Getting the Love You Want Couples Retreat

Trisha Sanders is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has been in professional practice for nearly twenty years, working with young people, families and couples. She has practiced in various settings, including School Based Youth Services Programs, outpatient substance abuse facilities and mental health programs. She specializes in working with children, teens and young adults who have experienced some kind of trauma, including sexual abuse, physical abuse, witnessing domestic violence, loss or divorce, and those going through a stage of transition (i.e. graduating high school, moving, etc). In addition to “talk therapy”, she utilizes expressive therapies, such as play, art and sand. Trisha loves working with young people because she feels there is nothing more rewarding than helping children and adolescents develop their emotional intelligence and acquire the necessary coping skills they need for life to grow up to be happy, healthy and successful!

Through her work with young people, Trisha discovered many parents who were longing for improved communication in their families. This, combined with her own personal journey through relationship challenges, led her to become certified in Imago Relationship Therapy. Imago Therapy is a highly effective method that helps teach a new way to talk and listen so people may enjoy more fulfilling relationships. This is the approach Trisha uses in her work with both couples and families. In addition to offering therapy for couples, Trisha also offers the Imago-based “Getting the Love You Want” workshop weekends.

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On her own wellness journey, in addition to therapy, Trisha has found significant value in yoga, meditation and other holistic means. From her experience, from various research and from witnessing what worked for her clients, Wholefamily Therapy & Wellness was born. It is a place where people can come to connect, find themselves and unlock all the gifts they already have inside.

Through the development of Wholefamily, Trisha has had the privilege of working with the most outstanding group of therapists and other wellness professionals. She is excited to be a part of offering their services and support to the community.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in couples and sex therapy. Being a therapist is not just a job for me, it is my passion. Prior to becoming a therapist, I started out as an attorney specializing in child advocacy. Through my work as an attorney, I realized that while I didn’t really enjoy actual legal work (legal reading, research and writing were not my strong suits!), I loved connecting with my clients and learning about their backgrounds, family lives, beliefs systems and dreams. I was fascinated by people and their stories and wanted to work with my clients on a deeper and more meaningful level. This led me to eventually go back to school at New York University to pursue my Masters of Social Work, and I haven’t looked back since! As a a clinical social worker I have worked in many different settings- emergency rooms, inpatient detox and rehab, and Intensive Outpatient Programs before starting my private practice. My style is warm, engaging and genuine. I work from a strengths based perspective- helping individuals and couples identify and draw upon their strengths, and use those strengths when working on challenges.

I am passionate about relationships and helping people work through conflict and develop deeper and empathic connection with others and themselves. I have been fascinated with relationships for as long as I can remember. When I was 8 or 9 years old,when every other girl my age was reading teen magazines, my favorite magazine column was Can This Marriage Be Saved? in Ladies Home Journal! So you could say my path to become a couples therapist started at an early age! As a Certified Imago Relationship Therapist, I have received extensive years-long couples therapy training in Imago relationship therapy. My other interest in sex therapy and sexual health led me to my current training at University of Michigan’s Sexual Health Certificate Program. I am passionate about helping individuals and couples have fun, satisfying and fulfilling sex lives.