Sandra Paolini, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

I’m a licensed psychotherapist with over 20 years of experience helping adults break free from patterns that don’t respond to surface-level solutions. My work integrates modern approaches like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with body-based and subtle-body practices, so we’re not just talking about the problem—we’re working with how it lives in your system. I specialize in anxiety, panic, and agoraphobia—not just because I’ve trained extensively in these areas, but because I’ve lived through them myself. I know what it’s like to feel trapped by your own nervous system, to plan your life around what feels “safe,” and to wonder if anything will ever really change. I also know what it takes to move through it—not by managing symptoms, but by transforming the patterns that drive them. If you’re high-functioning on the outside but stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected underneath, you’re not alone. My job is to help you track those patterns in real time and create the space to shift them—so you can build the capacity to feel calm, grounded, and clear, even under pressure. I work in a direct, supportive, and insight-driven way. I’ll ask real questions. I’ll challenge what’s not working. And I’ll hold a steady, honest space where change becomes possible. This work includes mind, body, and energy—because deep change isn’t just about mindset. It’s about access: to your own clarity, resilience, and ability to act with intention. If you’re ready to do that kind of work, I’d be honored to support you.

I am particularly skilled at helping others with anxiety related disorders; PTSD, Social Anxiety, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, OCD and Generalized Anxiety, as well as working with depression, grief and spiritual issues.

Most people show up at therapy when they've all ready exhausted all the change strategies in their personal tool belts. At this point folks often feel hopeless and willing to try anything. Nonetheless, it's important to choose someone you're aligned with on a number of levels. For almost everyone, it's important to feel heard, understood, validated and accepted. Most folks also enjoy a warm, supportive, non-judgmental environment. These are givens. But beyond this, it's important to choose a therapist with whom you feel aligned on deeper levels. For example: * How does your therapist view the change process? Does (s)he believe it takes years of insight work, or does (s)he focus on solutions, the present, and effective action? * What does your therapist believe are the goals of therapy? * How does your therapist intend to meet your goals? * What's your therapist?s theoretical orientation? Does it make sense to you? * Do you feel comfortable telling your therapist when things aren't working? * Are you feeling more motivated, energized and alive as a result of the work? * Does your therapist continue to upgrade and improve skills, engage in personal work, or have the life experience that aligns with yours? It's important to take your time and choose well. You are the consumer, Take your time, shop around and find a good match because the work is serious and has the potential to change your life at the core.

I don't believe people are disordered, broken or damaged. Rather, I believe people get stuck in un-resourceful patterns that can create distress in their lives. By addressing the negative or unwanted patterns and discovering how they are held in place and fortified through thoughts and action, you can begin unraveling and re-patterning the way you organize the details of your life. Interesting, the very same brain structures and mind patterns that hold negative patterns in place, can also be used to engage, fortify and hard-wire in other more resourceful, flexible, life-giving patterns. To the brain, patterns are patterns and once you learn how your own internal operating system works, you can use it to make the kind of changes you want