About

You can take the mask off here.

You pride yourself on authenticity, but lately, it’s felt like a push to put on a happy face and make it through the day.

Smiling, people-pleasing, and being all things to everyone have become exhausting.

Wouldn’t you like one place where you don’t have to be “on” for one moment?

Asking for help doesn’t make you weak.

Lowering your guard and letting somebody see the real you can be scary.

Vulnerability is a demonstration of courage; yet through conditioning, we often believe that having needs or sharing our struggles means we are weak.

You don’t have to be the one who “has it all together” in this space. Here, you can truly let your hair down and share all the aspects of your life.

Feeling supported and cared for is something you deserve.

You deserve to know how much you matter. Here, you will receive compassion and support and feel seen for the incredible person you are. I will help you see that for yourself.

My goal is to help you feel more in control of your emotions and to heal from past wounds so that you can live a life full of presence, peace, and purpose.

Together, we will explore the areas of your life that cause you pain and develop personalized tools designed to recognize and change long-held beliefs and patterns that have kept you stuck.

You will grow in confidence and gain clarity to set healthy boundaries, articulate your needs, trust yourself, and rest in believing and embodying that you are enough.

Original Worth Counseling & Consulting provides space for you to breathe finally.

We dedicate our time to giving you rest. Here is a place where, perhaps for the first time, you do not have to do anything or be anyone other than yourself.

In this space, you fill the cup you continuously pour out for others.

Heal and feel whole as we travel this path together.

The work we will do together is compassion-driven, results-oriented, and practical. We will move beyond traditional talk therapy as I will provide tools for developing a balanced mind, body, and soul. I lead you through practices to face problems and worries and untangle them.

When fully engaged, you will see that you can have inner peace beyond your problems. Using tools of self-compassion and mindfulness, you will learn more significant control over your emotions. Utilizing body-based modalities like EMDR, you’ll develop tools to recognize and change the limiting beliefs and behaviors that hold you back.

The calm area where insight and new growth occur will help you heal your past so you can embrace a positive future, providing a guide for the rest of your life.

Throughout this transformation process, you will learn to step into who you are and know your worth. Break the cycle of self-doubt and build an unshakable foundation of confidence as you learn to trust yourself – experience wellness and how to achieve it.

About Me

Hello, I’m Sarah Dergins – a licensed clinical social worker.

My passion is providing therapy for women to help them heal from long-held negative beliefs, self-criticism, and anxiety so they can know their worth and find joy and peace in who they are. That is why I founded Original Worth.

I do this work because I am deeply passionate about it. I know firsthand the life-changing difference therapy can make. I know this because I’ve been there: perfecting, performing, isolating, numbing, and perpetually feeling overwhelmed as I worked to “be enough.”

While your experiences and struggles are unique and different from mine, I remember feeling stuck in the “never good enough” loop and the pain and isolation that those beliefs and subsequent behaviors can create.

Working with an exceptional therapist who led me with compassion and nonjudgment while also giving me tools and modalities to address the root causes of my pain was life-changing and lifesaving. I aim to provide that care to those with whom I work. I consider this work and walking alongside you a tremendous privilege.

My professional background.

I am a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in the state of North Carolina and a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) in Washington, D.C., I received a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with specialized training in integrated (mind and body) behavioral health.

I hold two undergraduate degrees in chemistry and psychology from Washington College. My background in chemistry influences my therapeutic approach, which is research-informed, evidence-based, and always includes taking a holistic approach to recognize the physiological factors that impact mental wellness.

I believe therapy is not one size fits all, so I focus on helping you discover your unique value and strengths. My specialties include Self-Esteem, Burnout and Stress, Anxiety and Depression, and Trauma.

In treatment, I use self-compassion and mindfulness, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, and body-based modalities like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to help women transform their anxiety and doubt into self-love and confidence. As a result, they gain a clear path to presence, purpose, and fulfillment.

While my practice is in North Carolina, I am licensed to provide telehealth/virtual sessions to individuals in both North Carolina and Washington, D.C.

When I am not working…

In my free time, you will find me spending time with my family or out on a trail, preferably both simultaneously. I love engaging in about any and every outdoor activity under the sun.

On a cold or rainy day, you will find me in my favorite local coffee shop, where I take a little coffee with my cream and sugar.

You are here for a reason. I would be honored to accompany you if you’re ready to start your healing journey.