Back to Faculty
Faculty

Sandra Mistretta

MA, LMFT, CATC IV
Chief Clinical Officer
Casa Serena Treatment Programs For Women

Sandra Lee Mistretta, LMFT, CATC IV has over 15 years of clinical leadership in substance use disorder (SUD) and co-occurring mental health treatment. She holds an M.A. in Clinical Psychology, a B.A. in Applied Psychology, is a certified addiction counselor, a licensed psychotherapist, teaches graduate level addictive study courses and has advanced training in DBT, EMDR and systemic trauma informed care.

As Chief Clinical Officer at Casa Serena Treatment Programs for Women, Sandra develops and directs trauma-informed programming with separate tracks for eating disorders, mental health, DBT, trauma and co-occurring disorder programs. She is a recognized in family-inclusive treatment, working extensively with families in individual and multi-family group settings to improve engagement, repair relationships, and strengthen recovery outcomes.

Sandra is also an experienced clinical supervisor, having developed culturally responsive, equity-focused supervision models that integrate multicultural and social justice frameworks. She trains associate clinicians and trainees to work competently with racially, ethnically, culturally, socioeconomically, and neuro-divergent populations, enhancing cultural humility, ethical practice, and therapeutic effectiveness.

An engaging CEU presenter, Sandra has designed and facilitated trainings on family dynamics in SUD care, trauma-informed practice, DBT integration, and multicultural supervision. Her dual expertise ensures that participants leave her sessions with research-based, practical strategies they can apply immediately in both clinical and supervisory contexts.

2026 Sessions

Staying Client-Centered in a Family System: Clinical Strategies for Balance, Boundaries, and Alliance

<b>Session Description</b>: Family involvement in substance use and co-occurring treatment can be a turning point for recovery—or a major source of clinical complexity. Not all families are healthy or functional, yet with skilled engagement, even challenging systems can become valuable allies in client care. This workshop provides clinicians with advanced, evidence-informed strategies to maintain a strong therapeutic alliance with the client while ethically and effectively integrating family members into the treatment process.

Drawing on systemic, trauma-informed, and attachment-based frameworks, we will explore how to navigate loyalty binds, emotional triangulation, role confusion, and cultural factors that influence family engagement. Participants will learn how to turn potential alliance ruptures into opportunities for systemic repair, keeping the client’s goals and autonomy at the center of care.

Through a blend of didactic teaching, real-world case vignettes, and interactive discussion, attendees will gain practical tools including a Clinical Engagement Checklist, boundary-setting scripts, and a Triangle Mapping Tool for visualizing and resolving triangulation patterns.

By the end of the session, participants will be equipped to:
- Identify common risks and alliance challenges in family-inclusive treatment.
- Apply strategies that preserve client trust while engaging families as recovery partners.
- Implement interventions that support healthy boundaries and systemic healing.

This workshop is designed for therapists, counselors, supervisors, and multidisciplinary team members working in residential, outpatient, or hybrid settings where family involvement plays a key role in treatment outcomes.

Presenter

Saturday, October 10 1:15–2:45 PM
Room Cypress
Couples/Family or Group Counseling
Faculty

Sandra Mistretta

MA, LMFT, CATC IV
Chief Clinical Officer
Casa Serena Treatment Programs For Women

Sandra Lee Mistretta, LMFT, CATC IV has over 15 years of clinical leadership in substance use disorder (SUD) and co-occurring mental health treatment. She holds an M.A. in Clinical Psychology, a B.A. in Applied Psychology, is a certified addiction counselor, a licensed psychotherapist, teaches graduate level addictive study courses and has advanced training in DBT, EMDR and systemic trauma informed care.

As Chief Clinical Officer at Casa Serena Treatment Programs for Women, Sandra develops and directs trauma-informed programming with separate tracks for eating disorders, mental health, DBT, trauma and co-occurring disorder programs. She is a recognized in family-inclusive treatment, working extensively with families in individual and multi-family group settings to improve engagement, repair relationships, and strengthen recovery outcomes.

Sandra is also an experienced clinical supervisor, having developed culturally responsive, equity-focused supervision models that integrate multicultural and social justice frameworks. She trains associate clinicians and trainees to work competently with racially, ethnically, culturally, socioeconomically, and neuro-divergent populations, enhancing cultural humility, ethical practice, and therapeutic effectiveness.

An engaging CEU presenter, Sandra has designed and facilitated trainings on family dynamics in SUD care, trauma-informed practice, DBT integration, and multicultural supervision. Her dual expertise ensures that participants leave her sessions with research-based, practical strategies they can apply immediately in both clinical and supervisory contexts.
Back to top