- 35 years experience
- LMFT in California
- Codependency focus
About Sandra
Sandra Terifaj is a licensed marriage and family therapist with 35 years of experience. She helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addictive behaviors, and relationship or intimacy issues. Sandra also works with concerns like codependency, narcissism, eating struggles, personality challenges, and women's issues.
Her approach is collaborative and down-to-earth. She guides clients to look at the emotional pain or obstacles that keep them stuck. Sessions focus on practical steps and honest conversation rather than jargon. Sandra aims to help people reach clearer choices and steadier emotional balance.
In practice she draws from Client-Centered Therapy to follow each person’s pace and priorities. She uses Cognitive Behavioral techniques to identify unhelpful thinking and try different behavior choices. Psychodynamic ideas help uncover patterns that repeat across relationships.
Sandra also brings mindfulness tools to help with stress and emotion regulation. Internal Family Systems work is used to notice and talk with the different parts of oneself that influence behavior. These methods are blended to match what a person needs in the moment.
Her background includes private practice and supervisory roles with nonprofit agencies. Sandra emphasizes a calm, respectful tone in sessions and supports people through tough life changes. If you want straightforward help sorting feelings and making practical changes, she offers experienced guidance and collaborative care.
How therapeutic approaches guide online work
Client-Centered Therapy is about following the person's concerns and priorities. The therapist listens closely and helps clients set the pace and focus for each session. This approach supports people who need acceptance and a clear, person-led space to talk.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts and actions affect mood and behavior. It offers concrete steps to test new ways of thinking and acting, which can help with anxiety, depression, and addictive patterns. Mindfulness Therapy adds simple practices to notice emotions and reduce reactivity during stressful moments.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Sandra treats the choice of methods as a collaborative decision based on your needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts techniques over time and checks in about what is or isn’t helpful.
Confirm the current online session options before booking, as formats are not specified here. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. They also let people use approaches like CBT exercises and mindfulness practice from wherever they are, while keeping the focus on practical tools and steady emotional support.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
35+ years
Credentials
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Sandra address?
Sandra works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addictions, eating issues, relationship and intimacy concerns, self-esteem, coping with life changes, and related areas such as codependency and narcissism.
How would she describe her therapy style?
She uses a collaborative, straightforward approach and focuses on practical work in sessions. The tone is calm and respectful, with an aim to help people make clearer choices.
What is her professional background?
She has 35 years of clinical experience in private practice and has supervised interns at nonprofit agencies.
What credentials and location are listed?
Sandra holds a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist credential (LMFT) and is based in California.
Which languages are available for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions arranged and what do they cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with Sandra?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.