Samantha Schaffer, LPC

Sometimes the hardest part isn’t knowing that something feels off. It’s figuring out why certain patterns keep repeating, what you actually need, or how to trust yourself enough to make a different choice.

Samantha works with clients who may be navigating toxic relationship dynamics, anxiety, perfectionism, grief, identity shifts, or uncertainty about what comes next.

Together, the work focuses on recognizing patterns, building confidence, strengthening boundaries, and developing a clearer sense of self so that relationships and decisions feel more intentional and aligned.

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Grief & loss

• Relationship stress

• Toxic relationship patterns

• Boundaries

• Identity development

• Life transitions

• Perfectionism

• Domestic violence

• Sexual assault

• Childhood sexual abuse

• Personal growth & purpose

Samantha takes an integrative approach that is tailored to each client’s goals, needs, and pace.

Her work may incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Narrative Therapy, mindfulness, and trauma-informed care.

She also places a strong emphasis on the connection between mind, body, and spirit and believes therapy can go deeper than simply managing symptoms.

The goal is to help clients reconnect with their values, make new meaning from past experiences, and build greater self-trust as they move forward.

Samantha earned her M.S.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Old Dominion University and her Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from Frostburg State University.

Before completing her graduate training, she worked in both inpatient and residential behavioral health settings, giving her experience with complex mental health concerns and acute crises.

She also brings specialized experience in trauma-informed care for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Samantha is currently especially interested in deepening her training in Internal Family Systems, narrative integration, identity development, purpose-seeking, and somatic approaches that strengthen the mind-body connection.

Samantha happily embraces being an amateur artist and loves both pottery and painting. For her, the creative process matters more than getting the final result exactly right, even if perfectionism still occasionally tries to sneak in.

Movement is another important part of how she takes care of herself, whether that means a long walk, a hike, a workout class, or trying to keep up with a chaotic fitness video at home.

She also loves traveling and considers herself a bit of a story collector. She’s always happy to hear about someone else’s latest adventure and trade recommendations.