About Sandro: Overview
*under construction*
Before Sandro’s academic journey began, he was a prolific visual artist, athlete [sports, wrestling, martial arts, dance], Deeply passionate about philosophy, history, and biological science. Sandro grew up in the west side of Los Angeles, CA. Sandro was raised in a culture that valued education and world travel, where he eventually was able to travel to over 35 countries, usually for periods of 1-3months, or 2 weeks, many of them various times, developing an appreciation for the human experience, anthropology and psychology.
As a first generation immigrant in the united states, Sandro grew up bilingual in Spanish and English, deeply rooted in the dignity of his heritage, and also deeply curious about understanding other cultures, Sandro was exposed to vast diversities of culture from a safe container, allowing him to develop a unique perspective about other cultures, before societies evaluations could make much of an impact on his perception.
Sandros world travel cultural immersion experience includes the following:
Sandro was set on attending university to study biology, however, on a world travel expedition Sandro realized the most meaningful, complex, and impactful domain of biology was in fact the system that was perceiving it, and thus, Sandro set himself to study and master the human psyche, the one common denominator in all of this adventures anywhere in the world.
Sandro’s academic journey began at CU Boulder. Sandro majored in psychology and achieved a 4.13gpa in his first two semesters. Sandro was always focused on excellence and continued his focus in athletics [martial arts, dance], and became focused in the “pick up artist” game to understand the mechanics of the human mind.
Sandro discovered that deep authentic depth bonded relationships were very rewarding, and in general wanted more immersion. Sandro transferred to the prestigious psychology mindfulness-based university, Naropa university, where he wanted a more in depth contemplative approach to his robust and experientially immersive orientation towards education. Focusing on the lived experience, not just other people’s theories.
Sandro took every class he could, not afraid to leave a class that was not stimulating or compelling. Sandro ended up graduating from Naropa University with a Double Major and Triple emphasis, with only 2 classes shy of 4 total concentrations, which are equivalent to minors, but are referred to as concentrations specifying they are within a current major being studied.
Sandro became close with the heads of the departments of both his majors. Sandro’s psychology department head and long-standing faculty of Naropa, referred to him as “one of the top 3 minds to ever go through the university”, with the other department head referring to Sandro as “one of the top 3 somatic intelligence he’d ever seen”. Both of these mentors would write letters of recommendation for Sandro’s master’s program.
After graduating with his bachelor’s, Sandro experienced heavy burnout from the load of study and practice he had been under. Sandro uncovered deep depression, ptsd, and had developed severe insomnia. Sandro realized much more than meditation was needed, and began diving deeply into nutrition and Eco-psychology [ which will be explored later on ]. Sandro used his experience and mastery to unlock new levels of performance, growth, and was able to heal himself and unlock the abilities that would enable him to accomplish the achievements of his next chapter.
Sandro attended the prestigious Pepperdine University for a master’s in psychology, a top 50 university in the USA, an “ivy league of the west [coast]”, a 3-year program [master’s programs are usually 2 years]. Sandro graduated with a Summa Cum Laude [3.9gpa]. Additionally Sandro in the same 3 year period accomplished far more than the equivalent of a masters degree in History [modern, ancient, prehistory, world], and far more than a PhD caliber “literature review” in genealogy, composing a visual topographic unbroken “genogram” genealogy of over 20,500 individual members, opening a view into the elusive relationships, bonds, and family systems structure of humans over vast amounts of historical time, often providing the missing pieces of information in understanding historical periods and how these historical periods impact our understanding of psychology, human behavior, and modern life.
3 YEAR MASTERS OVERVIEW
HISTORY
GENEALOGY | 20,500 INDIVIDUALS
BEHAVIORAL SELF CARE AND PROCESS HABITS [ ECO-PSYCHOLOGY ]
LATEST UPDATE: 4.1.24
CONTINUING EDUCATION: MORNING READING PRACTICE
OTHER HABITS: [ ECO PSYCHOLOGY ]
LAST UPDATED: 4.1.24
After graduating with his masters, fate brought Sandro to the amazing mentorship of Natasha Morisawa, LMFT, President of The Place Within, Psychotherapy Clinic, and previous president of CAMFT: SVG, and long-time veteran professional in the field of MFT. Here at The Place Within, Sandro found a home, and was promoted to Natashas personal “private practice”, where he continues currently. Additionally, Natasha promoted Sandro to the “Intake Coordinator” position, which is the “Front line” of contact with clients on behalf of the entire organization, where the therapeutic rapport starts, to help clients find the resources they need.
Sandro receives weekly supervision from Natasha, attends monthly “group supervision” with The Place Within”, provides case consultation with and to other trainee & Associates, as well as attends monthly group consultations with veteran fully licensed marriage and family therapists.