Sarah Wang

Therapist at Bethesda Counseling Services

Life can be complicated. Maybe you’re dealing with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, or a big life transition. Or maybe, on paper, everything looks pretty good, but you still feel stuck or just not quite like yourself. Therapy can be a place for you to prioritize your needs and slow things down, talk honestly about how you’re feeling, and start figuring out your next steps. 

Hi – I’m Sarah. My style as a therapist is relaxed, collaborative, and client led. I believe that you’re the expert on your own life, and I want our time together to help you gain new perspectives and feel empowered. Some of our sessions might be very practical and include learning skills you can use right away or figuring out how to handle a situation that’s happening in your life right now. Other times, we’ll dig deeper into patterns, relationships, or past experiences that keep showing up in your life to better understand yourself and to make meaningful changes. I use an integrative approach and draw from evidence-based therapies including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), psychodynamic therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Solution-Focused Therapy. I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to therapy, and I tailor my approach to each client’s individual needs. 

Before becoming a therapist, I spent 20 years as an attorney, working in both large law firms and the federal government. I enjoyed practicing law, but I also know firsthand what it’s like to work in demanding environments where long hours, perfectionism, high expectations, and putting everyone else’s needs ahead of your own can start to feel normal. I also understand the challenges that come with facing life transitions and how what we do shapes our identity. And I understand the power of self-compassion.I enjoy working with adolescents and adults from all backgrounds dealing with anxiety, depression, stress, relationship challenges, self-esteem, burnout, professional identity, and major life changes. I enjoy supporting couples and children in navigating life’s complexities, too. My clinical experience includes providing individual therapy to adolescents and adults in a private practice in Rockville, as well as training at the Wheaton High School Wellness Center, where I worked with adolescents both individually and in groups in a school-based setting. And in my free time, I love to travel, spend time with my family, read, and find new restaurants all around DC. 

I want therapy to be a place where you can show up as your full, unvarnished self. You don’t need to have the right words or know exactly what’s wrong. You can just start where you are, and we’ll figure out the rest together—with curiosity, compassion, and even a little humor. I’m excited to meet you.