Due to COVID-19 I am currently providing teletherapy sessions via a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform and offering limited in office sessions. Per my licensing requirements, you must reside in the state of Virginia if you are interested in teletherapy
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”
― Anais Nin
Welcome to Sarah Cook Therapy
Welcome to my therapy practice. My practice is guided by my core beliefs that people are good, that people always make sense within context, and that people thrive when they feel connected to someone or something. I provide therapy for couples and adult individuals. I acknowledge and appreciate the steps that brought you to my site were probably not easy ones.
I would feel privileged to support you along your journey. I strive to create an environment that is safe and warm, real and relevant, and one where you will not feel judged. I consider my sessions to be interactive and collaborative as we work together. My passion is to help guide the process of change so that you can live your optimal life.
MEET SARAH
As an ICEEFT- Certified Emotionally Focused Supervisor and Therapist, I work through the lens of attachment theory and with a focus on becoming oriented to our emotions to understand our behavior and how we communicate with those we care about. I am passionate about the Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) method– a humanistic model supported by research– and have witnessed the model effectively strengthen emotional bonds between partners to create more secure attachments.
I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and Asian Studies from the University of Virginia. I received my Masters in Social Work, with a concentration in Child Welfare, from Virginia Commonwealth University. My Masters-level research focused on ethnic identity development in transracial adoptees. This interest stemmed from my personal journey as a biracial person, navigating my ethnic identity while straddling two cultures and with a blend of skin color.
I have worked in child welfare agencies, a community mental health agency, provided home-based counseling services, facilitated psychoeducational substance abuse groups, and provided counseling support to families in the Early Intervention Program. Since 2011, I have been providing psychotherapy to adolescents, individuals, and couples.
I had formative experiences living and working in Japan and Vietnam and am culturally curious. I enjoy travel, ethnic cuisines, yoga, nutrition, and can easily get lost in plant and garden blogs.
I am committed to anti-racist and LGBTQIA+ inclusive work, both professionally and personally. I warmly welcome all people in all bodies to my practice.
In addition, I am proud to be the Co-Director of the Washington Baltimore Center for Emotionally Focused Therapy (WBCEFT). We are a center committed to training and supporting therapists learning Emotion Focused Therapy and are committed to increasing accessibility and diversity through our Diversity and Inclusion Fellowship. Please visit us at www.washingtonbaltimorecenterforeft.com
I Work With Individuals and Couples
INDIVIDUAL THERAPY
I tailor sessions to meet the needs of the client. When working with individuals I will often blend interventions from Emotion Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), somatic experiencing, cognitive-behavioral techniques, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused therapy. I hope to provide a safe space to process and feel whatever area of distress is most potent with the aim to find relief, understanding, and compassion.
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
-Viktor Frankl
Couples Therapy
It’s a privilege to work with partners navigating the tricky waters of love and attachment. I’m a Certified Supervisor and Therapist in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and have found EFT to be a powerful method that can help couples repair hurts, understand behaviors better, and increase security and connection in the relationship.
Additionally, I have advanced training in the Gottman Method and appreciate the decades of couples research that John Gottman has contributed to our field. I have advanced training in sex therapy and believe the sexual connection is an important piece of adult attachment. As a lifelong learner, I recently completed the Sexual Health Certificate Program at the University of Michigan and am currently pursuing certification as a sex therapist with the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT).
“Adult love has three elements: sexuality, caregiving (a blend of attentiveness and empathy), and attachment. And the last is by far the most important.”
-Sue Johnson, Founder of Emotion Focused Therapy
Contact sarah
Ask a question or book an appointment. Please fill out all fields.
To get started, I offer a free 15-minute consultation. Research has shown that the client-therapist goodness of fit is an important factor for positive therapy outcomes.
For emergencies call 911 or visit your nearest hospital.