I am Sara Rivera. I am a clinically licensed bilingual (English/Spanish) social worker licensed in the state of Illinois and Wisconsin. I received my Master's Degree in Social Work from Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service in New York City, where I am from. I have over 14 years experience in various parts of the field of social work: Child welfare advocacy, substance use disorders, crisis intervention, psychotherapy, sexual assault response advocacy and hospice/grief counseling. I have worked within a variety of settings with diverse individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, ethnic, educational and other diversified backgrounds, including LGBTQ. In my work as a clinician, I ensure my clients are free from judgement in a safe environment in which they can safely process their feelings while I help to guide them on their journey to healing and/or helping them reach their goals. My focal point is ALWAYS meeting my clients where they are at in life and not where I would like them to be as this is their journey not mine. I utilize a variety of combine clinical approaches that are individualized to each client's needs, all treatment plans are developed together and with the approval of the clients I work.
If you are ready to take the next step, I am here to support and empower you. I look forward to beginning our work together soon!
With care and attention to all that matters to you,
Sara
Additional areas of focus:LGBT, Relationship issues, Grief, Parenting issues, Anger management, Self esteem, Bipolar disorder, Coping with life changes, Compassion fatigue, Abandonment, Adoption and foster care, Aging and geriatric issues, Antisocial personality, Attachment issues, Autism and Asperger Syndrome, Cancer, Caregiver issues and stress, Codependency, Communication problems, Control issues, Coping with natural or human-caused disaster, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD), Dissociation, Divorce and separation, Domestic violence, Drug and alcohol addiction, Family of origin issues, Family problems, Fatherhood issues, First responder issues, Forgiveness, Guilt and shame, Hospice and end-of-life counseling, Impulsivity, Infidelity, Isolation / loneliness, Jealousy, Midlife crisis, Mood disorders, Multicultural concerns, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Paranoia, Personality disorders, Postpartum depression, Post-traumatic stress, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-love, Social anxiety and phobia, Women's issues, Workplace issues, Young adult issues
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Sara Rivera. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
Sara has been exactly what I needed. She helped me to process the death of my father and my wife, who passed within 5 months of each other. She didn't dismiss my feelings, but instead validated them and helped me move past the repetitive thought loop.
Written on Nov 07, 2025 after therapy with Sara for 3 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, grief, parenting issues, coping with life changes, and adhd
She takes the time to care and listen and has really helped me when i needed It the most!
Written on Sep 09, 2025 after therapy with Sara for 3 years and 5 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, grief, self esteem, and coping with life changes
Our sessions have been very helpful. I feel like Sara actively listens, contributes relevant feedback, and helps me to set goals to keep moving forward. We seem to be well matched as she has a lot of experience in the areas I'm concerned about.
Written on Mar 25, 2025 after therapy with Sara for 1 month on issues concerning stress, anxiety, lgbt, and trauma and abuse
She is a great person, a wonderful human being, and I would like to have her as my therapist when I returned to this program.
Written on Dec 30, 2024 after therapy with Sara for 3 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, eating disorders, sleeping disorders, parenting issues, self esteem, anger management, coping with life changes, compassion fatigue, and adhd
Always friendly and professional! I feel lucky to have met her!
Written on Jul 27, 2024 after therapy with Sara for 4 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, anger management, career difficulties, coping with life changes, coaching, compassion fatigue, and adhd
Sara listens very well and has a lot of experience in many ways of therapy. She has helped me see and understand things that other therapists have not. She can see things from many points of view and is encouraging.
Written on Apr 17, 2024 after therapy with Sara for 2 years on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, parenting issues, self esteem, anger management, and compassion fatigue
She pushes you hard, but sometimes that's what you need
Written on Apr 02, 2024 after therapy with Sara for 6 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, grief, intimacy-related issues, sleeping disorders, and self esteem
Sara is amazing and I'm grateful for having her as my therapist.
Written on Mar 24, 2024 after therapy with Sara for 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, lgbt, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, eating disorders, parenting issues, self esteem, anger management, coping with life changes, and adhd
She had been very respectful and mindful of my needs. Talks to me with clarity and questions me appropriately. I really enjoy how easy it is to talk to her, she creates a great sense of comfort and allows me to open up however way I feel.
Written on Mar 03, 2024 after therapy with Sara for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, anger management, and coping with life changes
I have only attended two therapy sessions with Sara at this point, but I can confidently say that they have been some of the most productive sessions I have had in quite some time. Instead of asking vague and disconnected questions, Sara focuses on the root of the issues and encourages you to put in the effort to work through them.
Moreover, during the sessions, the atmosphere feels more like a friendly conversation rather than a formal diagnosis of a problem. We as humans need to understand that no one is above making mistakes, and we should expect to make a few missteps along the way in our journey through life.
I cannot predict how things could have gone without prior therapy experience, but the service provided so far is frank and invigorating. I highly recommend it!
Written on Feb 06, 2024 after therapy with Sara for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, relationship issues, self esteem, and coping with life changes
Sara has been very helpful and supportive.
Written on Sep 17, 2023 after therapy with Sara for 2 months on issues concerning family conflicts
Absolutely love Sara! She’s very helpful when it comes to navigating stressful situations and family differences. Love looking forward to her sessions
Written on Aug 27, 2023 after therapy with Sara for 1 year and 4 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, grief, self esteem, anger management, and coping with life changes
Just started.
Written on Jan 10, 2023 after therapy with Sara for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, grief, intimacy-related issues, and coping with life changes
Sara is a joy to speak with and has a lovely sense of humor. She always made me feel comfortable and she tried to work around my schedule and work with the technical issues I had. I appreciate what she has done for me and while it is not the approach to therapy I think will best benefit me, she is the one who helped me realize that. I would highly suggest her for her personality and experience.
Written on Jan 10, 2023 after therapy with Sara for 2 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, eating disorders, sleeping disorders, bipolar disorder, and adhd
My therapist has been a tremendous help in keeping me focused and calm in a very busy period in my life. Strongly recommended!
Written on Dec 27, 2022 after therapy with Sara for 5 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, lgbt, relationship issues, family conflicts, grief, self esteem, anger management, career difficulties, coping with life changes, coaching, and adhd
Sara, makes me feel
Written on Sep 07, 2022 after therapy with Sara for 2 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, coping with life changes, and adhd
Sara is amazing. I feel like I’ve been looking for her for forever! Feels so good to finally have found a solution based therapist
Written on Aug 22, 2022 after therapy with Sara for 4 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, parenting issues, self esteem, anger management, coping with life changes, coaching, and adhd
She’s absolutely awesome! I highly recommend her. She’s helped me so much. I went from having a panic attack a week to none! She’s great at listening, giving recommendations, and checking up on you.
Written on Jun 29, 2022 after therapy with Sara for 2 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, and self esteem
We've had a few sessions and I've thoroughly enjoyed them so far. Sara is very helpful and thoughtful of your needs and comes up with good solutions/exercises.
Written on May 16, 2022 after therapy with Sara for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, sleeping disorders, self esteem, anger management, bipolar disorder, and adhd
Very kind, listens well, experienced, checks in and genuinely wants to help.
Written on Apr 23, 2022 after therapy with Sara for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, and coping with life changes
I’ve had only one session with her, but so far I have had a great experience.
Written on Apr 17, 2022 after therapy with Sara for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, trauma and abuse, and self esteem
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