Brenda Sanders , LMSW

Brenda Sanders is a Michigan-based therapist who brings a practical blend of training, lived experience, and deep empathy to help individuals and families navigate difficult life transitions. She centers care on improving daily functioning and emotional well-being while creating a respectful, goal-oriented working relationship with each client.

Brenda holds an LMSW - Licensed Master Social Worker - and has completed coursework and certifications that include an associate degree in science, a bachelor degree in family and community services, and a master degree in social work. She is also a Certified Advance Alcohol and Drug Counselor, has specialized study in gerontology, and has received training in trauma-informed approaches, dialectical behavior therapy, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. These combined qualifications inform her practical, skills-focused style of support.

Across more than six years of clinical work, Brenda has supported people in diverse treatment settings, including adult homeless programs, services for returning citizens, substance use treatment facilities, agencies serving autistic children, and outpatient programs for both children and adults. She has extensive experience with children and adolescents - addressing attention and developmental concerns, conduct and mood challenges, trauma, and family difficulties - and with adults facing substance use disorders, mood and bipolar disorders, trauma reactions, personality-related concerns, and attention challenges.

Brenda approaches therapy as a collaborative process that asks for courage and commitment. She aims to assist, support, and empower clients when they are ready to pursue change, tailoring strategies to each person and family to promote more balanced, manageable day-to-day life.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Brenda uses attachment-based therapy to explore how early relationships shape present-day patterns. This approach helps people understand relationship dynamics, rebuild trust, and improve connection with partners, family members, or caregivers.

She also integrates client-centered therapy, which emphasizes an empathic, nonjudgmental stance that helps clients find their own answers. This approach supports self-exploration, confidence, and personal growth by prioritizing the client’s goals and pace.

Cognitive behavioral therapy, another common tool in her work, focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and replacing them with more effective strategies. CBT is practical for managing anxiety, depression, stress, and behavioral patterns that interfere with daily life.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the therapeutic process. Brenda collaborates with each person to tailor methods to their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting direction as progress unfolds.

Online therapy offers flexibility to connect by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, maintain continuity during life changes, and access consistent support from licensed professionals and therapists regardless of location within the state.