About Sandra
Dr. Sandra Madaris helps people who are dealing with addictions, trauma and abuse, anger, low self-esteem, and depression. She speaks plainly and focuses on practical steps people can use right away.
Her approach is respectful and compassionate, aimed at making real changes feel possible. She has worked in the field for 23 years and holds a Licensed Clinical Social Worker credential, LCSW, in Georgia. Sandra adapts conversations and plans to fit each person’s situation.
Background and approach
Sessions look different depending on what someone needs - skills practice, problem solving, or simply a steady space to talk. Sandra uses several evidence-informed approaches to guide sessions. She draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to spot patterns in thoughts and behaviors.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills are used when emotions feel overwhelming. She also incorporates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy ideas to help people clarify what matters to them and take small steps toward that life.
Her additional focus areas include relationship patterns like attachment and codependency, life stressors such as caregiver strain and cancer-related challenges, and identity issues like body image and avoidant or dependent personality traits. She also supports people facing divorce, domestic violence, and substance use concerns. People who choose her can expect a collaborative, down-to-earth style.
The goal is to build skills, reduce distress, and strengthen confidence so everyday life becomes easier to manage.
Therapeutic approaches that translate to online care
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people clarify what matters most and take small actions toward those values. It is useful when someone feels stuck or overwhelmed by difficult thoughts and wants practical steps to keep moving forward.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT, focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking and testing new behaviors. It often includes skill practice, worksheets, and goal-setting that transfer well to video or phone sessions when someone wants clear, structured tools.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy, DBT, offers emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal skills. These strategies can help when feelings are intense and someone needs concrete tools to manage day-to-day reactions.
Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with the person about goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped before. That conversation guides which methods are prioritized and how sessions are structured in a collaborative way.
Online sessions use video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different needs. Video is good for in-depth conversation and skill practice. Phone calls use less bandwidth and can be easier around a busy schedule. Live chat or text-based messaging work well for shorter check-ins, tracking progress, or when someone prefers writing to talking. These options make therapy more flexible and easier to fit into daily life.
Frequently asked questions
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Addictions
- Trauma and abuse
- Anger management
Also works with
- Abandonment
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Attachment issues
- Avoidant personality
- Body image
- Cancer
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Codependency
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Dependent personality
- Depression
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Emptiness
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Gender dysphoria
- Guilt and shame
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Mood disorders
- Narcissism
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Personality disorders
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self esteem
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Jungian Therapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Narrative Therapy
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Somatic Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
- Experience
- 23 years
- Licensed
- Georgia
- Languages
- English