Sam Ginocchio
Hi -- my name is Sam, and I became a therapist because I know what it feels like to be stuck. It sucks. I love getting into the nitty gritty details of the mental chaos with my clients and then working on finding practical ways to untangle ourselves other than the classic "think
I believe that therapy should be a little messy; we are talking about a lot of heavy things, and while that can be super uncomfortable at times, that's also where growing happens.
positively" response (disclaimer: yes, it helps, but it's a lot more complicated than that). It's a lot of energy to work towards peace, I know, but I love what I do, and I'm more than willing to help.
First session
Our first session we'll hit the ground running -- I want to know what drove you towards finding the courage to take those first steps towards therapy, and I want to make sure that while you're here, you're comfortable and can retain that strength. I may have a million and one questions for you, but it is to seek better understanding of where you're coming from, and what direction you're hoping to start moving towards.
Strengths
I believe that therapy should be a little messy; we are talking about a lot of heavy things, and while that can be super uncomfortable at times, that's also where growing happens. I want to sit with you while you feel those raw emotions and tell you that they're okay. My job isn't to 'fix' you (because you're not broken), but it is to sit with you in that pit you feel like you're in until you get your bearings and are ready to make the trek out. I'll hold the map and flashlight until you're ready to take over.
Ideal clients
I've sat with a variety of clients across various spectrums, and I feel that I am able to meet most people where they're at on their mental health journey. That being said, I love working in particular with individuals who find themselves struggling with anxiety or self-esteem/worth (especially those willing to learn assertiveness), those who are facing life transitions (starting college, finding a new job, learning how to breathe again after ending a relationship), and those who find themselves in the helping professions (think caretakers, nurses, medical students, etc). I'm not your traditional "sit on my couch and tell me about your childhood" therapist - I also work well with those who love to bring humor into the conversation. If you're looking for someone who will nod politely while you spiral about that one text message, but will also gently (but firmly) call you out when you need a reminder to stop avoiding your feelings by endless TikTok scrolling claiming it's 'self-care', then we'll get along well. We will absolutely laugh in session -- healing is heavy, we might as well have some fun where we can.
Treatment methods
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
I use ACT to help clients wander through difficult thoughts and feelings while tying in actions and responses that align with their values. ACT is a great way to learn and embrace mindfulness, emotional openness, and flexibility.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
While CBT may be seen as the 'bread and butter' of therapy, it's a great approach because it allows me to meet each of my clients exactly where they stand, and then for us to develop a working plan from there. We have a stop or destination in mind, although it allows for twists, turns, and detours along the way.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Sometimes our anxiety about the future gets the best of us, and that is where a mindfulness-based approach really shines. We can redirect ourselves to focus on the present, normalize thoughts and stressors, and learn how to become more comfortable with things we'd rather avoid. Mindfulness is also, at times, learning how to be comfortable with the things that we need for ourselves, rather than what we want.
Strength-Based
Let's play to what you already know. A lot of us have a list of amazing skills that perhaps didn't come about in the best ways, but can still serve us on our path to feeling better. Some of the things we already do can be applied to other areas of our life and can be really beneficial. Let's explore those skills and see how we can get them to work for us.
Location
Virtual sessions