Sarah Wilson, PhD

I was born and raised in Southern California and spent much of my adult life moving around the country as I pursued my education and training in psychology. I moved to the East Bay in 2013 and am happy to live in a place surrounded by natural beauty and diverse in culture and thought. I am grateful to be raising my family here and to have my own psychology and coaching practice in a place where both mental and physical well-being are valued and prioritized. ​​My approach to therapy prioritizes relieving any distressing mental-health symptoms, changing ineffective or harmful behaviors, and uncovering and realizing the client's potential and self-worth. I do this by engaging in a collaborative relationship with my clients; one in which we work together to identify areas of concern and goals for treatment. I also base my interventions on a foundation of feminism and social-justice, exploring with clients the impact of the larger social systems in which they work and live. I am directive and take an active role in our sessions, utilizing cognitive-behavioral, mindfulness, interpersonal, and client-centered interventions, to explore the potential cause of the distress and, more importantly, how to resolve it. My approach to coaching is both similar and different from that of my therapy practice. Building rapport quickly is essential, as is maintaining a collaborative relationship, and collaborating to identify treatment goals. However, coaching does also differ from therapy. In coaching, we do not seek to address symptoms associated with mental health diagnoses. I provide coaching to clients who specifically want to identify ways in which they can be more productive in their professional or personal lives. We do this together by clarifying a client's goals and exploring any real or imagined obstacles to achieving those goals. We then put together a plan to overcoming those obstacles. I utilize specific coaching interventions, including mindfulness, interpersonal relationship effectiveness skills, social-emotional skills, and leadership development. ​ I have worked with clients as young as 6 and as old as 80, in many different settings. Many of my clients have described me as compassionate, open-minded, knowledgable, patient, and kind, all while maintaining a good sense of humor. I utilize these traits to build rapport with clients, while also drawing upon my knowledge and skill in research-supported interventions to alleviate mental and emotional distress. I specialize in working with adults struggling with depression, anxiety, stress management, and life transitions. I also work with people to accept and tolerate their emotional distress, to appropriately communicate their needs in relationships, and to find meaning and purpose in their work, academic, and personal lives. I love the work I do and am inspired by the transformation I see in the people with whom I work. I look forward to speaking with you about your current concerns as well as your goals for living a more fulfilling and meaningful life.