Children
A safe, age-appropriate space for younger clients to process big feelings, build coping skills, and feel understood.
Now welcoming new clients
A calm place to heal, grow, and return to you.
Anchor Within Counseling offers a supportive space for children, adolescents, and families to work through anxiety, grief, trauma, emotional regulation, and life’s difficult transitions — with care rooted in warmth, evidence-based practice, and real-world school and family experience.
- Hamburg, NY
- Telehealth in NY & FL
- Children · Teens · Families
Trauma-Informed Care
Child & Adolescent Therapy
Grief & Anxiety
School & Family Collaboration
Who I Help
Support for the people who need to feel steady again.
Whether you are a parent searching for help for your child, a teen feeling overwhelmed, or a family navigating a hard season — there is room here for you.
Adolescents & Teens
Steady, non-judgmental support for the pressures of school, identity, friendships, anxiety, and emotional regulation.
Parents & Families
Collaborative care that supports parents and strengthens connection between children, caregivers, and the wider team around them.
Areas of Support
Therapy may be helpful if you or your child are facing …
Every client is met where they are. These are some of the areas where Sara most often supports children, teens, and families.
Anxiety
Worry, overwhelm, school avoidance, and difficulty calming the body and mind.
Depression
Low mood, withdrawal, hopelessness, and loss of interest in things that once felt good.
Trauma
Trauma-informed care for difficult experiences, big or small, and their lasting effects.
Grief & Loss
Compassionate support through loss, change, and the many shapes grief can take.
Emotional Regulation
Building skills to recognize, understand, and move through strong feelings.
Anger Management
Specialized support for children and teens working through anger and frustration.
Behavioral Challenges
Understanding the “why” underneath behavior and finding healthier patterns together.
School & Academic Stress
Support for the emotional side of learning, peers, transitions, and pressure.
Parent–Child Dynamics
Strengthening trust, communication, and connection within the family.
Life Transitions
Steady support through moves, divorce, identity shifts, and other meaningful change.
Sara Marranca, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker — NY & FL
Certified Child & Adolescent Trauma Professional
About Sara
Hi, I'm Sara.
I'm a therapist… but I'm also a mom, a wife, a coffee reheater (because somehow it's always cold), and someone who knows that life can be beautifully messy.
I don't believe anyone has it all figured out — and honestly, I think that's a good thing. The people I work with aren't looking for someone who is perfect. They're looking for someone who gets it. Someone who can laugh with them one minute and help them work through the hard stuff the next.
Therapy with me isn't about sitting in a room where someone silently nods while taking notes. It's a conversation. Sometimes we'll laugh. Sometimes we'll celebrate the little wins that nobody else notices. Sometimes we'll tackle the really heavy things. All of it matters.
I genuinely love what I do. It's an incredible privilege to sit with people during some of the hardest moments of their lives, and I never take that for granted. My goal is to create a space where you don't have to pretend you're okay, where you can show up exactly as you are, and where you leave feeling just a little lighter than when you walked in.
Life is hard enough. Therapy doesn't have to be.
So whether you're feeling anxious, overwhelmed, stuck, exhausted from trying to hold everything together, or you're simply looking for a place where you can finally exhale — I'm here.
Contact UsWhat to Expect
Three gentle steps to getting started.
Reaching out can feel like a big step. Here is what the path forward looks like.
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01
Reach Out
Send a message or give Sara a call to share a little about what is going on and ask any initial questions.
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02
Initial Conversation
Together you’ll talk through needs, fit, scheduling, and what support might look like — at a pace that feels comfortable.
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03
Begin Support
Begin working toward coping skills, emotional regulation, healing, and growth in a safe, steady therapeutic relationship.
Location & Telehealth
In-person in Hamburg, NY — and online across New York & Florida.
Anchor Within Counseling serves clients in Hamburg and the broader Western New York area in person, with secure telehealth available for clients across New York and Florida.
Photos are representative of the calm, welcoming feel of the space — interior images of the Hamburg office coming soon.
- Office 4535 Southwestern Blvd, Suite 706a, Hamburg, NY 14075 Get directions →
- Phone 716-229-6290 ext. 100
- Fax 716-272-2319
- Telehealth Available throughout New York and Florida
- Licensure Licensed Clinical Social Worker in New York & Florida
- Payment & Insurance $150 per session with sliding scale available. In network with Aetna & Aetna EAP, and out-of-network benefits welcome. See fees & insurance →
Fees & Insurance
Clear, transparent pricing.
Investing in support should feel straightforward, not confusing. Here's what to expect — and please reach out with any questions.
Session Fees
$150 / session
Individual therapy session.
Sliding scale pricing available
Insurance
In-network plans
- Aetna
- Aetna EAP
Out-of-network
Sara welcomes clients using their out-of-network (OON) benefits.
Payment Methods
- American Express
- Discover
- Health Savings Account (HSA)
- Mastercard
- Visa
Additional insurance plans are in the credentialing process — please check back soon or reach out with any coverage questions.
Common Questions
Questions clients often ask.
A few of the things people wonder about before reaching out. If your question isn't here, Sara is always happy to talk it through.
How do I know if my child needs therapy?
Many parents wonder whether what they're seeing is just a phase or something more. It may be time to reach out if your child seems more anxious, angry, withdrawn, or overwhelmed than usual, is struggling at school or with friends, has been through a big change or loss, or is having frequent meltdowns that feel hard to manage. You don't need to wait for a crisis — a consultation can help you decide whether therapy is the right next step.
What are the signs of anxiety in children?
Anxiety in kids often looks different than it does in adults. Common signs include frequent worry or reassurance-seeking, trouble sleeping, stomachaches or headaches with no medical cause, avoiding school or social situations, irritability or meltdowns, perfectionism, and difficulty separating from parents. If worry is getting in the way of everyday life, support can help.
What happens in child therapy?
Child therapy is a warm, developmentally appropriate space where kids can express themselves through conversation, play, and creative activities. Sessions help children name big feelings, build coping and emotional-regulation skills, and work through anxiety, trauma, grief, or behavioral challenges. Parents are an important part of the process, and Sara collaborates with you along the way.
How can I help my anxious child at home?
Small, consistent steps make a difference — validate their feelings instead of rushing to fix them, keep predictable routines, model calm coping, and gently encourage rather than force brave behavior. Therapy adds tools tailored to your child, and Sara also offers parent support so you feel more confident helping between sessions.
How do I know if my teenager needs therapy?
Teens naturally have ups and downs, but it may be time to reach out if you notice ongoing sadness or anxiety, withdrawal from friends or activities, changes in sleep or appetite, slipping grades, increased irritability, or comments that worry you. Therapy gives teens a confidential, judgment-free space to sort through stress, relationships, and identity.
Do you work with adults and women, too?
Yes. Alongside her work with children and teens, Sara supports women and moms navigating anxiety, overwhelm, burnout, perfectionism, life transitions, and self-esteem. Therapy is a space to set down the mental load and feel a little lighter.
How long does therapy take?
There's no one-size-fits-all answer. Some concerns improve in a few months, while deeper or longer-standing struggles take more time. Together you'll set goals and check in regularly on progress, so therapy lasts as long as it's genuinely helpful — no longer.
Do you accept insurance?
Anchor Within Counseling LCSW, PLLC is in network with Aetna as well as Aetna EAP, and Sara is in the process of becoming credentialed with additional insurance plans — so it's worth checking back soon. If you have a different plan, reach out and we're happy to talk through your options, including private pay and any out-of-network questions.
Where is your office, and do you offer telehealth?
The office is located at 4535 Southwestern Blvd, Suite 706a in Hamburg, NY, serving families across the Southtowns and Buffalo area — including Orchard Park, East Aurora, West Seneca, Blasdell, and Lackawanna. Secure telehealth is also available throughout New York and Florida.
Contact
Take the next steady step.
Reaching out is often the hardest part. Sara responds personally to every inquiry and will help you figure out next steps together.
Interested in starting services? Please fill out the brief contact form and someone will reach out to you within one business day to discuss your options.
Opens Sara’s secure contact form. Prefer to reach out directly? Call 716-229-6290 ext. 100 or email info@anchorwithinwny.com.
Please do not share sensitive medical information through this form. For urgent concerns, please call 988 or 911.