- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Guilt and shame work
- Grief and life change
About Sandra
Sandra West is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California with 25 years of professional experience. She works with adults facing stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, low self-esteem, and life transitions. Sandra also lists work related to adoption and foster care, cancer, forgiveness, guilt and shame, life purpose, post-traumatic stress, self-love, and women’s issues.
Her style is straightforward and solution-oriented. Conversations focus on what is happening now and on small, practical steps that can shift day-to-day life. Sessions look at coping strategies, ways to manage strong feelings, and realistic actions clients can try between meetings.
Sandra uses Solution-Focused Therapy to help people identify strengths and possible next steps. That approach highlights short-term goals and concrete changes rather than dwelling only on problems. It can be useful for people who want tangible ways to address stress, grief, or persistent guilt and shame.
She adapts the tone and pace to each person. Some sessions may emphasize problem-solving and planning. Others may slow down to process grief or the weight of past events. The therapist discusses options and sets clear, practical tasks when appropriate.
Clients are guided to notice what already helps and to build on those patterns. Sandra’s background supports work on trauma and post-traumatic stress while keeping the focus on present coping and forward steps. To begin, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule an initial session.
How Sandra’s approach translates to online care
Solution-Focused Therapy centers on clear, practical steps and on what is already working for a person. It focuses conversations on goals, short-term changes, and specific strategies to manage stress, anxiety, guilt, or shame. That method tends to fit well with check-ins that track progress and set small tasks between sessions.Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Sandra will talk with each person about current needs, goals, and preferences and then decide together which techniques to try. The emphasis is on testing small changes and adjusting the plan based on what helps most.
The therapist’s profile does not list specific session formats, so confirm which options are offered before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, shorten travel time, and allow for brief check-ins when problems flare up. Phone sessions sometimes work better when video is difficult, and shorter sessions can be useful for quick problem-focused work. Discuss format and timing during the initial scheduling so sessions match daily life and goals.
Areas of expertise
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
25+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
Sandra works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, self-esteem, and coping with life changes. Her profile also notes work related to adoption and foster care, cancer, forgiveness, guilt and shame, life purpose, post-traumatic stress, self-love, and women’s issues.
How does she approach guilt and shame?
She uses a solution-focused approach that looks for small, practical steps forward. Conversations aim to identify manageable actions and coping techniques rather than only revisiting past events.
What is her background and experience?
She has 25 years of professional experience working in mental health settings. That experience includes helping people manage trauma, grief, anxiety, and self-esteem concerns.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - LMFT licensed in California. Her practice is located in California.
Are sessions offered in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English. She is not currently accepting international clients.
Which session formats are offered?
The original biography does not specify session formats. Confirm the current session options before booking so you know whether video, phone, or in-person meetings are available.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Confirm specific pricing details during the matching and scheduling steps.
What do I do to get started?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session to begin the intake process.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.