Trauma mental health therapist north carolina

About Therapy with Sarah

Many of my clients come to me knowing they’re capable of more, but past experiences, anxiety, or old habits keep holding them back. I also support clients with ADHD, perfectionism, low self-esteem, and people-pleasing tendencies (been there!). Whether we use EMDR, talk therapy, or a blend of both, I’ll meet you where you are and tailor therapy to your needs. My clients often describe feeling both supported and challenged in a way that helps them move forward.

I provide virtual and evening availability to make therapy more accessible for busy professionals, caregivers, or students.

If you think we might be a good fit, please schedule a free 15-minute consultation.

The best way to reach me to call or text my business phone at 336-439-1941 or email me at srompalo@hopefuloakstherapy.com

Insurances Accepted:

Aetna (including State Health Plan)

BlueCross BlueShield

A winding road through a dense forest with sunlight streaming through the trees.

What are sessions like?

During your first few sessions, we will get to know each other, talk about your goals, what you’d like to see improved in your life, and make a concrete plan on where to start- whether it’s adding more support or laying out what you want to start processing.

I am all about transparency throughout the therapy process and making sure your needs are being met.

You need more structure in therapy? Let’s make a plan to see what we can add.

You feel like you need an open space to process? I’m all ears!

What Kinds of Challenges or Issues do you Typically Help With?

Life is complicated so people come to therapy to get help with a lot of different things.

Here are the areas where many of my clients want help or support— not an exhaustive list

  • I provide supportive to folks who have experienced a vast array of traumatic incidents. During sessions, we will look at how trauma is impacting you and what processing for you looks like. This could be verbally processing in therapy or utilizing EMDR.

  • Low self-esteem or low confidence can make you feel less than and impact your ability to connect with others. In therapy, we can unpack those negative core beliefs and identify steps in increasing your confidence. You deserve to feel proud of yourself!

  • Depression and anxiety can impact us in relationships, work, school, or our ability to enjoy life. In sessions my ultimate goal is to be a supportive presence and provide space for you to process what is coming up for you. We can also discuss strategies to help manage depression and anxiety.

  • Being neurodiverse in a neurotypical world is difficult and at times overwhelming. It also can be a really big strength. Having a space to get support or learn strategies to help with social skills, emotional regulation, task initiation, or time management can be helpful

  • We all have conflicts in relationships- they are not fun. Sometimes these conflicts turn into patterns that we don’t know how to navigate. Together in therapy we will unpack your experiences and identify ways to support you. This might look like a space to verbally process, communication tools, or figuring out what your boundaries are.

  • Grief comes in many shapes and sizes. We can grieve people, pets, places, and losses of experiences. We can also grieve people who are still living if they are no longer an active part in our life. An important part in the grief process is support and space to process. Therapy can be a wonderful way to get that support and space.

  • If you are feeling overwhelmed and are unsure why- maybe this is you! Together we can unpack and identify ways to support you in moving forward with your goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • You can contact me through email at srompalo@hopefuloakstherapy.com or via phone at 336-439-1941.

  • You can pay three different ways either through insurance, self-pay at the full-rate, or sliding scale.

    I accept Aetna (including the NC State Health Plan) and BlueCross BlueShield currently. After you send me a picture of your insurance card, we can confirm your copay amount for each session.

    If you prefer not to use insurance or do not have insurance, you can also pay my self-pay rate at $150 for a 55–60-minute session.

    If you are unable to pay the full-self-pay rate I have a limited number of sliding scale slots. Sliding scale is from $110-150 depending on your comfortability and budget for therapy.

  • I graduated from my Master of Social Work program in 2023 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Heel (go heels!). After that, I worked in community mental health in Bellingham, WA then Lexington, NC. After that, I have been working with primarily college students providing mental health therapy and through my private practice in the evenings. I have specialized training in ADHD, trauma, EMDR, and domestic violence. I truly love my job and always strive to learn more!

  • Of course! It would be weird if you knew nothing about me.

    I really value being active and exploring. I love walking, running, hiking, and doing yoga. I love the outdoors and I struggle with winters. I am a big fan of national parks. My favorite national park is Mount Rainier in Washington.

    I really enjoy photography- both film and digital.

    I have a cat named Fig who I got in graduate school. He unfortunately is not allowed in my sessions since he will chew cords if I do not pet him. He can make a short appearance upon request though!