(907) 744-1882
evidence-based
PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES
tailored to you
Assessment, Therapy, Consultation
ABOUT DR. SARA BUCKINGHAM
Clinical-Community Psychologist
As a clinical-community psychologist, I take a systemic approach to understanding challenges and creating meaningful change. That means I don’t just focus on individual concerns — I also help you explore how your relationships, communities, cultures, and environments are shaping your experiences. I work with you to build insight into both personal patterns and the broader systems around you. Together, we identify changes to support your well-being — whether that means shifting how you engage with those systems, working to transform them, or finding new spaces that better support your growth.​
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In my clinical work, I provide culturally-informed, strengths-focused, evidence-based therapy for adolescents, adults, and families. I support people navigating a wide range of mental health concerns, including trauma, depression, anxiety, and life changes. I have a particular focus on supporting individuals and families through significant life transitions — especially those related to migration. I work with people who are new to the United States, including immigrants, refugees, asylees, and survivors of human trafficking. My approach is collaborative and grounded in an understanding of each person’s unique story, cultural background, and sources of resilience.
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In my community work, I partner with organizations, grassroots movements, and community groups to support meaningful change. Together, we co-create and carry out culturally grounded needs assessments, program development, community and asset mapping, and process and outcome evaluations. My approach emphasizes collaboration, equity, and relevance to the communities being served. I specialize in participatory qualitative methods and mixed-method designs that integrate various data sources. I also focus on clear, accessible data visualization to ensure that findings are useful and actionable for diverse audiences.​
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I hold a Ph.D. in Clinical and Community Psychology from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and completed my doctoral internship at the University of Vermont. I am a licensed psychologist in Alaska (License #125402) and Vermont (License #048.0134277).
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In addition to my clinical and community practice, I am a professor at the University of Alaska Anchorage, where I teach and mentor graduate students and conduct community-engaged research focused on culture, communities, and well-being. I also serve as Co-Director of the Center for Community Engagement and Learning (CCEL), where I support university-community partnerships that advance equity, inclusion, and collective well-being across Alaska. I serve in leadership roles in the American Psychological Association's, the Society for Community Research and Action, and the Global Alliance for Behavioral Health and Social Justice.
My work bridges clinical, cultural, and community psychology to promote more responsive and empowering approaches to mental health. Check out my book, forthcoming in Fall 2025: Mental Health Assessment with Children and Adolescents: An Integrated Clinical, Community, and Cultural Psychology Framework — a practical guide for students and professionals seeking to better understand and support youth in diverse contexts.
SERVICES I OFFER
FREQUENTLY ASKED CLINICAL QUESTIONS
ASSESSMENT
Comprehensive psychological assessments to diagnose mental health conditions and make treatment recommendations.
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Psychological evaluations for immigration cases are available when recommended by your attorney.
THERAPY
Individual and family therapy services in-person or via telehealth. Treatment is evidence-based and informed by your strengths, cultures, and goals.
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I specialize in treatment for trauma, anxiety, depression, and adjustment related challenges.
CONSULTATION
Specialized one-time and ongoing clinical and community consultation for individuals and agencies.
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Services include: education and training, program development, program evaluation, community-mapping, and clinical supervision.
WHAT IS ASSESSMENT?
Assessment — sometimes called a “psychological evaluation” or “mental health assessment” — is a process that helps clarify what’s going on in someone's life and what kind of resources might be most helpful. It seeks to help you better know yourself and answer the questions you care most about.
You might wonder, "Why is my teen struggling?" "Why am I feeling this way?" "Do I have anxiety / depression / PTSD / ADHD?" "How have my life experiences shaped how I see the world today?" "How can I harness my strengths?" "What supports would be most helpful right now?" An assessment can help us answer these questions and more. In an assessment, a psychologist uses multiple tools, such as interviews, questionnaires, tests, and activities, to answer these questions with you.
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I specialize in assessments for immigration cases. These evaluations are designed to answer specific questions about legal cases such as asylum, hardship waivers, VAWA, and visas for survivors of human trafficking or certain crimes. Typical questions include, "What are the impacts of the trauma or persecution a person has experienced?" "What psychological factors have shaped a person's delay in seeking to regularize their immigration status?" "What are the impacts of the abuse this person allegedly suffered in the U.S.?" "What are the likely effects of removal of a person on their family members in the U.S.?" ​These evaluations do not decide the outcome of an immigration case. Psychologists are not decision-makers in the legal process. Instead, we answer specific questions — usually identified by your attorney — that help the court understand the psychological aspects of a case. For example, a report may explain how trauma affects memory. My goal in these evaluations is to provide clear, respectful, and culturally informed documentation that addresses the questions posed. I work to make sure the evaluation is relevant, clear, and grounded in psychological science.
Whether the purpose is clinical, educational, or legal, the goal of any assessment is to provide insight — not just labels — and to offer meaningful recommendations that can support healing, well-being, and thriving.
WHAT WILL ASSESSMENT WITH YOU BE LIKE?
I approach assessment collaboratively. First, we will decide together on your goals of the assessment. I next design the assessment to answer the questions you care about. I will talk with you (and, when appropriate, other important people you allow me to talk with, such as family members, attorneys, teachers, and healthcare providers). I will also review relevant records, and use tools like interviews, questionnaires, tests, and other activities to better understand your experiences, strengths, and challenges.
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I will then take everything that I learn and write a comprehensive report. The report will include a summary of you, a description of the evaluation process, relevant diagnoses, answers to the evaluation questions, and recommendations.
We will meet together for a feedback session to walk through the findings and discuss next steps.
WHAT IS THERAPY?
Therapy — sometimes called "psychotherapy," "behavioral therapy," or "talk therapy" — is a collaborative process that helps people better understand themselves, develop new skills, and make meaningful changes in their lives. You and your psychologist work together to explore challenges, build on strengths, and identify strategies for growth.
Through conversation, you'll gain insight into your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Through practice, you'll learn new tools for coping, communication, and navigating life’s demands. And through action outside of the therapy room, you'll begin to make changes that support your overall well-being.
WHAT WILL THERAPY WITH YOU BE LIKE?
Our first meeting is a chance for us to get to know each other and talk about what matters most to you. I’ll ask questions to understand your life, your concerns, and your goals. I’ll also share my thoughts and ideas about how we might work together.
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Together, we’ll decide on a plan that feels right for you. If what I offer feels like a good fit, we’ll begin to outline a plan for our work together. If it turns out that your goals are outside the scope of my services, I’ll gladly help connect you with another professional who may be a better match. After that, we’ll usually meet weekly or every other week. Most people come for 8 to 20 sessions, depending on their needs. Each session typically lasts about 50 minutes.
WHAT SORT OF THERAPY DO YOU OFFER?
I provide culturally-informed, strengths-focused, evidence-based therapy from a systems lens. Let's unpack that:
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EVIDENCE-BASED: When new treatments are developed, we test them to see if they work. I only provide treatments that have been show to be effective. The evidence-based treatments I tend to use include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Narrative Exposure Therapy, and family-based treatments. I am trained in multiple techniques, and so depending on your reason for treatment, I may suggest a different treatment.
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CULTURALLY-INFORMED: Not all treatments work for everyone. We don't all value the same things; we don't all experience life in the same way; and we don't all benefit from the same kinds of psychotherapy. I seek to understand YOU in order to choose an appropriate treatment and tailor it to you. I am dedicated to psychological services access for everyone and work with language interpreters if I do not speak your language.
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STRENGTHS-FOCUSED: When we are in distress, it is easy to lose sight of how resilient we are and the strengths we possess. I seek to understand your strengths, help you gain insight into them, and then use them to guide treatment.
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SYSTEMIC APPROACH: While it will be just you (and perhaps your family) coming to my office, you are a member of a much larger community. I keep this in mind when understanding your goals, your challenges, your strengths, and your treatment. Often therapy involves making changes to these systems.
DO YOU BILL INSURANCE?
I don’t work as an in-network provider with insurance companies. As a small private practice, I focus my time and energy on providing personalized, culturally responsive care rather than navigating insurance systems. This allows me to stay centered on what matters most: providing quality psychological services.
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Sessions are typically 50 minutes and are billed at $150. Assessments range from $500 to $2,000, depending on their complexity. If you have out-of-network benefits, I provide a simple billing statement (known as a “superbill”) that you can submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. It is your responsibility to talk with your insurer about the cost of out-of-network services and ensure it fits for you. You can pay for most psychological services with a Health Savings Account (HSA).
To help reduce barriers to care, I offer a limited number of free or sliding scale spots for people without access to insurance, including asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants. To the extent I am able, I provide pro-bono evaluations for assessments in immigration cases for people who cannot otherwise afford them. I am a member of the UndocuHealth Mental Health Network and the United Stateless Practitioner Network. I charge standard fees for other services. This allows me to offer free and reduced-cost services to those with the greatest need.
CONTACT ME
