Sandra is a multicultural and multilingual trauma-informed nurse. She was born in Lisbon, Portugal to Cape Verdean parents, and lived in Angola and Portugal before moving to the United States in her early twenties.  She’s practiced yoga since she was 15 years old and was trained as a yoga instructor earlier in her career.

She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Simmons University and a bachelor’s degree in communications from Boston University. 

She’s worked in a variety of positions and medical communities throughout Boston. She completed a 7-month Traumatic Stress Studies Certification at the Trauma Research Foundation, led by Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk, and a 12-week Certification in Somatic Embodiment and Regulation Strategies, given by Linda Thai. 

She is certificated by the Ketamine Training Center in ketamine assisted psychotherapy. At Joy In Health, Sandra serves as a ketamine clinician, using her range of experiences to provide a safe, beautifully guided ketamine therapy experience.