Sara Vitale, MA, MLADC
Individual Telehealth Counseling
for Adults in New Hampshire
I Believe in Growth. But Not the Pinterest Version.
I’m Sara Vitale, a New Hampshire Master Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (MLADC), with a master’s degree in counseling and a specialization in addiction.
I’m also 13 years into my own recovery.
So when I talk about change, accountability, and the uncomfortable process of looking honestly at yourself, I’m not speaking exclusively from a textbook.
I’ve done my own work. I know how messy it can get.
And I know that meaningful change rarely happens because someone gives you a motivational quote and tells you to think positive thoughts.
Sometimes you have to burn the illusion down and see what’s underneath.
Metaphorically, of course. We’re still professionals here.
Part Counselor. Part Human Behavior Detective.
I’ve always been fascinated by the stories people tell themselves.
Not just the stories about what happened to them, but the stories about who they are, what they’re capable of, what they deserve, and why they keep doing things that clearly aren’t working.
Our brains are remarkably creative when it comes to protecting us from uncomfortable truths.
Avoidance? We call it self-care.
People-pleasing? Just being nice.
Control? Obviously, we’re just being responsible.
And blaming everyone else for our circumstances? Sometimes that feels a whole lot easier than admitting we have choices to make.
Not because I’m trying to catch you doing something wrong.
Because sometimes the thing standing between you and the life you want is a pattern you’ve gotten really good at defending.
Accountability Without Judgment. Compassion Without Coddling.
This isn’t just a tagline. It’s how I approach counseling.
I believe in unconditional positive regard. You deserve dignity, respect, and compassion regardless of your history, your struggles, or your choices.
I also believe that understanding why you developed certain behaviors doesn’t mean you have to keep repeating them.
Your trauma matters. Your mental health matters. Your experiences matter.
I’m not interested in shaming you into change.
I’m interested in helping you recognize what isn’t working, understand why, and figure out what you’re willing to do differently.
What It’s Like to Work With Me
I’m direct, conversational, and comfortable with uncomfortable topics.
I’ll listen. I’ll validate what deserves validation. I’ll challenge what needs challenging.
And if you’re trying to convince yourself that the same behavior producing the same miserable outcome will somehow work differently this time, there’s a good chance we’re going to talk about that.
With compassion.
Possibly with humor.
Definitely without judgment.
I don’t believe counseling should be 50 minutes of nodding politely while we both ignore the elephant in the room.
I believe it should help you understand yourself, develop practical skills, and make changes that actually show up in your everyday life.
The Clinical Brain Meets the Creative Brain
Outside of counseling, I write psychological horror.
Yes, really.
I’m fascinated by the ways people construct their identities, avoid difficult truths, and sometimes have to dismantle everything they thought they knew about themselves before they can rebuild.
In fiction, that might look like reality fracturing, identities dissolving, and walls literally closing in.
In counseling, it’s considerably less dramatic.
Usually.
But the underlying themes are surprisingly similar: self-awareness, avoidance, accountability, and the courage to confront what you’ve been running from.
I believe growth can be uncomfortable and disorienting.
It's worth it.
The kind where you stop just talking about change and start making it.
Get out of your own way
Yes, I Have Credentials Too.
I hold a master’s degree in counseling with an addiction specialization and am licensed in New Hampshire as a Master Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (MLADC).
My clinical approach draws from:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)-informed skills
- Motivational Interviewing (MI)
- Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
I work with adults navigating substance use, recovery, anxiety, depression, emotional regulation, relationships, boundaries, self-worth, and the patterns that keep them feeling stuck.
I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. We’ll figure out what works for you.
You Don’t Have to Have It All Figured Out.
You don’t have to show up with the perfect explanation for why you’re struggling.
You don’t have to convince me you’re a good person.
And you don’t have to pretend you’re doing better than you are.
Bring your messy, complicated, imperfect human self.
We’ll start there.