Sandra "Samee" McMichael holds a Bachelor's degree in Social Work from Eastern Washington University and also a minor in Substance Abuse Counseling. Samee obtained her Masters degree in Social Work from Walla Walla College in 1999. Samee first worked in addictions in 1979 in Eugene, Oregon. In 1980 she moved home to Spokane, Washington and spent the next several years focusing on her young family. In 1985, she went to work for Spokane Technical Institute in Student Services. In 1992, Samee went back to school to update her chemical dependency credentials and ended up staying in school long enough to obtain advanced degrees.

Samee worked at Daybreak of Spokane for three years. She moved on to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare for two years where she worked in Mental then transferred into Child Protection on a pilot project. She then worked in Grant County Washington as a county designated Mental Health Examiner. After returning to Idaho, Samee worked for the Idaho Department of Corrections as a Mental Health Clinician for three and one half years.

Samee uses many therapeutic approaches. She believes that each individual is unique and must be understood in the context of his or her own unique development. Every person has his or her own strength and courage that will help them overcome even the most severe problems and trauma.