DBT · CBT · Greenwich, CT
Evidence-based therapy for teens, young adults and adults
Certified in DBT and CBT. In person in Old Greenwich and online in six states.
Our approach
Clients learn to navigate life more skillfully, regulate their mood, change behaviors and develop meaningful purpose.
In person and online
An office in the heart of Old Greenwich, CT, and secure online sessions for clients in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Florida and Colorado.
Integrative, evidence-based care
Treatment combines psychodynamic talk therapy, behavior modification and cognitive restructuring, anchored in certified DBT and CBT.
Progress you can see
In online sessions, a digital whiteboard is used for skills-based work, giving clients a consistent record of what was covered and a clear way to track progress.
Coordinated care
When it is part of the treatment plan, Sarah collaborates with outside clinicians and provides referrals.
psychotherapist
Sarah Kencel, LCSW
Sarah Kencel is a licensed clinical social worker and one of only ten DBT-Linehan Board Certified clinicians in Connecticut. She’s also A-CBT certified through the Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies, reflecting her commitment to providing evidence-based, results-oriented care.
Sarah specializes in working with teens, young adults, and individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, and mood disorders. Her approach blends warmth and professionalism, helping clients build coping tools, regulate emotions, and create meaningful change.
Raised in Greenwich, CT, Sarah brings a deep understanding of the local and surrounding community and its unique social and cultural fabric.
Areas of expertise
Specialized, evidence-based treatment
CBT
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a highly effective treatment method for slowing down the thought process and changing the way you think, ultimately changing the way you feel and behave. This approach addresses both current thinking and uncovers why these thought patterns have emerged through an understanding of one’s developmental history. CBT also tackles rumination (that endless cycle of overthinking) and helps shift perspective and catch assumptions. Cognitive Behavior Therapy addresses and treats mood disorders, including anxiety disorders, like social anxiety, phobias, OCD, panic disorder, and also depression.
DBT
Dialectical Behavior Therapy treatment works to regulate emotions and replace the unskillful, impulsive behaviors influenced by these emotions with more effective responses. DBT also teaches that flexible thinking towards yourself and others ultimately improves relationships and helps you reach your goals easier. DBT incorporates teachings for emotion regulation, social skills, tolerating distress, and mindfulness. Much of the work is done with a smart board to help scaffold the interactive nature of DBT.
It may be recommended to engage in a DBT Skills group in addition to receiving individual treatment.
SPACE + Parent Consultation
For parents and caregivers to work directly with the clinician. SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) is a unique intervention aimed at changing a child’s behavior and reducing their anxiety indirectly through the reduction of parental accommodations.
Parent consultation is valuable for those needing a little expert guidance on how to navigate contingency setting, behavioral shaping and discipline, and other specific challenges.
The parent is the identified client in both treatments. The child is seen by another provider.