Sandra Sanders

I bring a long history of experience in the field with me. I spent years teaching social workers how to prepare for and pass their licensure exams, which means I've helped a lot of people push through anxiety, self-doubt, and high-pressure moments to reach a goal they cared about. That experience shaped how I show up in the room: patient, encouraging, and clear-eyed about what it takes to get from stuck to unstuck.

I work with adults navigating stress, anxiety, depression, grief, family strain, and the difficult terrain of end-of-life issues, whether that's facing your own mortality or supporting a loved one through theirs.

My approach is grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which means we'll look closely at the connection between your thoughts, your feelings, and the things you do day to day. A lot of the distress we carry comes from patterns of thinking that feel like facts but are actually habits. I'll help you notice those patterns and build more useful, realistic ways of responding to what life throws at you.

I meet people where they are. Some of what I work with—grief, family conflict, the weight of facing the end of life—doesn't get "fixed," it gets carried differently, and my job is to walk alongside you while you figure out how. I'm direct when directness helps and gentle when that's what's needed. You'll always know where you stand with me.

The first session is really about getting to know each other. There's no pressure to have everything figured out or to tell your whole story in one sitting. I'll ask what brought you in, what you're hoping to change, and what a good outcome would look like for you. Mostly, I want to listen.

You can also ask me anything about how I work, what to expect, whether I'm the right fit. Finding a therapist you trust matters, and I'd rather you leave that first meeting knowing this feels right than feeling like you have to commit. By the end, we'll have a sense of where to focus and a first step to take together. My hope is that you walk out feeling a little lighter than when you walked in.