Family Therapy in Newton, MA

I am a licensed clinical psychologist and Clinical Instructor at Harvard Medical School specializing in child and family therapy . I have several years of clinical experience working with children and families from culturally-diverse backgrounds in a variety of settings such as hospitals, schools, and within the community. Among my areas of expertise are early childhood and behavioral difficulties, parent training, anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma and Autism Spectrum Disorders. I also specialize in both Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Play Therapy.

I am always curious about how we become who we are and as someone once told me, “A person who enters therapy is an experience that wants to happen not a problem to be solved.” My focus is to encourage people to stay curious and open to possibilities of learning more about themselves, creating a supportive safe environment that supports positive movement and change. I stress the importance seeing oneself fully, psychologically, physically and spiritually. All these are important ways of supporting one’s life. I see myself as warm, present, accessible and being of help to accomplish this.

I help adolescents, college students, adults and couples who are stuck in unsatisfying patterns of thinking and behavior create lasting change to grow and fulfill their full potential. I am a licensed clinical social worker, a psychoanalyst, a faculty member of the Massachusetts Institute for Psychoanalysis, and a former supervisor at Children's Hospital Boston and the Boston Institute for Psychotherapy. I have a flexible approach to psychotherapy and include both an appreciation for how past experiences shape the present while also incorporating coping strategies to manage and change every day life in the short-term.

Newton Play Therapy is passionate about children's mental health. Our mission is to provide developmentally appropriate therapeutic interventions to children of all ages. To meet this end, we are committed to the continuous education and training of our clinicians in the evidence based practice of Play Therapy.

Sometimes things are just too hard to handle on your own. As a senior clinical psychologist with over twenty years in the field, I can help you cope with painful feelings and situations, diminish troubling symptoms and experience greater satisfaction in your life. Whether you are dealing with long standing issues or reactions to recent stressors, a good therapy experience begins with a caring, respectful, accepting relationship. I listen closely and actively raise questions and share thoughts. Working collaboratively, we can develop a full picture of your difficulties and of the resources you have for dealing with them.

My name is Sam & I’m excited you’re here! I deeply admire what it takes to make the first step in coming to therapy & the vulnerability in truly coming as you are. What's more is my belief in the importance of cultivating a strong, secure counseling partnership upheld by authenticity, rooted in empathy & remains grounded in unconditional positive regard for whoever I sit across from. In 2011, I began my devotion to a career working with children, adults & families with a wide range of strengths, needs & backgrounds in various mental health settings. My focus is in both intensive clinical psychotherapy & family systems counseling.

As a former teacher turned therapist, I have developed a strong counseling tool box. I specialize in supporting adolescents/teens and adults find ways to cope with trauma and loss, manage anxiety and depression, develop problem solving strategies and social skills, overcome substance abuse and low self-esteem, and manage family conflict. I am also able to help the individuals I work with to develop executive functioning and advocacy skills at school, home, and in the community. I utilize humor, unconditional positive regard, and curiosity to create a safe and productive space for you to grow.

As a former cult member, I help people and their families who have been "unduly influenced." I am committed to helping people reclaim their personal power. I wrote Freedom of Mind: Helping Loved Ones Leave Controlling People, Cults and Beliefs (2013), a 30th-anniversary edition of Combating Cult Mind Control (2018) and The Cult of Trump (2019). I help people from all over the world who have found that mental health professionals unless they are specialized in treating cult members, are at best a waste of time and resources, and worse, do further harm. A large part of my practice is short term work with former members.

I am currently accepting new clients. I work from compassion, strength-based, humanistic approach. I join clients on their journey and allow them to lead while guiding them when needed. I focus on play and art therapy with younger aged children. I believe that young children often know what they need to process and with support are able to do so through various forms of play. I combine mindfulness and grounding exercises with looking into your past and how those past experiences affect you currently. And through utilizing mindfulness you can sit with, understand and work through the feelings that are impacting you.

It can feel overwhelming to be proactive about making positive changes in our lives. Everyone has their own complicated life circumstances related to family , work, relationships, and mental and spiritual well being. Therapy can be an essential tool to work to un-complicate these circumstances and focus on making happiness and wellness a daily priority. When we feel overwhelmed with worry or that it's impossible to accomplish daily tasks we feel powerless. I have been in this field for over 10 years and can provide a supportive and empathic environment in which we can work together on specific goals and changes for your life.

I am glad to support those struggling in today's strange climate, or those looking to explore themselves and increase health and wellness while quarantined. My approach to treatment is strength based and multimodal. I use a holistic approach that can incorporate discussion, art, movement and humor to explore issues. I work well with those who have had trouble connecting with therapists in the past and those who may be resistant to entering treatment.

I am a licensed psychologist, a Lecturer in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and a Clinical Associate at McLean Hospital. I primarily treat patients with anger challenges and college transition issues who struggle with learning/executive function challenges. I offer a unique, cutting edge, multimodal treatment approach (Individual, family , & group work) that facilitates positive outcomes for patients who have not received coordinated treatment in the past. I collaborate closely with other treaters, school/college staff, & psychiatrists.

The decision to ask for help is not easy and requires courage. Part of the difficulty lies in choosing the right person to work with. All of us want to work with someone who cares, knows how to listen, does not judge, and ultimately is healing and can help in problem solving. In my 20 years of experience, I have worked with children, teenagers, adults, families and couples. I enjoy this population enormously. My biggest strength is my empathy. My clients feel safe with me; they know I am an invested therapist and that I truly care. I am passionate about love, compassion and equality. I create peace every day.

I have been practicing psychotherapy with individuals, couples, families and groups for more than 30 years. My style is interactive and my goal is to provide safety and support in creating a collaborative, therapeutic relationship. I use a variety of theoretical approaches to help clients identify the issues that need to be managed or resolved in order to achieve the quality of life they are seeking.

My practice is comprised of individuals and families grappling with a range of issues from addiction to high conflict divorce and college transition difficulties. Many of my clients are navigating with the strain of divorce and are seeking to learn skills to co-parent young children despite high conflict with their ex-spouse. Others are parents devastated by the ravages of addiction on their child and, ultimately, their family . These clients are motivated, competent and capable, but are experiencing discomfort in their lives that requires empathic support and guidance.

My clients would tell you that I'm warm, compassionate, practical and real. I work creatively to address your individual needs and use a blend of methods including cognitive behavioral therapy, mind body integration, family systems, and psychodynamic psychotherapy.

I offer home-based life coaching for teens, 20-somethings, athletes, adults, and their families in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and beyond. I work with clients at home in a positive, flexible, proactive way, emphasizing measurable, practical, and sustainable change. My approach is relaxed, non-hierarchical, and results-oriented. Although I also work with adults, I primarily help teens and 20-somethings, from kids who lack confidence and/are overly stressed or anxious to those with athletic/academic performance issues or who are really acting out, having issues with anger, substance abuse, school refusal and the like.