Sarah Burkett, PhD
Pain Psychologist · Licensed since 2015
Dr. Sarah Burkett earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant University in Sacramento. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at Ventura County Behavioral Health, where she received specialized training in outpatient substance abuse, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and behavioral medicine.
Dr. Burkett completed her post-doctoral training at Northern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services with an emphasis on outpatient therapy, including Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Chronic Pain groups, Co-Occurring Disorders, and Anger Management. Licensed since 2015, she subsequently worked at Renown and Rural Mental Health providing outpatient therapy with a focus on health psychology, psychological assessment, and cognitive-behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders and chronic disease management.
Dr. Burkett is a qualified supervisor for Psychological Assistants and brings a warm, evidence-based approach to each patient — meeting them where they are and collaborating toward the life they want to live.
Pain psychology is not about convincing patients that their pain isn’t real. It’s about giving them real tools to change how their nervous system responds to pain — and to reclaim the life they want to live.
— Dr. Sarah Burkett, PhD | Pain Psychologist, Sweetwater Pain & Spine
Years of clinical experience in health psychology and chronic pain management
Evidence-based therapy modalities: CBT, MBSR, ACT, and DBT
Dedicated pain psychologist embedded within Sweetwater’s care team
Therapeutic Approaches
Dr. Burkett draws from multiple evidence-based frameworks tailored to each patient’s unique situation, history, and goals. No single approach fits every patient — her strength is in knowing which tools to use and when.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
The gold standard for chronic pain. CBT targets catastrophic thinking patterns, activity avoidance, and the behavioral cycles that amplify pain and disability. Research shows 20–30% reductions in pain intensity on average.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
Developed specifically for chronic pain, MBSR trains non-judgmental awareness of pain sensations and emotions — reducing the suffering that surrounds pain even when the sensation itself persists.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT helps patients build a meaningful, engaged life alongside chronic pain rather than waiting for pain to disappear first. Particularly effective for patients with longstanding pain and significant life restriction.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Dr. Burkett completed specialized DBT training. DBT’s distress tolerance and emotion regulation modules are especially effective for patients whose pain is amplified by emotional sensitivity or mood disorders.
Education & Training
Doctoral training in clinical psychology with emphasis on health psychology and behavioral medicine.
Specialized training in outpatient substance abuse, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and behavioral medicine.
Outpatient therapy emphasis including Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Chronic Pain groups, Co-Occurring Disorders, and Anger Management.
Outpatient therapy with emphasis in health psychology, psychological assessment, CBT for anxiety disorders, and chronic disease management.
Embedded within a multidisciplinary pain practice, providing integrated psychological care in collaboration with pain physicians. Qualified supervisor for Psychological Assistants.
Our Four Northern Nevada Locations
645 N Arlington Ave
Suite 670
Reno, NV 89503
10451 Double R Blvd
Reno, NV 89521
4838 Sparks Blvd
Suite 102
Sparks, NV 89436
412 W John St
Suite B
Carson City, NV 89703
Dr. Burkett works alongside our pain physicians to treat the whole person — not just the pain signal. Ready to take the next step?