Sakura Pate,
LCSW

I believe that our relationships shape so much of how we experience the world, including our relationship with ourselves. The way we communicate, set boundaries, respond to conflict, navigate intimacy, understand our needs, and connect with others can all be influenced by our past experiences, beliefs, and the relationships we have had along the way.

My approach is warm, collaborative, and individualized. I draw from evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, and trauma-informed care. I also incorporate attachment-informed and somatic perspectives when helpful in understanding the connection between our thoughts, emotions, bodies, experiences, and relationships.

I believe therapy should include both compassion and meaningful growth. I want you to feel genuinely supported while also having a therapist who can help you notice patterns, consider new perspectives, and practice different ways of responding. Sometimes that means learning to communicate a need more directly. Sometimes it means setting a boundary and tolerating the discomfort that comes with it. Other times, it may mean understanding familiar relational patterns or learning to trust yourself again.

With couples, I am particularly interested in helping partners move beyond determining who is right or wrong and instead understand the cycle they have become caught in. Together, we can explore what is happening beneath the conflict, identify each person's needs, and develop more effective ways of communicating and reconnecting.

Above all, I strive to bring warmth, curiosity, honesty, and cultural humility into the therapy room. I want clients to feel genuinely supported while also feeling empowered to make choices that reflect their values, needs, and authentic selves.

I have been a social worker since 2013, with much of my early career spent supporting individuals and families in medical settings. In those roles, I worked with people navigating serious mental health concerns, relationship and family challenges, and the emotional impact of major life and health changes. In 2021, I began graduate school and chose a clinical track, where I gained additional experience in private practice through group counseling, observing individual therapy, and preparing for independent clinical work. I began providing individual and couples counseling independently in January 2024. Altogether, my experience has given me a strong foundation in understanding people not only as individuals, but also within the context of their relationships, families, and life experiences.

Professional biography