Sarah DuVall Murray , LCSW

Sarah DuVall Murray is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in New Jersey who supports adults navigating depression, anxiety, stress, grief, and major life transitions. With a background that includes outpatient and inpatient care, work in psychiatric emergency services, and experience in community mental health with seriously mentally ill adults, she brings a wide-ranging clinical perspective to each therapeutic relationship.

She approaches therapy with respect for each person’s unique life perspective and choices, listening closely and collaborating with clients to address their goals. Sarah emphasizes the therapeutic relationship as the foundation for change, offering acceptance, compassion, and care while helping clients learn to tolerate and find meaning in life’s inevitable challenges rather than seeking to eliminate distress entirely.

Clinically, she draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) among other approaches, and integrates elements of Eastern philosophy and psychoeducation by sharing articles, books, and resources when helpful. Her work often focuses on relationship and family issues, trauma and abuse, parenting, caregiver stress, chronic illness and disability, anger and self-esteem concerns, and mood disorders including bipolar disorder.

Sarah holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. As an LCSW she holds a license to provide clinical social work services and psychotherapy in New Jersey.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Sarah integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients identify and shift unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors; CBT is often useful for anxiety, depression, stress, and mood regulation. She also uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills to build emotional regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindful awareness, which can be especially helpful for intense emotions, relationship challenges, and coping under stress. Psychodynamic therapy is part of her toolkit as well, exploring how past experiences and relationship patterns influence current feelings and choices to foster deeper self-understanding.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Sarah works with each person to understand their needs, goals, and preferences, and she tailors treatment over time so the therapy method fits the individual rather than the other way around.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to engage in this work through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit sessions into busy lives, maintain continuity during transitions, and access licensed professionals from different locations while preserving the therapeutic connection that supports growth.