Sara Yates, MSW, LCSW

(she/they)

I am a clinical social worker with over 11 years of experience. I have worked in both residential and outpatient settings, offering both group and individual therapy to clients experiencing depression and other mood disorders, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, problems with substance use, grief, and life transitions. I work with many clients who identify as LGBTQIA+ and believe that issues of social justice are often relevant to the work of therapy.

In my work I draw from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Inference Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients reduce symptoms and find new ways of coping with problems. I love bringing the creative process into therapy and am dedicated to helping clients develop sources of meaning and connection in their lives.

It is my intention to create a safe and welcoming space for clients to do the courageous work of healing. I believe that the therapist’s role is to be a compassionate presence who can help clients to explore their experiences with a sense of curiosity and non-judgment.

I am:

• LGBTQIA+ affirming 
• Sex-posiitve, Poly-friendly, Kink affirming
• Health at Every Size (HAES) oriented
• Committed to ongoing anti-racist work

Educational History:

I completed my undergraduate degree at UNC Greensboro and my graduate degree in Social Work at UNC Chapel Hill. 

I have additional training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Mindfulness, Inference Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), sex and sexuality, and Dialectical and Behavioral Therapy (DBT).