Sarah O'Leary

Sarah O'Leary's approach to therapy is rooted in a holistic biopsychosocial-spiritual model, recognizing the intricate interconnectedness of biology, psychology, social environment, and spirituality in an individual's life. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist at Estes Therapy in San Diego, Sarah creates a safe space where clients can authentically explore their emotions, take chances, and overcome obstacles.

Sarah's journey into the field of therapy began with a fascination for understanding human behavior and interactions, which was further sparked by her childhood experience of immigrating to America. This early interest blossomed into a passion for psychology, ultimately leading her to pursue a career in Marriage and Family Therapy. She earned her Bachelor's degree in psychology from San Diego State University, with a minor in Counseling and Social Change, followed by a Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of San Diego.

Throughout her academic journey, Sarah gained valuable experience working at Estes Therapy, where she contributed to content creation, ran workshops, and learned from experienced therapists. Her practical training includes working as an individual and group therapist at the University of San Diego's Eating Disorder clinic, where she was part of an interdisciplinary team in partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient settings.

Sarah's therapeutic approach emphasizes the importance of emotions in daily life and relationships. She helps clients identify and understand their emotions, recognizing that even challenging feelings like anger can provide valuable insights into personal values and boundaries. Her work encompasses individual therapy, couples counseling, and adolescent therapy, with a focus on providing tangible tools for distress tolerance, emotional regulation, mindfulness, communication, and cognitive restructuring.

In her practice, Sarah combines her professional expertise with a genuine passion for helping others. She creates an open, compassionate, and supportive environment where clients can work towards self-discovery, relationship improvements, and personal growth. Whether addressing specific obstacles, recovering from anxiety, depression, addiction, eating disorders, loss, infidelity, or trauma, Sarah is committed to guiding her clients towards a more fulfilled and authentic life.

For those considering therapy, Sarah offers reassurance and encouragement. She understands the nervousness that can accompany the decision to start therapy and views it as a courageous step towards self-prioritization and personal growth. Sarah's approach is tailored to each individual's needs, ensuring that every client feels valued, heard, and supported throughout their therapeutic journey.