SARAH BURSLEY, CT

Sarah Bursley (pronouns: she/her) is a counselor trainee who works with adults, couples, and families. Her specialty interests include: substance use issues, adjustment and life transitions, coping skills, relationship issues, and mood disorders. She utilizes treatment approaches that are evidence-based and actively engages in supervision to ensure the success of each client.

Sarah completed her advanced education at Kent State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a concentration in counseling careers and a minor in communication studies. She is currently a master’s student at her alma mater completing a degree in clinical mental health counseling. Sarah also earned a certificate to become a Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant (CDCA) and took specialized coursework in addiction counseling. She has a passion for learning and a strong desire to always continue to improve her counseling practices.

Prior to private practice, Sarah worked with diverse clients in hospital, college, and family/community service settings. Over the last few years, she has had many unique opportunities. Some of these include extending supervision for families with a history of intimate partner violence, providing group therapy in a treatment program for those with substance use disorder diagnoses, and collaborating with young adults experiencing life adjustment issues in individual counseling sessions.

All of these have contributed to her passion for helping others and her desire to continue expanding her skills and knowledge as she continues to grow as a counselor. Sarah currently holds certifications in cultural humility and telehealth.

Beyond her clinical work, Sarah works at Kent State University as an academic advisor for students pursuing a degree in nursing. She is currently in her graduate program looking to complete her education by December 2025. She hopes to continue learning from fellow counselors and grow in her practice.

Sarah approach to counseling is relational and emotion-focused because she believes that personal growth is the result of empowering connections that are rooted in safety, authenticity, vulnerability, and mutual respect. In addition to being a non-judgmental, compassionate listener she is a collaborative strength-builder and problem-solver. She is known for using psychoeducation, motivational interviewing, person-centered approaches, and cognitive behavioral therapy in session.

Her strengths include: empathy, compassion, active listening, love of learning, social intelligence, and a flexibility to adjust approaches based on the client’s needs.