Prof. Sandra Brackenridge, LCSW

Prof. Sandra Brackenridge brings more than three decades of clinical and teaching experience to her work. She holds an LCSW and spent 23 years as a professor of social work. Sandra continues to supervise social workers toward clinical licensure and has guided clinicians across multiple states. She also maintained a therapy practice alongside her academic roles, keeping her approach grounded in real-world client work.

Her background includes a long focus on grief and bereavement, and she has written and presented widely on those topics. She has also studied mental health concerns in health care settings, including the stress caregivers and veterinary professionals face. Sandra has experience with the mental health effects of natural disasters and public health crises, including hurricanes and the recent pandemic.

Sandra’s style is empathic and direct. She listens closely, helps people name what matters most, and works with them to find manageable next steps. Her work often addresses stress and anxiety, relationship strain, grief, depression, compassion fatigue, and the ripple effects of caregiving and trauma.

She uses several therapy approaches in practice, including attachment-based work, client-centered listening, narrative methods, existential questions about meaning, and elements of the Gottman Method for relationship concerns. Sandra aims to match technique to each person’s situation rather than use one rigid method.

People who choose Sandra often want an experienced clinician who understands workplace stress, caregiving demands, and life disruption. She welcomes international clients and offers support to health care professionals and their partners who are coping with burnout, loss, or major change.

How her approaches translate to online sessions

Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on the ways relationships shape emotional needs and behavior. It helps people understand patterns in close relationships and work toward more secure connections. Client-Centered Therapy centers the person’s experience; the therapist listens without directing and helps the person find their own solutions. Narrative Therapy looks at how personal stories are told and offers ways to reframe difficult events and build new meanings.

Choosing an approach is collaborative. Sandra will talk with each person about their goals, history, and what feels most useful. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust them over time to fit changing needs.

The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm current online options before booking. Many people find online sessions easier to fit into workdays, quieter times, or caregiving schedules. Online work can make regular check-ins simpler and reduce travel time, helping therapy fit into a busy life. Licensed professionals like Sandra can adapt conversational, reflective, and skills-based work to an online setting while focusing on the issues you bring, such as stress, anxiety, grief, or relationship concerns.