Hello, and welcome! I’m Ro Sandoval, a Marriage and Family Therapy trainee at Renova San Diego. I specialize in working with couples, adults, and families who want to build stronger connections, communicate more openly, and shift patterns that no longer serve them.

Before beginning my training as a therapist, I worked as a neuroscientist for nearly a decade. That background continues to shape how I show up in the therapy room, particularly in the way I understand the relationship between the brain, body, emotions, and our connections with others. I’m passionate about helping clients better understand not only what they are feeling, but also how those feelings are expressed through their bodies, recurring patterns, and relationships.

My work is informed by both my professional training and lived experiences. I integrate somatic practices rooted in my work as a certified yoga teacher, along with open, affirming conversations about sexuality, intimacy, and relationships inspired by my experience as a sexual health educator. These experiences continue to shape the way I support clients—with curiosity, compassion, and deep respect for the complexity of each person’s story.

My goal is to co-create a space where every part of you—including the parts that feel conflicted, protective, or uncertain—is welcomed with curiosity and compassion. My approach is relational and systemic, meaning I believe healing happens through connection, both within ourselves and with others. I draw from evidence-based approaches such as Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to help you develop a deeper understanding of yourself, your relationships, and the patterns that shape your life.

Throughout our work together, I’ll often invite you to pause, reconnect with your body and breath, and slow the pace enough to notice what is happening beneath the surface. Together, we’ll explore your experiences with curiosity, helping you question yourself less and become more aware of the systems, environments, and relationships that have influenced your story.

If what you’ve read resonates with you, I offer a complimentary 15-minute consultation so we can connect, answer any questions you may have, and see whether working together feels like the right fit.

I look forward to meeting you.

Supervised by: Lisa Palmer-Olsen, LMFT #37577, and Tannaz Minokadeh, LMFT #43607.