Stella Sanderson, LCSW

Stella Sanderson, LCSW

Psychotherapist
9655 Granite Ridge Dr, Ste 200, San Diego, CA
5.00
“She has a great attention span, is a good listener, is friendly, accepting of trans people, and very supportive and kind. She can read your body language and understand when you’re uncomfortable talking about something. She doesn’t push those boundaries when you are uncomfortable.”
Marilyn A.January 30, 2026
Highly recommended
100% of patients gave this doctor 5 stars
Excellent wait time
100% of patients waited less than 30 minutes

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Available appointments

What patients are saying

Overall rating

5.00

Average wait time

4.00

Bedside manner

5.00
“She has a great attention span, is a good listener, is friendly, accepting of trans people, and very supportive and kind. She can read your body language and understand when you’re uncomfortable talking about something. She doesn’t push those boundaries when you are uncomfortable.”
Marilyn A.January 30, 2026Video visit

About Stella Sanderson

Focus areas

Academic Stress
Pediatric Anxiety
Pediatric Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Counseling
Adjustment Disorder
Pediatric Bereavement
Pediatric Psychotherapy
Adolescent / Teen Issues
Pediatric Depression

Clientele seen

Children (<13)
Adults (25-64)
Teenagers (13-17)
Seniors (65+)
Young adults (18-24)
Individuals

Treatment approaches

Attachment-based
Motivational Interviewing
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Parent-Child Interaction (PCIT)
EMDR
Play Therapy

Identity

Gender

Female

Sexuality

Straight

Faith

Christian

Ethnicity

White

Languages spoken

English

Getting to know Stella Sanderson

With 8 years of experience as a social worker, I've spent the past 4 years specializing in working with children, particularly in addressing school-related challenges, grief, and trauma treatment. I have extensive experience supporting families through grief and bereavement from my experience in hospice. Additionally, I spent 3 years providing trauma therapy to kids at a local non-profit. Outside of therapy, I enjoy dancing, going on family adventures, beach time, traveling, and playing with my dog.

What should a new client know about working with you?

Therapy is about the relationship built. I always approach each client and parent with respect and dignity, even if they are 5 years old. PLAY, LEARN, GROW, THRIVE reflects my belief that children communicate and learn best through play. Play creates meaningful learning experiences, supports growth, and helps children develop the skills they need to thrive. I believe that taking care of the body takes care of the mind as well. I encourage all my clients to reflect on how they are taking care of their body in the areas of hydration, nourishment, movement, connection, and rest. In addition to taking care of the body, I help clients identify simple ways they can help their body and mind feel better. Once we get to a good base level we can start to get into deeper things such as trauma history or places where you feel stuck. Laying the foundation is an important piece of the work to really create lasting change.

What is your typical process for working with clients?

In the initial phone call, I will walk you through basic questions to make sure we are a good fit. If it is not, I will give you some referrals for what you are looking for. If we are a good fit, yay! We will then schedule a full intake so that I can gather all the information I need to get a sense of what is affecting you and how I can best support you. We collaborate and come up with the goals for therapy and get started. Plan for the first 2-3 sessions to be our “first dates” - just feeling each other out and learning more about one another. I typically incorporate some suggestions on skills that can help you feel better. As we continue, I will add more skills that you can try out and see if they feel good to your body and mind. Once the foundation is laid that is when we can get into the meat of therapy and tackle histories or patterns of behavior that have not been serving you. My goals is for you to not need me anymore. So after we tackle the main reason (and any side quests) of what you sought out therapy for we will look towards graduating from therapy. We might go to every other week, once a month or just graduate. I will be here for you always so if you ever needed it again you can contact me.

Is this doctor in your insurance network?

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In-network insurances

Aetna
BlueCross BlueShield
Cigna
200+ more in-network plans

Don’t see your insurance?

It’s common for mental health providers to be out-of-network. Many insurance plans offer out-of-network coverage, so you may get partially reimbursed. Learn more

Out-of-pocket fees and assistance
Initial session: $150 for 50 minutes
Ongoing session: $100-150 for 45 minutes
  • Sliding scale: Offers lower out-of-pocket fees on an individual basis, typically based on your ability to pay

More information on payments and coverage

I can provide a super bill for reimbursement and can be flexible on fees with a sliding scale.

Popular visit reasons

Depression
New Patient Visit
Nightmares
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy Intake / Initial Visit
Teen Violence
Therapy
Young Adult Issues
Depression
New Patient Visit
Nightmares
Psychotherapy

Office locations

Stella Sanderson, LCSW also offers online video visits for patients
Stella Grace Sanderson LCSW (1 of 2)
9655 Granite Ridge Dr, Ste 200, San Diego, CA 92123
Stella Grace Sanderson LCSW (2 of 2)
10620 Treena St, Ste 230, San Diego, CA 92131
1 of 2

Education and background

Practice names

Education and training

  • University of Southern California, Master's in Social Work
  • Arizona State University Tempe Campus (Bachelor's)

Professional memberships

  • National Association of Social Workers

NPI number

1760052948

Patient reviews

All reviews have been submitted by patients after interacting with the practice.
Overall rating
5.00
Wait time
4.00
Bedside manner
5.00
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Your trust is our top concern, so providers can't pay to alter or remove reviews. We also don't publish reviews that contain any private patient health information. Learn more here
1 review
Most relevant
She has a great attention span, is a good listener, is friendly, accepting of trans people, and very supportive and kind. She can read your body language and understand when you’re uncomfortable talking about something. She doesn’t push those boundaries when you are uncomfortable.
Verified patientVideo visit
Frequently asked questions

How soon can I make an appointment with Stella Sanderson?

Generally, Stella Sanderson has appointments available on Zocdoc within 1 week. You can see Stella Sanderson's earliest availability on Zocdoc and make an appointment online.

Is Stella Sanderson accepting new patients?

Stella Sanderson generally accepts new patients on Zocdoc. You can see Stella Sanderson's earliest availability on Zocdoc and schedule an appointment online.

Does Stella Sanderson accept my insurance?

Choose your insurance plan to verify if Stella Sanderson is in-network.

Can I make an appointment with Stella Sanderson online?

Yes, you can make an appointment online with Stella Sanderson using Zocdoc. It’s simple, secure, and free.

What practice does Stella Sanderson work with?

Where is Stella Sanderson's office located?

Stella Sanderson has 3 office locations, including in Markleeville and San Diego, view full addresses on Stella Sanderson's profile.

What are common reasons for patients to see Stella Sanderson?

Stella Sanderson frequently sees patients for Depression, New Patient Visit, Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy Intake / Initial Visit, and Therapy. You can see other visit reasons for Stella Sanderson on their profile.

What languages does Stella Sanderson speak?

Stella Sanderson speaks English.

How do patients rate Stella Sanderson in reviews?

1 patients have reviewed Stella Sanderson. The overall rating for this doctor is 5/5. They have a 5/5 rating for bedside manner and a 4/5 rating for wait time. You can read individual reviews and ratings on their profile.

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