chronic illness and pain, and isolation. Sessions address real-life problems like communication, commitment, infidelity, and feelings of guilt or shame.

Her approach blends several methods, including cognitive behavioral techniques to change unhelpful thinking, acceptance and commitment ideas to clarify values, and client-centered listening to build trust. Dialectical behavior tools and existential reflection may be used when they fit the client’s goals.

In session, Sarah tailors conversations and plans to each person’s situation. She focuses on clear steps clients can try between meetings and on building skills that translate into daily life. The tone is practical and compassionate, with direct feedback and space for reflection.

Sarah acknowledges that starting therapy takes courage and respects that first step. She aims to support people as they set realistic goals and test small changes. Work with her centers on what a person wants to change and how to get there one step at a time.

Approaches that guide online care

Sarah commonly draws on cognitive behavioral work to help people notice and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression and make daily tasks easier. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is used to clarify what matters to a person and to build committed action toward those values even when difficult feelings are present. Client-centered therapy provides a nonjudgmental space where the therapist listens closely and follows the client’s lead to build trust and understanding.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Sarah will discuss different methods and fit them to a person’s goals, needs, and preferences. That process is collaborative and may change over time as priorities shift or new challenges appear.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy more flexible. Video allows face-to-face conversation, phone can be a simpler option when bandwidth is limited, live chat works for shorter check-ins, and text messaging supports ongoing reflection between meetings. These options help people fit therapy into busy lives and maintain continuity when schedules change.