Sara Minter, AMFT #158753

Life can feel overwhelming at times. Being human comes with complexity-emotions can feel intense, relationships can feel confusing, and at times it may feel like you are carrying more than you know how to hold. Many people come into therapy feeling stuck, disconnected, or unsure of how to move forward, even when they are trying their best. 

I believe that we all develop ways of coping that make sense given our experiences. What may show up as anxiety, depression, trauma responses, or relationship struggles are often not flaws, but adaptive attempts to manage pain, uncertainty, or disconnection. Even behaviors that feel frustrating or harmful often serve a purpose. In our work together, we begin by understanding these patterns with curiosity rather than judgment, while also building new ways of responding that feel more supportive and aligned with who you want to be. 

My role as your therapist is to create a space that feels safe, collaborative, and grounded. Where you can explore your experiences, process emotions, and move toward meaningful and lasting change.

Educational and Clinical Background:

I earned both my Bachelor’s degree in Integrative Psychology and my Master’s degree in Counseling from National University, San Diego. My education emphasized a holistic understanding of mental health, integrating emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and relational perspectives.

My clinical experience includes working across a wide range of populations and settings, which has given me a strong foundation in understanding diverse needs and presentations. I have worked in an LGBTQ+ affirming center as well as within an eating disorder treatment clinic where I supported clients navigating complex relationships with identity, body image, and coping strategies. 

These experiences have shaped my approach to inclusive, trauma-informed, and attuned to both individual and relational dynamics. I also have training in mindfulness-based practices, which I incorporate into my work to support awareness, grounding, and emotional regulation.

Areas of Focus:

I work with adults and couples navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, eating disorder-related concerns, and life transitions. I also support clients struggling with overthinking, emotional intensity, self-esteem, and patterns such as avoidance or self-injury.

Reestablishing Safety and Processing Emotions:

A central part of my work is helping clients reestablish a sense of safety, both internally and within their relationships. Many people come into therapy feeling either overwhelmed by anxiety or emotional intensity or disconnected and shut down. Before deeper processing can take place, it is important to build a foundation of stability and regulation.

In our work together, we focus on developing a better understanding of your emotional and physical experiences, while also building practical tools to support you in moments of distress. This may include grounding and breathing techniques to help you reconnect with your internal experience, especially if you tend to feel disconnected or unsure of what you’re feeling. 

Part of this process also involves understanding that even healthy change can feel uncomfortable at first. When you begin to set boundaries, communicate differently, or shift long-standing patterns, it is common for discomfort to arise. Together, we work on building the capacity to move through that discomfort safely, rather than avoiding it, so that change can feel sustainable and meaningful.

Therapeutic Approaches:

I integrate multiple evidence-based approaches to support each client’s unique needs.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): 

I often incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help you better understand the connection between your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Together, we identify patterns that may be contributing to anxiety, self-doubt, or low mood, and work toward developing more balanced and supportive ways of thinking. 

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT):

I also integrate Dialectical Behavior Therapy, which focuses on building practical skills for managing intense emotions and improving relationship. This includes learning how to tolerate distress in difficult moments, regulate emotions more effectively, and communicate needs in a way that feels clear and respectful. These skills can be especially helpful if you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, reactive, or stuck in cycles that are hard to break.

Somatic and Mindfulness-based Approaches:

In addition, I incorporate somatic and mindfulness-based approaches, recognizing that our bodies play a key role in how we experience stress and emotion. This might involve increasing awareness of physical sensations, learning how to ground yourself in the present moment, or gently working with your nervous system to reduce patterns of anxiety or shutdown.

Trauma-informed Care:

All my work is rooted in a trauma-informed approach, which means we move at a pace that feels safe while also working toward meaningful change. Rather than pushing you to revisit difficult experiences before you are ready, we focus on building stability, understanding patterns, and creating a sense of safety that allows deeper processing to happen over time. 

Couples and Relationship Work:

In working with couples, I focus on helping partners move out of patterns of conflict and into greater understanding and connection. Many relationship challenges are not about one person being right or wrong, but about cycles that develop over time, where both partners feel unheard, misunderstood, or disconnected.

In our work together, we slow these patterns down and begin to explore what is happening underneath them. This includes building skills around communication, learning how to listen and respond in a more intentional way, and increasing emotional understanding of one another. I also help couples reconnect with what matters to them in the relationship, so they begin to move toward each other rather than against each other. 

My goal is to create a space where both partners feel heard and supported, while also helping the relationship shift toward more secure, respectful, and meaningful connection. 

My Approach to Therapy:

I believe therapy should feel collaborative, supportive, and empowering. I aim to meet clients with warmth, curiosity, and authenticity, while also gently challenging patterns that may be keeping them stuck. 

I do not believe in “fixing” people. Instead, I believe in helping you reconnect with your strengths, your values, and your capacity for change. Growth often involves stepping into discomfort, and I support you in doing so at a pace that feels safe and sustainable. 

Whether you are navigating anxiety, trauma, relationship challenges, or a major life transition, therapy can be a space to slow down, gain clarity, and move toward a life that feels more aligned and meaningful. 

I believe each person already holds the key to their own truth; I am simply here to help you access it. Wherever you are in your story, you do not have to navigate it alone. I would be honored to be here with you as you move toward, healing, self-discovery, and growth. 

I offer a complimentary 20-minute consultation to discuss your unique needs and explore how we can work together to achieve your therapeutic goals. This initial meeting is an opportunity for us to connect, and for you to ask any questions you may have about the therapeutic process.

Please do not hesitate to contact me for a free 20-minute consultation.

Individual therapy sessions are 50 minutes/$140 per session and couples sessions are 50 minutes/$160 per session. 

Email: Saramintermft@gmail.com

 Phone #: (619) 734-9064