- Trauma-informed care
- Mind-body perspective
- Relationship focus
About Sara
Sara Tinker, LCSW, offers calm, direct support for people facing life changes and health challenges. She focuses on helping clients manage stress, anxiety, depression, relationship struggles, grief, and the effects of chronic pain or illness. Her approach is warm and interactive, aimed at building a trusting relationship that makes difficult conversations easier.
Sara draws on more than 26 years of clinical experience in Tennessee. She brings together practical tools and reflective work to help people make concrete changes. Her background includes work with trauma, addiction, mood disorders, and long-term medical conditions, and she uses that experience to tailor each session to the person in front of her.
In session she blends attachment-focused work with client-centered listening and skills-based strategies from Dialectical Behavior Therapy. That combination supports both emotional insight and real-life coping skills. She also uses Emotionally-Focused Therapy ideas when relationships and connection are central concerns.
Sara’s earlier training in exercise physiology, yoga, and meditation informs a mind-body perspective she often offers when chronic pain or stress are involved. She values practical routines alongside emotional work, such as breathing, grounding, and pacing activities to fit each person’s energy level.
Her style is respectful and nonjudgmental. She encourages people to build on strengths and hope while addressing painful patterns like abandonment, codependency, or avoidant behavior. Clients can expect clear, steady guidance aimed at better communication, healthier boundaries, and improved daily coping.
Sara draws on more than 26 years of clinical experience in Tennessee. She brings together practical tools and reflective work to help people make concrete changes. Her background includes work with trauma, addiction, mood disorders, and long-term medical conditions, and she uses that experience to tailor each session to the person in front of her.
In session she blends attachment-focused work with client-centered listening and skills-based strategies from Dialectical Behavior Therapy. That combination supports both emotional insight and real-life coping skills. She also uses Emotionally-Focused Therapy ideas when relationships and connection are central concerns.
Sara’s earlier training in exercise physiology, yoga, and meditation informs a mind-body perspective she often offers when chronic pain or stress are involved. She values practical routines alongside emotional work, such as breathing, grounding, and pacing activities to fit each person’s energy level.
Her style is respectful and nonjudgmental. She encourages people to build on strengths and hope while addressing painful patterns like abandonment, codependency, or avoidant behavior. Clients can expect clear, steady guidance aimed at better communication, healthier boundaries, and improved daily coping.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
AddictionsLGBTFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCompassion fatigue
Additional focus areas
AbandonmentAttachment issuesAvoidant personalityBDSM, kink, and alternative sex cultureBlended family issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)DissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFirst responder issuesForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Self-harmSelf-loveSex addictionSexual assault and abuseSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaSomatizationTrichotillomaniaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyDialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyEye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy
Experience
26+ years
Credentials
Tennessee
Languages
English
How key approaches guide online work
Sara often uses Attachment-Based Therapy to help people understand how early connections shape current relationships. This work focuses on patterns of closeness and distance and can be useful for improving communication and intimacy.She also uses Client-Centered Therapy, which centers the person’s own goals and pace. That approach emphasizes active listening, empathy, and helping people find their own solutions to stress, grief, or chronic illness challenges.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, appears in her toolbox as well to teach specific coping skills. DBT skills can help with emotional regulation, reducing reactivity, and managing intense stress in daily life.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss goals and preferences and try different methods to see what fits best. Clients and the therapist work together to adjust focus as needs change over time.
If you’re considering online therapy, confirm which session formats are available before booking since the biography does not list them. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, shorten travel time, and allow for brief check-ins when days are tight. It can also allow people to continue care while managing chronic pain or limited mobility. Discuss any practical needs when you schedule so the therapist can recommend an approach that fits your life.
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does Sara help with?
Sara works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, grief, and problems linked to chronic pain and illness. She also addresses trauma, addictions, self-esteem, and intimacy-related concerns.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is warm, interactive, and focused on building a trusting relationship. Sessions combine listening with practical tools for coping and communication.
What is her professional background and experience?
She has 26 years of clinical experience working in settings that include community mental health, adolescent psychiatric care, and private practice. Her history includes work with trauma, addiction recovery, and chronic health conditions.
What credentials and location are listed for this therapist?
She holds the LCSW credential and practices in Tennessee.
In what language are sessions offered and are international clients supported?
Sessions are offered in English and she does not accept international clients at this time.
Which session formats are available with this therapist?
The original biography does not specify session formats. Please confirm current session options with the service before scheduling.
How are fees handled for therapy sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin working with her?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist’s availability.