Her experience on the ground is extensive, having responded to numerous disasters. Ms Sanders is a retired officer in the American Red Cross Disaster Mental Health team and Disaster Mental Health Chairwoman for Maine Psychological Association. She is also a past president of the Association of Traumatic Stress Specialists - the certifying body for trauma workers and responders.
It is through this work she knows that having a flexible framework in place is the best plan of action when an overwhelming disaster strikes.
"You look at the hierarchy of needs; the first needs are physiological, we don't go in as mental health professionals, we find out what their needs are, we give them water and help them give others water so they don't feel so helpless ... "
It was important to realise everybody's "difficulty" was different and that the fallout from a major event could lead to a domino effect.
"It's a ripple - all disasters ripple through people, through communities that's a major part of it.
"There's all kinds of difficulties - political difficulties for example, at the Pentagon there was a taxi driver whose car was all he owned in life but when 9-11 hit he was thrown off the road into a tree - so there was a question whether anyone would help him get a new taxi."
Ms Sanders is trained in educational and clinical psychology and has a private practice in Phillips, Maine specialising in trauma and mood disorders.
Her research and extensive writing on the dynamic of resilience has been used to educate others around the world.
The nationwide Role of Spirituality in Disasters Conference features other guest speakers who have been involved with the Christchurch Earthquake and know the extent to which people are still struggling four years on.
"Hawke's Bay chaplaincy recognised the needs are still great, there are still people in Christchurch who are suffering, how can they move on? They have to be vigilant, there are still aftershocks," Ms Sanders said.
Christchurch and Hawke's Bay may be separated by sea but hold a special bond as both have been forced to rebuild after a major traumatic event.
It's hoped this week's three-day conference will be the catalyst for a national group of chaplains trained to respond if another tragedy should strike.
"We want to get a team together so, if another Christchurch happened, there will be qualified people to assist," co-ordinating hospital chaplain Barbara Walker said. "There are people here from all over New Zealand, there's a great variety of clergy from hospitals, St John, schools - Hawke's Bay has had a huge earthquake, it's about saying 'if a disaster happens how will we provide spiritual care ... to our communities?'"
