Meet Dr. Sarah straus
Therapy can be deep, but it can also be warm, creative, and even fun.
I became a therapist because I want to help people show up more fully in their relationships — especially when things feel disconnected, tense, or stuck.
As a couples therapist, I bring both professional training and lived experience. My husband and I have been married for 25 years. We’re raising two teenagers, and over the years we’ve lived overseas as a military family, navigated the everyday stress of parenting, career changes, long deployments, and started over many times. I know how hard it is to stay connected through chaos. I also know what it feels like to fight for your relationship — and how powerful good therapy can be when it helps you find your way back to each other.
Early in my career, I worked in higher education as a career counselor and academic advisor, supporting young adults during big life transitions. Then came over a decade of full-time parenting, during which I guided my family through six military moves. With each relocation, we rebuilt our home life from scratch, far from our support networks.
When my kids became more independent and as my husband was getting ready to retire from the Navy, I returned to the field with a renewed purpose. I pursued LPCC licensure, completed a doctoral program in Applied Clinical Psychology, and built my private practice around relational, trauma-informed care. My work is grounded, collaborative, and practical. I help couples make sense of what’s not working and learn how to turn toward each other again.
Fun facts about me....
- I met my husband in a college Latin Ballroom class.
- Five years into our marriage, we saw a Gottman couples' therapist and it saved our marriage.
- As a military spouse, I’ve lived in Italy, Japan, Greece, Rhode Island, Kansas, Illinois, Connecticut and California.
- I’m a mom to two teens and a dog named Augie, who knows he’s a good dog (he is), but who remains deeply suspicious of bubble wrap.
- My current hobbies include mountain biking, playing Mah-Jongg, knitting, and dancing the Lindy Hop.
- My favorite quote is, "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" - Mary Oliver
Training & Experience
- PsyD in Applied Clinical Psychology – The Chicago School
- MS in Counseling – CSU Northridge
- BA in Studio Art – Humboldt State University
- Adjunct professor in the MFT program at The Chicago School, taught courses in couples therapy and group therapy
- Advanced couples therapy training, including Gottman Method (Levels 1 & 2) and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Specialized training in trauma recovery for couples, including affairs, betrayal, emotional injuries, IPV and addiction recovery
- Background in Autism and ADHD assessment through my pre-doc experience
What guides my work...
My work is rooted in integrity, intuition, and partnership. Integrity means creating a space that is safe, ethical, and centered on your well-being — always. I bring intuition and creativity to the process so our work stays flexible and responsive to what you truly need.
I believe in the power of relationships — and in your capacity to build or rebuild something meaningful, even when things feel hard. My approach is values-driven, grounded in the belief that therapy should support your autonomy, not override it. I’m here to collaborate, not prescribe.
I also believe in the importance of play and creativity — especially in relationships that have become too heavy, too tense, or too transactional. Sometimes healing means making space for lightness, laughter, and trying something new.
Therapy
I take an integrative, trauma-informed approach to couples and individual therapy, drawing from evidence-based relational models. I’ve completed training in both the Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) —two powerful frameworks that help couples move from conflict and disconnection toward secure, lasting partnership.
I also incorporate elements of Internal Family Systems (IFS), CBT, psychodynamic theory, and strengths-based work. When it’s a good fit, I may bring in creative tools like art therapy for clients who find meaning through visual or symbolic expression. Above all, I tailor our work to meet you where you are—with the goal of helping you rebuild connection, deepen trust, and move forward with greater clarity.