Sandra DeGroat

Hi, I’m a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and therapist with over 11 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and adults across outpatient, crisis, inpatient, school-based, and higher levels of care, including PHP and IOP programs. I am the founder of Lilac Grove: Integrated Psychiatry & Addiction, where I provide trauma-informed, attachment-based, and neurobehavioral care tailored to each individual’s needs.

I specialize in anxiety, trauma, emotional and behavioral challenges, addiction-related concerns, and helping clients better understand patterns that feel difficult to change. My experience includes psychiatric and behavioral risk assessments, working as the psychiatric provider in a specialized school setting, and supporting individuals and families with complex emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs.

My approach is warm, direct, and collaborative. I focus on helping clients understand the connection between emotions, behavior, relationships, and underlying patterns while building practical skills for meaningful and lasting change. I integrate evidence-based approaches including CBT, motivational interviewing, psychodynamic and attachment-informed therapy, mindfulness-based strategies, and trauma-focused care.

With children and teens, I focus on strengthening emotional awareness and coping skills. My goal is to help clients feel more understood, more confident, and better equipped to move forward.

My approach is warm, direct, and solution-focused. I work collaboratively with clients to understand the patterns behind their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and then focus on practical strategies to create meaningful change. I integrate evidence-based techniques with a focus on both present challenges and underlying factors that may be driving them.

With adolescents, I prioritize building trust and helping them develop emotional regulation, insight, and healthier coping skills in a way that feels relevant to their lives. I also involve parents when appropriate to support consistency and progress outside of sessions.

My goal is to help clients feel understood while also giving them clear direction, tools, and support to move forward with confidence.

In our first session, you can expect a supportive, nonjudgmental space where we focus on getting to know you and what’s bringing you in. I’ll ask questions to better understand your concerns, history, and what you’d like to change, while also giving you space to share at your own pace.

We’ll begin identifying patterns and setting clear, realistic goals so you leave with a sense of direction. My approach is warm and direct, so you can expect both understanding and honest feedback.

By the end of the session, most clients feel more clear about their next steps and what working together will look like moving forward.