Samuel McDonnell

You've thought about it from every angle, and you're still no closer to knowing what to do. You may be managing work, relationships, or responsibilities on the outside while privately feeling anxious, uncertain, disconnected, or stuck in patterns that no longer seem to help.

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with eight years of experience across acute care, community mental health, pediatric inpatient psychiatry, outpatient counseling, and behavioral intervention. I hold a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Palo Alto University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Ave Maria University.

My clinical background includes crisis intervention, individual and family therapy, pediatric and adolescent mental health, autism spectrum support, and working with clients from diverse backgrounds. I am especially interested in helping clients navigate anxiety and fear, identity and self-understanding, life transitions, relationship patterns, emotional avoidance, and protective patterns that can leave them feeling disconnected from themselves, their relationships, or what matters most.

I approach psychotherapy with curiosity, compassion, and respect for the experiences that have shaped who you are. My work focuses on helping clients better understand the patterns, relationships, fears, and beliefs that may once have been protective but now leave them feeling stuck or disconnected from the life they want to live. Together, we explore what matters most to you, strengthen your ability to respond to life with greater freedom and intention, and make room for meaningful, sustainable change. My goal is to provide a therapeutic relationship where you can feel understood while also being supported and challenged toward greater clarity, authenticity, and connection.

Clients can expect the first session to be a collaborative and conversational space focused on understanding what brings them to psychotherapy, what they have been experiencing, and what they hope will change. My approach is person-centered and individualized, so I take time to learn about each client’s history, strengths, relationships, concerns, and goals rather than assuming one approach will fit everyone. We will begin identifying patterns that may be contributing to distress while also discussing what feels most important to address first. My goal is for clients to leave the initial session feeling heard, respected, and with a clearer sense of how we can work together.