With a career devoted to promoting wellness within diverse communities and environments, I am especially equipped to provide holistic, individualized care for clients in the most challenging times in their lives.  In particular, I’ve worked in schools providing education and services related to bullying, family conflict and relationship issues.  Additionally, I’ve worked closely with families navigating the adoption and foster care systems and provided direct services and education to children and adult crisis survivors. Most recently, I served children, adolescents and their parents impacted by chronic illness, fertility, infant prematurity and postpartum issues. In doing so, I have also created a strong network of community resources and the ability to honor privacy while connecting with school and medical systems at a client’s direction.

All of these formative professional experiences along with certification in perinatal mental health, EMDR Training and trauma-informed advocacy have allowed me to develop a robust group of therapeutic techniques that can be matched to the unique needs of each client. I use a range of evidence-based approaches including cognitive behavioral, family systems and solution-focused therapies within personalized treatment plans.

Our practice specializes in counseling services for teens and adolescents as well as new, hopeful and experienced parents in Southeast Michigan. Working within our healing relationship, I will ensure you feel heard, validated and empowered to create a hopeful future. Together, we can build upon strengths to address current overwhelming stress, worry or sadness, achieve goals and build a toolkit for healthy coping for life’s inevitable future transitions.

My educational qualifications are as follows:

• Master of Social Work (Children and Family Focus) – Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 2016
• Master of Public Health – Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 2011
• Bachelor of Science – United States Military Academy, West Point, NY 2006

My professional licensure, certifications and specialized trainings include:

• Master of Social Work (Full Clinical License)- State of Michigan – 6801104039
• Certified in Perinatal Mental Health – Postpartum Support International
• Certified Advocate- National Organization for Victim Advocacy
• Service Support for LGBTQ+ Community Members – NY Anti-Violence Project
  

My educational qualifications are as follows:

• Master of Social Work – Michigan State University, Lansing, MI 2021
• Bachelor of Social Work – Saginaw Valley State University, Saginaw, Michigan, 2020

My professional licensure, certifications and specialized trainings include:

• Master of Social Work (Full Clinical License)- State of Michigan – 6851110186
• Advanced Perinatal Mental Health – Postpartum Support International

My name is Samantha, and it was after my own first experience in having a child that I became passionate about supporting women in pregnancy and the postpartum period. I saw first hand how transformative this stage in life is.

Becoming a mother for the first (or second time) is HARD and overwhelming at times. We are told to take care of ourselves while selflessly giving everything we have to our babies and families. This can lead us to feel overwhelmed, exhausted, emotional, irritable, and even angry. You may be struggling with finding yourself in this new role as mama and missing that sense of normalcy of who you were individually. You may be grieving what once was. Your relationships with your partner, friends, and family may have changed. Your childhood experiences (both positive and negative) may have come flooding back into your life.

Motherhood is an immense life adjustment that we experience. Seeking additional support to assist with this life transition is necessary. Therapy can help support you to feel like yourself again, feel less overwhelmed, work through your family and partner relationship struggles, decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression and learn to manage the day to day as a new mom.

Education & Certifications

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of Michigan (LMSW-C)
• Masters degree in Social Work from Wayne State University, 2017
• Bachelor degree in Social Work from Eastern Michigan University, 2012 
• I have additional experience, training, and education in treating grief, substance use, anxiety, depression, suicide prevention, and various therapeutic modalities. 
• I am currently working toward certification in perinatal mental health and mood disorders (PMH-C) and have taken several trainings through Postpartum Support International. 
• I am also a Support Coordinator for Postpartum Support International (PSI).

I have spent the last 20 years working with adolescents, teens, and adults through a camping program for individuals living with a bleeding disorder. This experience was the driving force for me to go back to school to pursue my MSW.

Entering my final two semesters of the social work program at Eastern Michigan University, I am excited to put into practice all that I have learned in the last few years and share the tools and knowledge I have attained in the process.

I look forward to working with teens and adults using evidence-based approaches including cognitive behavioral therapy, motivation interviewing and solution-focused therapy to achieve desired therapeutic goals.