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Headshot of Sandra

Sandra Olkowski, PhD, MA, AMFT

Associate Therapist, AMFT

PRONOUNS

she/her

AVAILABILITY

In person and virtual

LANGUAGES

English

ABOUT

I specialize in supporting women and couples through the transitions and challenges of midlife. Menopause, retirement planning, shifting identities, children leaving home, caring for aging parents, and changes in relationships can feel overwhelming and disorienting.


This can look like:

  • Feeling disconnected from your partner or yourself

  • Changes in sex, intimacy, desire, or arousal

  • Difficulty adjusting to changes in your body or sexual identity

  • Relationship conflict or communication struggles

  • Anxiety, stress, or emotional overwhelm

  • Trouble sleeping or chronic insomnia


My approach is warm, collaborative, and grounded in evidence-based care. I believe every person deserves safe, loving connection, and I help clients navigate life’s transitions with greater clarity, resilience, and intimacy. I work holistically, recognizing how emotional wellbeing, relationships, identity, sexuality, and physical health—including sleep—are deeply interconnected. I am also trained in CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia), an evidence-based treatment I completed at Stanford that is highly effective for improving sleep without medication.


Half of my workweek is spent as a research scientist at UC Davis and the other half seeing therapy clients. I bring both of those hats to work with clients, by drawing from evidence-based approaches while staying closely attuned to your unique lived experience.

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