Sandra Aridi

Co-facilitated psychoeducational and social skills groups for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, anxiety, depression, and behavioral challenges, collaborating with licensed clinicians to implement evidence-based interventions, conduct behavioral observations, and contribute treatment planning. Conducted a comprehensive analysis of the clinic's 2025 client referral, intake, and service utilization data—including inquiry-to-intake conversion, intake completion, clinician assignments, demographic and diagnostic trends, service recommendations, and treatment continuation—and authored a 20-page quality improvement report with data visualizations and evidence-based recommendations to improve client engagement, service accessibility, retention, and operational efficiency. Developed psychoeducational materials and a conference pamphlet for community outreach and represented the clinic at the Virginia Group-A-Rama Conference, engaging attendees about behavioral health services and social skills programs.

Clinical Intern (Group Therapy Co-Leader) - In Step PC Mental Health - Fairfax, VA

(2025-12)

• Co-facilitated psychoeducational and social skills groups for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, anxiety, depression, and behavioral challenges, collaborating with licensed clinicians to implement evidence-based interventions, conduct behavioral observations, and contribute treatment planning.
• Conducted a comprehensive analysis of the clinic's 2025 client referral, intake, and service utilization data—including inquiry-to-intake conversion, intake completion, clinician assignments, demographic and diagnostic trends, service recommendations, and treatment continuation—and authored a 20-page quality improvement report with data visualizations and evidence-based recommendations to improve client engagement, service accessibility, retention, and operational efficiency.
• Developed psychoeducational materials and a conference pamphlet for community outreach and represented the clinic at the Virginia Group-A-Rama Conference, engaging attendees about behavioral health services and social skills programs.
• Created and published psychoeducational content to increase community awareness of mental health topics and connect individuals with the clinic's behavioral health services and social skills programs.

Graduate Research Assistant - George Mason University

(2024 - 2026)

• Supported ongoing psychological research and conducted independent research on suicidality, depression, victimization, and hopelessness among sexual minority youth, as well as the influence of migration experiences and acculturation-related factors on mental health among diverse populations.
• Managed research data, maintained bibliographic databases using Zotero, and conducted literature searches to support ongoing psychological research, scientific poster preparation, and dissemination of research findings.

Patient Safety Associate - VCU Medical Center - Richmond, VA

(2023 - 2024)

• Provided continuous one-to-one observation for medical-surgical and psychiatric patients in an acute care hospital setting.
• Monitored and supported patients experiencing suicidal ideation, psychosis, dementia, delirium, traumatic brain injury, substance withdrawal, and other acute behavioral health conditions.
• Applied verbal de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques while collaborating with interdisciplinary healthcare teams to maintain patient safety.
• Documented patient behaviors, safety observations, and significant clinical events in accordance with hospital protocols.

Research Assistant - Virginia Commonwealth University Health & Discrimination Lab

(2022 - 2023)

• Supported research examining physician bias and patient-reported discrimination in healthcare among Black patients.
• Applied a standardized coding framework to analyze qualitative data from recorded clinical encounters, identifying patterns of physician bias and discriminatory experiences.
• Participated in weekly research meetings involving critical evaluation of scientific literature, discussion of health disparities and healthcare inequities, and peer feedback on graduate research projects.

M.A. - Applied Developmental Psychology - George Mason University (2024 - 2026)

B.A. - Psychology - Virginia Commonwealth University (2020 - 2022)

A.S. - Applied Psychology/Social Sciences - Reynolds Community College (2018 - 2020)