
Sara Mathew, LMSW
Psychotherapist for Trauma, Anxiety & High-Achiever Stress | NY, NJ, MA & CA | She/Her
Specializing in trauma, anxiety, perfectionism, identity exploration, cultural expectations, career transitions, couples reconnection & high-achiever stress.
Virtual Only • Serving All of New York, New Jersey, California, & Massachusetts. Supervised by Prerna Menon, LCSW
My practice at a glance.
Areas of focus
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Complex Trauma
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Identity Exploration & Cultural Expectations
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Career Transitions & Reinvention
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Purpose & Meaning Beyond Achievement
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Couples Reconnection
Education & languages
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Master of Social Work at University of Kentucky
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Bachelor of Science in Finance and Supply Chain Management at Rutgers University
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Fluent in English
Approaches & training
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Psychodynamic & Relational
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Humanistic/Existential
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Somatic & Mindfulness-Based Approaches
Who I work with
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Adults & Couples
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1st- & 2nd-Gen Immigrants
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Founders & Entrepreneurs
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High-Stress & High-Achieving Professionals
GROUNDED • TRAINED • HUMAN
A little about how I work.
Being self-aware and being at peace with yourself turn out to be two different things. Most people I work with have the first one down.
They can diagnose what went wrong, articulate the pattern, optimize the process. What they're less practiced at is understanding why the pattern keeps showing up in the first place. Insight isn't the same as relief.
Maybe this sounds a bit familiar, or even a little uncomfortable, like looking in a mirror? I believe understanding yourself isn't a soft goal, it's the true work we're all meant to do. Real change doesn't come just from more discipline or better boundaries, it comes from spending time actually peeking underneath the performance: the pressure to achieve, the cultural expectations, the version of success you never chose for yourself. That's where you start to see who you actually are. This is enlightenment work. Beyond the what and the how, to the why.
I spent almost a decade as a high-achiever in high-pressure environments before becoming a therapist, so this internal battle between ambition and burnout isn't just theoretical. With me, you get a safe place to say the crazy things out loud. I will follow your lead, but I'll also hold up the mirror when you need someone to. When it’s needed I’ll challenge you as much as I support you. Tissues are welcome in our space because you might find yourself crying, or because maybe you're laughing so hard tears fall.
My therapeutic style is a mix of CBT, psychodynamic and relational work, somatic and mindfulness-based practices, and IFS informed parts work. I am passionate about working with folks navigating anxiety, burnout, career stress, depression and trauma. We’ll make sure you feel equipped to handle life outside of sessions by talking through strategies and practices you can use with you anywhere.
Starting the journey can be hard. Making the space might feel impossible. But if any of this resonates and you feel ready to take the first steps, I invite you to reach out for a free 25-minute consultation. There's no rush, just an invitation to finally meet yourself.
A little about me.
Songs that inspire me​
How do I cope?
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True Crime podcasts
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Lifting weights
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Time on undeveloped beaches
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A good historical fiction novel
Where did I grow up?
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Born and raised in New Jersey! But became an adult in NYC, rediscovered myself in Hawaii, & now living in Colorado.
Curious about fees & insurance?
I'm an out-of-network provider & most of my clients use their out-of-network benefits to offset the cost, getting reimbursed between 30-90% of the session cost. We even file the claims for you. This means no chasing insurance AND getting money back on your sessions, all while still seeing a provider that is truly the right fit for you. Verify your benefits, or if session fees are not an issue for you, check out our fees by clicking on the button below!

