Sandra Cushing, MSW, RSW, Social Worker
Sandra Cushing is a senior clinician with a Master of Social Work degree from Wilfred Laurier University. Sandra has extensive experience providing individual therapy to adults (18+) contending with a range of emotional and psychological difficulties including Anxiety Disorders (e.g. generalized anxiety, health anxiety, social anxiety, panic); Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD); PTSD and Trauma; alcohol and drug misuse; emotion-regulation, perfectionism, navigating life transitions and enhancing self-worth and personal growth.
Sandra’s therapeutic approach is informed by Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Mindfulness interventions and Motivational Interviewing.
Sandra strives to build a strong therapeutic relationship while drawing from evidence-informed treatment models. Sandra encourages individuals to be an active participant during and between therapy sessions to facilitate the insights attained and strategies practiced, being brought forward into daily life.
Sandra is warm, transparent, and accepting. Her collaborative approach is tailored to the needs of the individual seeking change. Her goal is to guide individuals in exploring life experiences; intense emotions and ways of responding to enhance understanding, compassion and awareness of strengths while learning alternatives to less helpful perspectives, coping and response patterns that may be impeding on well-being and attaining a meaningful and fulfilling life.
Sandra’s clinical training extends almost two decades during which, she has had the opportunity to practice and learn across a variety of mental health settings. As an Advanced Practice Clinical Leader at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Sandra co-led a Consultation Service for teens and adults contending with alcohol and drug use challenges that included individual and group program development and evaluation. She also provided empirically supported individual and group-based CBT for Psychosis.
Sandra co-created and delivered training on the importance of a trauma-informed approach and implementation recommendations to internal teams at CAMH and external providers. She also worked with individuals and their family members and support persons on reducing accommodation of OCD in addition to providing Exposure and Response Prevention Plan (ERP) coaching during her Social Worker role with the Frederick W. Thompson Anxiety Disorders Centre at Sunnybrook Health Sciences.
Earlier in her career Sandra provided individual and group counselling at Alcohol, Drug and Counselling Services in Hamilton for individuals facing alcohol and drug use challenges and co-occurring experiences including anxiety, mood, and traumatic life events. Sandra values continued learning and growth in the psychotherapy field and is currently commencing training in Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) and Emotion Focused Therapy for couples.
Sandra is a member in good standing with the Ontario College of Registered Social Workers and Social Service Workers.
Sandra provides in-person therapy in our downtown office and online therapy for individuals who are not able to attend in person or are residing outside of the GTA.
Online therapy available