Licensed to practice in New Jersey and accepts 13 insurances. Specializes in Anxiety, Coping Skills, Trauma and PTSD and 7 more.

Samail Akhtar

LPC, 3 years of experience
No reviews yet

New to Grow

VirtualAvailable

About me

Taking the first step toward therapy can feel empowering, overwhelming, and uncertain all at once. Seeking support is a courageous decision, and my goal is to provide a safe, collaborative space where you feel heard, understood, and supported throughout your journey. I specialize in working with adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, and major life transitions. Having lived and worked across different countries, I understand how deeply culture, identity, and life experiences shape the way we see ourselves and the world around us. I strive to create an environment where clients can explore their thoughts and emotions without judgment while building the skills needed to navigate life's challenges with greater confidence and resilience. My approach is grounded in empathy, curiosity, and collaboration. Together, we will work to strengthen coping skills, improve communication and relationships, process difficult experiences, and create meaningful change that aligns with your values and goals. Wherever you are in your journey, I'm here to support you every step of the way.

Get to know me

In our first session together, here's what you can expect

Therapy is a collaborative process, and our first session is an opportunity for us to get to know one another. We'll discuss what brought you to therapy, explore your goals, and talk about what you're hoping to gain from the experience. I'll ask a few questions to better understand your story and ensure that our work together is tailored to your unique needs and experiences. My goal is for you to leave that first session feeling heard, supported, and hopeful about the path ahead.

The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions

have been using evidence-based approaches, including CBT, DBT, and Motivational Interviewing, in my practice for over three years, supporting clients through anxiety, depression, emotional struggles, life transitions, and challenges related to substance use and mental health. Through my experience working in a PHP/IOP setting, I have helped individuals develop practical coping skills, build emotional awareness, and create meaningful changes in their daily lives. Together, we will explore the connection between your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors to better understand what may be keeping you stuck. Using CBT, we will identify and challenge unhelpful thought patterns while building healthier ways of responding to life’s challenges. Through DBT, we will focus on skills for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and improving relationships. Motivational Interviewing will help you explore your goals, strengthen your motivation for change, and recognize your own strengths and ability to grow. My approach is collaborative and personalized—I believe therapy works best when you feel heard, understood, and supported. Whether you are navigating anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, life changes, or working toward recovery, we will work together to develop the tools and confidence needed to create lasting change and help you build a more balanced, fulfilling life.

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

I work best with teens and adults (15+) who are navigating anxiety, depression, emotional overwhelm, life transitions, and challenges with self-confidence or relationships. My clients often come to therapy feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to move forward, but are ready to better understand themselves and create positive change. I provide a supportive and nonjudgmental space where we can explore your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors while developing practical tools to help you cope more effectively. I also work with individuals navigating substance use concerns, motivation for change, and building healthier patterns. Whether you are struggling with stress, major life changes, difficult emotions, or simply feeling disconnected from yourself, I will work collaboratively with you to build insight, resilience, and skills to help you create a more balanced and fulfilling life.

Specialties

Top specialties

Other specialties

Depression

Grief

Self Esteem

Identifies as

Serves ages

Licensed in

Location

Virtual

My treatment methods

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

Sometimes the way we think about ourselves, others, or our circumstances can impact how we feel and how we respond to life’s challenges. Using CBT, I help clients recognize these patterns and understand how they influence emotions, behaviors, and relationships. Together, we will work on shifting unhelpful thought patterns, building healthier coping strategies, and developing tools to manage anxiety, depression, stress, and difficult life transitions. My goal is to help you gain a deeper understanding of yourself while creating changes that allow you to feel more confident, capable, and connected to the life you want.

New to Grow
This provider hasn’t received any written reviews yet. We started collecting written reviews January 1, 2025.