Sarah Doan, LMHC

Meet Sarah

Hi, I’m Sarah! I’m a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), and I’ve spent more than a decade helping people work through some of life’s most difficult experiences.

I’ve known I wanted to be a therapist since I was young. For me, this work has always felt like a calling. There’s something incredibly meaningful about helping someone reconnect with themselves, understand their experiences, and begin making changes that once felt impossible.

I work with people experiencing trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, addiction, and major life transitions. I’m especially passionate about helping individuals work through complex trauma and recognize how past experiences may still be influencing their present lives.

My goal isn’t to turn you into a completely different person. It’s to help you reconnect with who you are underneath everything you’ve been carrying.

My Approach to Therapy

I don’t believe there’s one perfect way to approach therapy.

Everyone brings their own experiences, personality, beliefs, and needs into the room, and I think therapy should reflect that.

My approach is flexible, collaborative, and grounded in genuine connection. I bring honesty, compassion, and humor into sessions because I believe meaningful therapeutic work can happen without every conversation feeling heavy or overly formal.

I incorporate several evidence-based approaches, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Internal Family Systems (IFS), depending on what feels appropriate for your needs.

I also enjoy bringing creativity into therapy. Writing, art, music, and movement can offer different ways to explore emotions, express difficult experiences, and connect with parts of ourselves that aren’t always easy to put into words.

We’ll work together to find an approach that makes sense for you.

Working Through Trauma & Reconnecting With Yourself

Trauma can influence the way we see ourselves, relate to others, and experience everyday life.

Sometimes the effects are obvious. Other times, they show up as patterns that are difficult to understand, emotional reactions that feel overwhelming, or a persistent sense of being disconnected from yourself.

I specialize in complex trauma and work with clients to better understand how their experiences have shaped them.

Through approaches such as EMDR, IFS, and other trauma-focused techniques, I help clients explore difficult memories and emotions while developing greater self-awareness and emotional stability.

I believe healing involves learning how to understand your experiences with compassion rather than judgment.

You don’t need to have everything figured out before we begin. We’ll work through things together at a pace that respects your needs.

Supporting Addiction Recovery, Anxiety & Depression

In addition to trauma work, I have extensive experience supporting individuals navigating substance use, addiction recovery, anxiety, and depression.

These challenges can affect relationships, self-esteem, daily functioning, and the way people feel about themselves.

I approach these experiences with curiosity and compassion, recognizing that there is always more to a person’s story than the challenges they’re facing.

My goal is to help clients better understand their experiences, identify patterns, develop healthier coping strategies, and make changes that align with the lives they want to build.

I’m also passionate about supporting people from marginalized communities and creating a therapeutic space where different identities, cultures, relationships, and beliefs are respected.

A Creative, Individualized Therapy Experience

One of the things that makes my approach a little different is my appreciation for creative expression.

Sometimes talking is exactly what we need. Other times, writing, art, music, or movement can help us connect with emotions and experiences in a different way.

I enjoy incorporating these elements when they feel helpful and relevant to a client’s goals.

I also believe humor has a place in therapy. We can work through serious experiences while still finding moments of connection, lightness, and laughter.

Above all, I want our sessions to feel like a space where you can be honest, explore difficult things, and feel supported without judgment.

My Background & Experience

I earned my Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Argosy University–Sarasota in 2014, with graduate specialization in grief, substance dependence, group therapy, and trauma-related treatment.

I’m a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida, a National Certified Counselor, and a Qualified Supervisor.

Over the past 12 years, I’ve worked with individuals experiencing a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and mental health concerns.

That experience has reinforced my belief that good therapy begins with understanding the individual, building trust, and finding approaches that genuinely support their needs.

A Little More About Me

Outside of the therapy room, I love vacationing somewhere cold, reading, gaming, and spending time stargazing.

I’m also a Reiki Master, and I value the role creativity, personal reflection, and spirituality can play in people’s lives.

I believe everyone deserves a space where they can feel accepted, understood, and supported as they explore who they are and what they need.

If you’re considering therapy, I’d be glad to help you take that next step.