Julia Sanderson

Hi, my name is Julia. My journey to becoming a mental health clinician began as a high school English teacher, where I discovered the importance of connection, storytelling, and creating spaces where others feel seen and understood. I later began working at a Children’s Advocacy Center, where I received training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), supporting children and caregivers navigating the impact of physical and sexual trauma. From there, I continued my clinical journey at a nonprofit counseling center, where I deepened my understanding of grief, struggles with identity, and family conflict. More recently, I have served as a victim services counselor, supporting individuals navigating grief, chronic pain, trauma, and depression/anxiety, receiving certification in grief counseling. Each experience has shaped how I show up as a clinician today—with compassion, humility, and respect for the unique road each person is traveling.

Wherever life’s road has taken you, you don’t have to walk the next stretch alone.

I’m ready to meet you where you are—with compassion, curiosity, and without judgment. Together, we can walk the road ahead at a pace that feels safe and manageable for you. You remain in control of the direction and the goals, while I walk alongside you, offering support, understanding, and a space to explore whatever you encounter along the way

My approach to therapy is grounded primarily in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and insight-oriented therapy, with a focus on helping you understand both what you are experiencing and why.

Together, we’ll explore the connections between your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, while identifying patterns that may be keeping you feeling stuck. CBT can provide practical tools for challenging unhelpful thought patterns, developing healthier ways of coping, and creating meaningful change in your everyday life.

I also believe that lasting change can come from understanding the experiences behind those patterns. Through an insight-oriented approach, we can gently explore how past experiences, relationships, and underlying beliefs may influence the way you see yourself, relate to others, and respond to the world around you.

When trauma or difficult past experiences are part of your story, I incorporate a trauma-focused, trauma-informed approach as appropriate. We will prioritize safety, trust, and stabilization, moving at a pace that feels manageable for you. We do not have to revisit painful experiences before you are ready. When deeper exploration or trauma processing feels appropriate, we can approach it thoughtfully and collaboratively.

Ultimately, therapy is a collaborative process tailored to you. You remain in control of the direction and goals of our work, while I provide a supportive, nonjudgmental space to help you gain insight, build new skills, work through difficult experiences, and move toward a life that feels more fulfilling and aligned with who you want to be.

For our first session, it is important to me that you feel not only heard, but understood. We’ll begin by exploring what brought you to counseling, where you hope to go, and the strengths and challenges that may shape the road ahead.

We’ll also complete clinical assessments to help us better understand what you’ve been experiencing, including the frequency, intensity, and impact of your symptoms. These assessments give us a clearer starting point and help us track progress along the way.

Finally, we’ll create a treatment plan together based on your goals, needs, and strengths. Rather than giving you a predetermined route, we’ll create the map together, identifying meaningful goals and strategies for navigating the barriers and detours that may arise. My role is to walk alongside you, offering clinical support and perspective as you move toward the changes that matter most to you.