All sessions are conducted under the clinical supervision of Kristi Gilleland, a licensed therapist at The Banyan Tree Center. This means clients receive attentive, evidence-based care with an additional layer of professional oversight.

I’m Sarah DeLoach, a graduate student counselor at The Banyan Tree Center in Athens, Georgia, completing my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Liberty University. I work with children, teens, adults, and families navigating self-image, anxiety, trauma, and more. I see clients in person in Athens and via telehealth, supervised by Kristi Gilleland.

I believe each person’s story is unique and every chapter, whether filled with joy or struggle, deserves to be honored. My role is not to fix you. It is to walk alongside you, offering compassion, curiosity, and practical tools to help you navigate whatever life is bringing you right now.

I came to this field because therapy changed my life. When I was in college I was struggling with my own mental health and reached out for help for the first time. Within the very first session something shifted. It was so impactful that I made a complete career switch to pursue counseling, and here I am. That experience is something I carry into every session.

Before graduate school I volunteered at a women and family shelter in high school and college, where I learned firsthand about helping people through some of their hardest moments. I also grew up in a large and dynamic family, which gave me a real appreciation for how differently people navigate the world. I bring all of that into the room with me.

“My role is not to fix you, but to walk alongside you.”

Education and Training

• Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Liberty University (expected August 2026)
• BS in Strategic Communications, Elon University
• Graduate Student Counselor, The Banyan Tree Center, supervised by Kristi Gilleland
• Volunteer experience, women and family shelter
• Reduced fee available

How I Work

• In person · The Banyan Tree Center, Athens GA
• Telehealth available
• Ages 6+

Approaches: CBT informed · DBT informed · IFS informed · Person-centered · Trauma-informed

What I Specialize In

Self-Image and Body Image in Athens, GA

Who I work with: I work with people who feel incredibly low about themselves and hopeless about how things could ever be different. A lot of the time this inner criticism spills out into relationships and how they treat the people around them, which causes its own pain on top of everything else. None of that reflects who they actually are. It reflects where they are right now, and that can change.

What we do together: We work on deconstructing the societal standards that have been placed on you, looking honestly at what is real versus what has been handed to you, and building a way of seeing yourself that actually fits who you are. Your experience is valid, and we start there.

Anxiety in Athens, GA

Who I work with: Anxiety shows up differently for everyone, but a lot of the people I work with feel frozen, stuck, or like they just need to escape whatever they are facing. It can feel like you cannot move forward and cannot go back. That stuck feeling is one of the hardest things to sit with on your own.

What we do together: We discover tools and techniques together that you can actually take home and use. We try things, see what works, and adapt as we go. The goal is a real toolbox that fits your life, not a generic list of tips that does not apply to you.

Trauma in Athens, GA

Who I work with: Trauma shows up in all kinds of ways. For some people it is in their relationships. For others it is in their day-to-day functioning. Sometimes it is feeling frozen with memories of what happened, or struggling to understand why certain things affect you the way they do. Wherever it shows up for you, it is real and it deserves attention.

What we do together: Even though it can be uncomfortable, we bring the pain forward and work with it directly. We look at your symptoms, where they come from, and what they are trying to tell you. It takes courage and it is not always easy, but working through trauma rather than around it is what leads to real, lasting change.

A Few Things I Want You to Know

Before your first session: Coming to therapy for the first time can be incredibly nerve-racking, and I want you to know that I am a warm, friendly person with a genuine passion for this work and genuine care for every single person I meet. I am truly excited to meet you. I will work to make you comfortable from the very first moment, and I welcome and affirm all identities without exception.

What is valuable about working with a graduate student counselor: Working with a graduate student counselor means you are working with someone who is current. I am fresh out of the most up-to-date research and training in the field, working from the newest evidence-based approaches, closely supervised, and fully invested in getting this right for every single client I see.

Something I wish more people knew: Therapy is not just for when things are at their worst. If you can be vulnerable enough to recognize that something needs attention before it reaches a breaking point, that is not weakness. That is strength. Getting ahead of it is always better than waiting until you have no choice.

Who I do my best work with: Clients who are ready to put in the work and be honest about where they are. When someone comes in ready to get to it, we can make real progress together. I believe everyone deserves to live their best life. I will be there to help you do exactly that.