Sandy O’Donnell, LPC/MHSP

Gardening, history, travel, and art; these are the activities and interests that Sandy O'Donnell enjoys. It's what she likes to do. But it's not her passion. Working with children and helping families become successful. That is her passion.

Raising children can be both incredibly challenging and extremely rewarding. Unlike prior generations, families today are scattered across the globe. The network of community is frequently weakened or lost through separation, divorce, relocation, job demands and other changes. A child's learning experience and their effort to cope suffer due to this weakened network. The result may manifest as a conflict in family relationships, lowered self-esteem, and academic underachievement.

The role of a parent is further complicated when a child receives a mental health diagnosis or manifests a behavior issue. Yet, it is only when parents become part of the solution that behavior can improve and healing can begin. Parents must nurture, discipline and inspire by keeping kids safe and encouraging them to explore their unique potentials. Parents are the agents of change.

Sandy is a Licensed Professional Counselor with more than 17 years of clinical experience. This experience includes counseling in a variety of settings, such as wilderness camps, foster care and in a public school setting. Sandy also has years of experience in facilitating effective parenting classes (S.T.E.P.; Parent-to-Parent; and Effective Parenting) which she incorporates into her family-centered therapy approach. Her approach to counseling is Cognitive-Behavioral. She has counseled on a broad spectrum of issues, including:

• ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder)
• Oppositional Defiant Disorder
• Mental Retardation and Developmental Delays
• Learning Disorders, Autism, Asperger's and Tourette's

Sandy's approach to counseling is characterized by compassion and caring. "I want the child to know that he or she is in a safe environment surrounded by people who care and want to see them succeed. That's when walls begin to come down and real healing can begin. That's when children begin to succeed."