❊ Meet Our Clinical Therapist ❊
Dr. Samantha Files, DSW, LICSW Children, Teens, & Young Adults
Get to know Samantha
Samantha works with children, teens, and young adults ages 4–22, creating a space where clients can feel safe, seen, and genuinely supported. She especially enjoys working with young people because of their incredible capacity for growth and change and considers it a privilege to be part of that process.
Samantha believes therapy shouldn't look the same for everyone. Instead, she tailors her approach to the person sitting across from her, considering their age, experiences, personality, and what they need in that moment.
For younger children, that may mean following their lead through play one week and using more structured activities the next. With teens and young adults, sessions may involve talking through what's happening right now while also making space to understand past experiences, trauma, or patterns that continue to affect their lives.
One thing you'll consistently find in Samantha's work is understanding the "why." She values psychoeducation for both clients and families and believes that understanding what's happening—and having language for it—can help young people and their caregivers feel more empowered and better equipped to move forward together.
Experience & Approach
Samantha has extensive training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and trauma-informed care. She also incorporates play therapy, psychodynamic approaches, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) techniques based on each client's individual needs.
Her experience extends beyond the therapy room. Samantha spent eight years working with youth in foster care and has also worked within a school system. These experiences give her a unique understanding of the different systems surrounding a child and can be especially helpful when families are navigating academic concerns or other challenges that reach beyond home.
Samantha Especially Enjoys Helping With
Trauma
Anxiety
ADHD
Emotional Regulation
Life Transitions
Self-Esteem
Family Changes
Substance Use
Outside the Therapy Room
📚 She's an avid reader. Give her a good book and she's happy.
🌎 She's on a mission to see the world. Samantha's goal is to visit all seven continents (three down!) and all 50 states.
💡 She's always up for learning something new. Whether it's a new place, experience, or idea, curiosity is a big part of who she is.
🐾 Rufus & Beans. She's the proud human of two dogs with two very excellent names.
What Samantha Wants Families to Know
Starting therapy doesn't require having everything figured out first. Samantha's goal is to meet each child, teen, young adult, and family where they are, help them better understand what they're experiencing, and create a space where they feel supported as they take the next steps forward.
