I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with over 13 years of experience. I received my Masters from Florida State in 2013 and have worked with clients from preschool to retirement, with specialization in trauma, anxiety, and maternal mental health. I am a Registered Art Therapist and enjoy incorporating this approach for the times you may feel words are not enough.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
I am gentle but direct. I am a firm believer that clients come to therapy to be told the truth about themselves and the world, but never to be judged. I will serve as a mirror to yourself, and while I will support your journey, I will challenge you as well. I take a collaborative approach and focus on understanding your worldview in order to help you find the solutions and tools already within you.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I have worked with an extremely wide range of clients in the community mental health field for more than 10 years. I have developed tools to meet clients in the most challenging of circumstances, from homelessness, loss, abuse, and self-harm. I am truly here to meet you where you are at and to move as slow or as fast as you need to help you move forward in life. I believe that we all can gain wisdom from our experiences and I am skilled at helping clients stay motivated and change their perspective to move through the most difficult of circumstances.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
Trauma has been described as "too much, too fast, too soon". In over a decade working with clients who've experienced trauma, I have learned that it does not matter how big or small a traumatic event can appear to others, what matters is how it affected us. I specialize in trauma, whether it be complex events from the past to a single event recently. I have many tools to help you move through and past these experiences and release any shame, guilt, or resentment you may be holding onto. Clients I work with learn to find joy again in life, and get to know themselves without judgement. If you are looking to find peace again, or for the first time, I am ready to work with you.
About Samantha Maederer
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
I am certified in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, which can be a critical tool to help you learn to not only ride the waves of your emotions and life's challenges, but, with practice, to find growth in these difficult times. Mindfulness techniques help us learn that peace is found within ourselves, and gives us the tools to access inner strength and calm in even the most challenging situations.
EMDR
I am trained in EMDR, an evidence-based approach for trauma, anxiety, and phobias. Sometimes traditional talk therapy is not enough, and EMDR can help you tap into the emotional aspects of your fears in order to truly process them so the past no longer has a hold on you and your future is of your own choosing. For clients who enjoy therapeutic art-making, I enjoy pairing Art Therapy with EMDR and other approaches to help you dive deep into your dreams, fears, and goals.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps us face reality as it really is and uses mindfulness tools to help you develop more flexibility in your thinking so you can adapt to life's curveballs and make decisions in alignment with your goals and values. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy shows us that life is full of challenges, but that we can learn the skills to turn bitterness, hopelessness, and resentment into wisdom, peace, and even joy.
Trauma-Focused CBT
I am trained in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, a foundational therapy approach that can help you process past trauma in order to gain insight and reduce shame. TF-CBT helps you understand the connection between your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in order to feel more in control of your actions, less overwhelmed by your emotions, and gain a better understanding of yourself.
Attachment-based
Many of our adult relationships are influenced by the attachments we developed early on as children. I have extensive experience working with clients from early childhood to adulthood, and have a deep understanding of how challenges in our relationships with our caregivers can have a lasting imprint on us. I enjoy helping clients unpack these early relationships in order to improve both your relationships to others in your life now, and your relationship with yourself.