Sandra Litchmore
I’m originally from Brooklyn, New York, with Caribbean roots, and have called Central Florida home for several years. I’ve been working as a therapist for over seven years, with experience across different areas of social work and mental health. My background includes inpatient psychiatry, forensic social work, hospital-based medical social work, and child welfare. These experiences have allowed me to work with individuals from different backgrounds and walks of life, including those navigating mood disorders, personality disorders, emotional challenges, and difficult life circumstances. As a Black female therapist, I understand how meaningful it can be to feel represented and connected with someone who may relate to certain cultural experiences or understand the different environments that shape who we are. Everyone’s story is different, but I value creating a space where clients feel comfortable showing up as themselves.
Originally from New York and rooted in Caribbean culture, I've lived in Central Florida for several years and proudly serve clients across this community through different walks of life.
First session
I hope you leave feeling like, “Okay, I can actually do this.” I want you to feel heard, comfortable, and a little less alone in whatever you’ve been dealing with. Maybe you came in feeling overwhelmed, unsure about therapy, or not even knowing where to start. That’s okay. My hope is that you leave knowing you can be yourself, speak honestly, and don’t have to have it all together to be here. We may not figure everything out in one session, but hopefully you’ll walk away feeling like we’ve made a good start.
Strengths
I bring a combination of empathy, honesty, patience, and directness into my sessions. I want clients to feel comfortable talking openly and being themselves without worrying about being judged. I’m also someone who believes in having honest conversations, offering a different perspective when needed, and helping clients recognize patterns that may be getting in the way of their growth. I don’t believe every session has to be serious all the time. Sometimes a little humor can go a long way in making people feel comfortable. My approach is down-to-earth and collaborative, and I incorporate CBT, DBT-informed skills, and person-centered techniques depending on each client’s needs. I want therapy to feel like a place where you can talk, reflect, be challenged when appropriate, and feel supported along the way.
Ideal clients
I enjoy working with teenagers and adults who are navigating some of life’s harder moments. Maybe you’re dealing with depression, mood changes, anxiety, relationship struggles, difficulty managing your emotions, or a history of mental health challenges that still affects your everyday life. You might be going through a major life change, trying to make sense of past experiences, or feeling like you keep ending up in the same situations. I work well with people who are willing to show up as they are, even if that means not having all the answers or knowing where to start. You don’t have to be perfect, have it all together, or even know exactly what you need. I appreciate people who are open to being honest, having real conversations, looking at things from a different perspective, and doing the work to understand themselves better. We can laugh, have difficult conversations, and figure things out along the way.
Origin story
My interest in becoming a therapist grew from my experiences working with people during some of the most difficult and uncertain times in their lives. Throughout my career, I’ve seen how much our experiences, environments, relationships, and life circumstances can affect our mental health. I’ve also seen how important it is to have someone who will listen, offer support, and help you work through things without feeling judged. I wanted to be someone who could provide that kind of support. What continues to inspire me is being able to help people better understand themselves, recognize their strengths, and find ways to navigate challenges, even when things feel overwhelming.
Ongoing work together
As we continue working together, we’ll start connecting the dots, recognizing patterns, and looking at what’s changing and what may still be challenging. Some sessions may be about getting things off your chest, while others may involve digging deeper, learning new ways to manage emotions, or looking at situations differently. I’ll incorporate CBT, DBT-informed skills, and practical tools that you can actually use in your everyday life. I’ll support you, but I’ll also challenge you when needed. We’ll work through the ups and downs, recognize your progress, and keep building on the things that matter most to you.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use cognitive behavioral techniques to help clients recognize how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors influence one another. Together, we explore unhelpful thinking patterns and identify ways to respond to difficult situations differently. Sessions may include working through negative thoughts, developing coping strategies, and practicing skills that clients can use outside of therapy.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
I believe therapy should be a space where clients feel comfortable being themselves and talking openly about what they are experiencing. I use a person-centered approach that allows clients to explore their thoughts, emotions, and challenges without feeling judged. I work alongside clients to better understand their experiences, recognize their strengths, and identify areas where they would like support and growth.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I use DBT to help clients work through overwhelming emotions, manage stress, and build healthier relationships. Many of the clients I work with struggle with impulsivity, emotional regulation, or having strong reactions when situations become difficult. DBT offers practical tools to help slow things down, better understand emotional responses, and approach challenging situations differently. We work on skills that can be used in everyday life, whether that’s managing frustration, communicating more effectively, setting boundaries, or finding healthier ways to cope. The goal is to help clients feel more in control of how they respond and better equipped to handle life’s challenges.
Location
Virtual sessions