Meet Sara Gourley, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) In Idaho

Counseling for deep-feeling, deep-thinking, high-achieving adults ready to reconnect with themselves and heal from within

White trillium flower blooming beside mossy wood in an Idaho forest

When You’re Looking for More Than “Just Talk”

You've done the self-help books. You know how to reflect and power through. Maybe you've even tried therapy before, but something about it felt too surface-level. Like the focus was just on getting through the week instead of understanding what lies underneath.

You're not alone. And you're not too much.

As a licensed professional counselor in Idaho, I specialize in helping sensitive, high-achieving adults explore the patterns, emotions, and beliefs that shape how they show up in the world. Whether you're carrying quiet shame, navigating a season of grief, or wondering if you're allowed to slow down, this work is a space to come home to yourself.

Why This Work Matters to Me

From a young age, I felt a pull toward this kind of work. I was drawn to people’s inner worlds. Curious about what made them tick, what shaped their choices, and what they carried inside. While my early career followed a high-pressure corporate path, what stood out to me in every role was the human piece: the power of being seen, and the subtle ways we all long for safety and connection.

When I finally made the leap into counseling, it felt like a deep yes. Each client, each session, each moment of honest connection has confirmed that this is the work I’m meant to do. I’m here because I believe lasting change begins with the courage to turn inward. And that healing, even when it’s messy, is possible.

What Clients Often Say

Clients often tell me I bring warmth, patience, and insight. That I help them connect the dots between what they feel and why. That they feel deeply seen—not because I have the answers, but because I reflect back what they already know deep down.

You might hear me say, "All your emotions are welcome here." Or gently ask, "What part of you is speaking right now?" Because I believe real healing happens when you're met with both compassion and curiosity.

Like moss on stone, sensitivity is strength—rooted, responsive, alive.

The Human Behind the Counselor

I walk this path, too. I’m a highly sensitive person and lifelong student of inner wisdom. Nature grounds me. Mornings are my quiet time. And my rescue dog, who slowly learned to trust again, reminds me every day that healing is possible.

Before becoming a therapist, I worked in high-stakes corporate roles where I supported senior leaders through high-pressure, high-impact decisions. That experience shaped my ability to stay calm in intensity, hold space for complexity, and bring grounded presence to whatever is unfolding. It also deepened my passion for supporting others who feel like they have to "hold it all together" for everyone else.

Sara Gourley, licensed professional counselor in Idaho, smiling in soft afternoon light

If You're Wondering What It's Like to Work With Me

You won’t be judged here. You won’t be rushed.

Instead, we slow things down. We pay attention to the nervous system. We notice patterns with compassion. We explore what your symptoms or emotions might be trying to protect or communicate. And we make space for the parts of you that long to be understood.

I won’t force you to go somewhere you're not ready for. But I will walk beside you with care, curiosity, and just the right amount of challenge.

A quiet desk with a notebook, pen, coffee cup, and potted plants by soft window light

What Guides My Work

Collaboration

Counseling is co-created. We shape the process together around your needs, not a rigid agenda.

Compassion

I offer a warm, nonjudgmental space where all parts of you are welcome, including the ones you’ve tried to hide or fix.

Attunement

I listen closely to what’s said, and what’s not. I honor your pace, your nervous system, and your inner knowing.

Authenticity

I value realness. I show up as a human first, and I’ll support you in doing the same.

Cultural Awareness

I recognize and affirm your cultural identities and lived experience. I'm committed to ongoing learning—and to repairing when I get it wrong.

Credentials & Training

  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) - Idaho

  • Masters of Counseling, Clinical Mental Health, Idaho State University

    Bachelors of Science, Iowa State University

  • Psychotherapy and The Highly Sensitive Person, Dr. Elaine N. Aron Ph.D.

    Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Duke Integrative Medicine

Ready to Learn More?

Whether you’re new to counseling or looking for a deeper experience, I’d love to connect.