Prof. Sandra Brackenridge , LCSW

Prof. Sandra Brackenridge is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 31 years of professional experience who blends a strong academic background with ongoing clinical practice. She served as a professor of social work for 23 years and continues to supervise social workers as they pursue clinical licensure, having guided at least 40 social workers across three states. She is sometimes referred to as the "therapist's therapist" for her role in mentoring and supervision.

Throughout her career she has maintained a parallel commitment to direct client work, which has kept her current in a range of therapeutic approaches and techniques. Her teaching, publications, and conference presentations have focused heavily on grief and bereavement and on mental health issues within healthcare settings, with particular attention to veterinary professionals. She has also researched and published on the mental health impact of natural disasters and large-scale events, including the recent pandemic and several hurricanes.

Her clinical interests include supporting healthcare workers and their families, addressing burnout and compassion fatigue, and helping clients navigate relationship strains, trauma, addiction, parenting challenges, life transitions, and questions of life purpose. As a seasoned clinician and supervisor, she brings an informed, empathic, and practical perspective to complex mental health concerns.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Prof. Sandra Brackenridge draws on Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Existential Therapy in her work. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at patterns of connection and trust formed in close relationships and can help with relationship difficulties, intimacy-related issues, and family dynamics. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathic listening and a nonjudgmental stance so clients can explore their values, self esteem, and coping with life changes at their own pace. Existential Therapy focuses on questions of meaning, life purpose, and dealing with loss or major transitions, helping clients navigate uncertainty and grief.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and she works collaboratively with clients to identify which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences. Licensed professionals and therapists can adapt these approaches to the specifics of each person’s situation to create a tailored plan of care.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, offering flexibility to fit schedules and geographic constraints. These formats make it possible to maintain continuity of care, access support during life transitions, and connect with a therapist from different locations when in-person sessions are not practical.