Sara Santostefano
Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern
With a passion for walking alongside others on their journey toward healing and growth, my goal is to create a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where clients feel genuinely seen, heard, and valued. I approach each person with respect for their unique story, strengths, and the experiences that have shaped who they are. I believe in honoring the resilience people carry, even through life’s most difficult moments.
My approach to counseling is person-centered and integrative, drawing from different evidence-based approaches while tailoring therapy to each person’s unique needs and goals. I believe the therapeutic relationship is an important part of healing and that feeling safe, understood, and connected in the therapy space can create meaningful change. Whether you're navigating anxiety, relationship concerns, life transitions, trauma, or seeking deeper self-understanding, I am here to support you with empathy, authenticity, and compassion.
I hold a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Before beginning my graduate studies, I worked as a Social Worker with children and families in the dependency system. That experience taught me the importance of advocacy and the profound impact of early relationships and environments, which continues to inform my work today.
We offer free consultations call/text the front office: 727-308-6094
Specializations:
Credentials & Experience:
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Self-Esteem
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Anxiety
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OCD
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Perfectionism
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Women's issues
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Life transitions
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Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Southern
New Hampshire University -
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from University of South Florida
Sara sees clients 18 and above
Specializations:
Self-Esteem: Sara helps clients build self-esteem by fostering self-compassion, challenging negative self-talk, and developing greater confidence, self-worth, and resilience.
Women's Issues: She supports women through a variety of life experiences, helping them navigate challenges related to relationships, identity, personal growth, and overall well-being.
Trauma Informed: She provides a safe, supportive environment for individuals to process and heal from traumatic experiences, including physical, emotional, and sexual trauma.
Anxiety: She uses evidence-based approaches to help clients manage anxiety, reduce overwhelming thoughts and feelings, and develop healthy coping strategies for lasting relief.
Life Transitions: Sara helps clients navigate major life changes, such as career shifts, moves, relationship changes, and other transitions, while building confidence and resilience through periods of uncertainty.
Stress: She works with clients to identify sources of stress, strengthen coping skills, establish healthy boundaries, and create greater balance in their daily lives.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): She helps individuals with OCD manage intrusive thoughts and reduce compulsive behaviors using evidence-based approaches, empowering clients to regain confidence and improve their quality of life.
Perfectionism: Sara helps clients overcome perfectionism by reducing self-criticism, challenging unrealistic expectations, and developing healthier, more balanced ways of approaching goals, mistakes, and success.
Modalities:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): She uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients accept difficult thoughts and emotions while building skills to live in alignment with their values.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors that impact their emotions and daily life.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT): She uses Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), an evidence-based approach that helps clients process trauma, challenge unhelpful beliefs, and reduce PTSD symptoms.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP): She uses Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) to help clients reduce anxiety and overcome obsessive-compulsive symptoms by gradually facing fears and resisting compulsive behaviors.
Internal Family Systems (IFS): She uses Internal Family Systems (IFS) to help clients better understand the different parts of themselves, promote self-compassion, and foster lasting emotional healing.
Person-Centered Therapy: She uses a person-centered approach, creating a supportive, compassionate, and nonjudgmental environment where clients feel heard, valued, and empowered.
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT): She uses Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) to help clients build on their strengths, identify practical solutions, and make meaningful progress toward their goals.
Trauma-Focused Therapy: She uses trauma-focused approaches to help clients safely process traumatic experiences, reduce distress, and develop healthy coping skills for long-term healing.