BA Social Work - Wichita State University
MSW - University of Iowa
Licensed Independent Social Worker - IA
Clinical Member Am. Assn. of Marriage & Family Therapists
SPECIALTIES: Individual Adults and Couples
Sandra Risch LISW
Licensed Independent Social Worker
Get to know...
"I have been married for 34 years, have a daughter and two granddaughters.
I have over 40 years of experience in a variety of settings.
My approach is to help others reach their own full potential regardless of what problems or obstacle faces them.
I use a holistic approach that touches on the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of each person.
I use drama, storytelling, humor, and play interspersed in the sessions along with traditional therapy methods."
Q: Why are you a professional helper?
A: Helping has been my profession for almost 50 years so it has become not just a profession but my identity as a person. In high school I thought I would become a nurse because that was my grandmother's profession and her gift. My mother wanted me to go to a foreign mission field but Social Work got my attention instead. It felt like a niche; a place where I belonged.
Q: What is your area of specialty or with whom do you like to work with the most?
A: As a member of AAMFT I consider myself a specialist in working with couples. This can be in a variety of circumstances; couples in trouble, considering divorce, already divorced working out co-parenting plans, premarital couples, and same sex relationships to name a few. I am also well experienced in working with people with "non substance" addictions. These include codependency, gambling, sex addiction, spending, hoarding, and food addiction.
Q: If not a Social Worker, what would you like to be?
A: I would want to be a travel agent or a concierge at a grand hotel. Again I see these as helpers. And if that could be mixed with my love of travel and exploring new places, that could be ideal.
Q: What is the best Social Work-oriented quote you know?
A: Social Work is the Art of Listening and the Science of Hope
Q: What sets you apart from other professionals?
A: I am not only a clinical Social Worker but also a clinical member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. This certificate required additional graduate training and two years of supervised practice.
