Samantha Engelstad

As a mental health provider who is both a psychologist and a social worker, I am uniquely positioned to blend in-depth individual treatment with a greater understanding of how social, cultural, and economic factors impact mental health. One of my favorite roles as a therapist is creating relational spaces where clients can receive compassionate nudges and challenges to explore how they see themselves, the world, and their experiences. I am deeply committed to working with individuals who have experienced interpersonal traumas such as sexual violence. I have extensive experience supporting clients who are coping with trauma while also navigating the criminal justice system. I also have significant experience addressing suicidality and self-harm, especially among adolescent and young adult populations. More than anything, I am committed to being an intentional witness for my clients and seek to view each individual through a lens of compassionate curiosity.

The therapeutic relationship is the most important factor for change in therapy. Healing and growth happen over time and are often an accumulation of moments cultivated by relational endeavors. It is my job to cultivate relational spaces with clients that allow them to receive and accept compassionate nudges and challenges toward how they see themselves, the world, and their experiences within the world. My approach to providing psychological services is heavily influenced by intersubjective theory. In addition, I utilize an intersectional multicultural perspective when conceptualizing clients and strongly align with humanistic approaches.

I work with individuals (ages 12 and up), couples, and families who want to better understand, repair, or enhance relationships with themselves and those around them. My areas of expertise include trauma, depression, anxiety, childhood abuse and neglect, life transitions, grief and loss, identity development, and meaning-making. In our first session, you can expect to be met with warmth and curiosity, and together we’ll begin creating a therapeutic environment that allows for both compassionate support and meaningful challenges.