Samantha Skinner

Hi! I’m Sammy and I'm an openly queer therapist who loves supporting my clients, especially fellow members of my community. Before starting my private practice, I was the clinical director of a LGBTQ+ specialty team at a large community mental health agency where I supervised a team of clinicians who specialized in supporting queer clients. After having a child, I decided to start my own practice for my work-life-balance, but I continue to bring my passion and expertise to every client I work with. While I love working with clients of any identity, the majority of my clients are queer and/or neurodivergent as these are my specialty areas as a therapist. I love helping clients figure out more about themselves, their identities, and their values through our work together. Supporting you is my dream job, and I feel very passionate about this work! My ideal client is someone who is willing to put in real work to heal and grow, but who can also have fun with the process.

My primary therapy modality is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). When I first learned about ACT as a counseling student, I dove deep into the content through reading and trainings and quickly developed a passion for it. ACT has proven extremely helpful in my personal life and very effective at treating many issues for my clients, including anxiety, depression, trauma, low self-esteem, and coping with life stressors. ACT teaches you how to relate to your thoughts and feelings in a more helpful way and build a meaningful life that aligns with your values. I take therapy very seriously, but not every minute of therapy has to be serious! My style is personable and fun, without sacrificing professionalism, quality, or ethics.

Opening up to near stranger about your mental, emotional, or relational experiences can be very scary and my top priority in your first session is to help you feel at ease. Therapy is a vulnerable process and I will do whatever I can to ensure your experience is handled with care and that you feel safe and supported throughout your therapy journey. I value transparency around the diagnosis process and collaborative treatment planning during your intake session. I will be the expert on therapy but you are the expert on you! We will work together to ensure that I support you in ways that are compatible for your individual needs.