I was born and raised in Malaysia and came from very humble beginnings. My career initially started in financial services. After 10 years, I left this career to fulfill my desire to bear witness to others who have not been dealt with good cards. This desire was fueled by what I discovered in my journey, and I was inspired to do my part so that suffering fueled by unprocessed trauma do not get to have the final say!
I have 11 years of experience in treating trauma. I have worked in various settings throughout my 2nd professional career, including outpatient mental health, crisis services, the juvenile justice system, community-based organizations, schools, and at Veterans Affairs (VA). In addition, I teach graduate-level social work students and am passionate about training future clinicians.
My lived experiences, prior career, work in various settings, and cross-cultural experiences in multiple contexts have nurtured my flexibility, curiosity, and ability to connect with people from different backgrounds. I am humbled to have witnessed many people graduate from EMDR therapy and transform their pain and suffering into resilience.
My philosophy: However difficult, painful, and entrenched our challenges are, we have within us some degree of personal freedom to make healthy choices. We are not a victim to our circumstances unless we decide that for ourselves.
My style: I am collaborative and will empower you in your journey. I also use a no-nonsense approach to get to the root of the issue and will be direct with you. My job is to earn your trust and hold you accountable. I provide tangible skills that enable people to bear witness to themselves, rooted in neuroscience, timeless wisdom, and other proven methods, such as Internal Family Systems (IFS). I want to see you take your power back, gain freedom and graduate from therapy.
Sheba S. Andrew, MSW, LCSW
EMDRIA Certified EMDR Clinician