Whenever more than one person is involved in a relationship, there can be issues. These may stem from childhood patterns, specific or even mutual traumas, or conflicts in emotional or communication styles. When there is frustration and anger in a relationship, that relationship can benefit from a therapist’s help.
Whether you’re romantically involved, engaged, or married or partnered for many years, it can be difficult to “stay on the same page” throughout your relationship. Mutual traumas such as the loss of a child, infertility, monetary issues, or others can crop up to add stress and pressure to your relationship.
Other concerns such as addiction, infidelity, dealing with in-laws, health issues, and even loss of interest can cause relationships to struggle. Seeing a therapist can help heal old wounds, provide new ways of communicating and working through problems, and help couples move forward with stronger, more resilient partnerships.
Families are complex — several people, each with their own personalities, ways of coping, traumas, and experiences all living under one roof. Everything from the family dynamic itself to problems with communication or behavior can cause conflict in a family.
This can stem from the addition — or loss — of a family member, sibling rivalry, children reaching adolescence, or adults struggling with addiction, illness, monetary challenges, and more. All families face struggles and find it challenging to cope with challenges, whether they are expected — or unexpected.
A therapist can help your family understand one another’s issues, develop problem-solving and coping skills, and learn how to work — and communicate — as a strong and healthy unit.
Helping families and couples address their issues and find solution-focused ways to deal with them effectively is my passion.
For people involved in a romantic relationship, gaining insight into conflicts — whether they stem from childhood traumas or have evolved over time — will help improve your satisfaction with your relationship.
I will help partners understand their roles in conflicts and together we will develop actionable ways to change behavior, foster better interaction, and allow you to communicate better and problem-solve for a fuller, more loving partnership.
Using supportive, productive techniques, I can help families get to the root of their challenges, identify sources of conflict, and resolve them by developing strong strategies that emphasize communication and understanding.
Because I am familiar with all familial structures — from the traditional family unit to more modern families including LGBTQIAA+ individuals, I can provide guidance to families of all makeups and backgrounds.
Sandra is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Texas and founder of Instilling Hope Counseling Services. With a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Arabic Literature from The University of Texas at Austin and her Master of Science in Counseling from Southern Methodist University, Sandra sees individuals ages 13 and up, couples, and families.
As a therapist, Sandra's personal goal is to help eliminate the negative stigma that surrounds mental health and to encourage inclusivity and positivity across a wide range of personal relationship choices.
