Samantha Skiles, MA, AMFT
Underneath the complex layers of everyday life, you may feel that something in you is ready for a change. Together we can begin to sift through the layers and seek understanding. You are in control of this process: you decide the speed and depth in which we explore, and no changes need to occur on anyone’s timeline but your own. Vulnerability can be daunting, and change can feel overwhelming, especially when it comes without understanding and awareness of how you got to here and now. With support and guidance, you can learn to move through discomfort with more agency and tap further into your authentic self. We can’t escape or avoid the myriad of difficulties brought on by life and yet we don’t have to go through it all alone.
Together, we can walk side by side into the unknown with curiosity. We will build a foundation of knowledge, cultivate a sense of internal safety, and ultimately begin to move toward your goals. With reflection, the insight you develop will guide you in addressing how you approach your emotional responses, relationships, and behavioral patterns. By cultivating awareness of yourself in these ways, your choices can become more intentional and aligned with your values and goals, leading to living life more authentically. My hope is for you to feel empowered by the discoveries you make throughout this process while honoring what makes you, you.
I became a therapist in part because I believe that there is no right or wrong way to experience being human. We may find ourselves limited by circumstances outside of our control and often that makes it so positive change feels out of reach, or even impossible. When we tap into ourselves as an internal resource and gain access to external support, new possibilities become available, and life can become more manageable and, in time, even fulfilling. I am impassioned by a life in service of helping others create a better tomorrow for themselves. Thank you for allowing me to accompany you on this journey of self-discovery.
Wherever you’re starting from, we can begin to build awareness and notice where growth is possible together. By approaching therapy collaboratively and with an open mind, you can safely lean into creating a conscious, purposeful, authentic existence where you define what a meaningful life looks and feels like. You may be here because you aren’t satisfied with how things are at this time in your life and underlying that may be the hope that things can get better. You may feel you don’t know what your goals are specifically yet and that’s more than okay. Together we can navigate the waters no matter how murky or uncertain they may seem. It’s your therapy: your voice speaks the loudest and your choices - past, present, and future - will be honored without any expectations or judgment. I am here to hold space for whatever you bring into the room, and I will meet you where you’re at in every single session. Choosing to start this journey requires bravery, vulnerability, and a willingness to reflect, learn, and grow. If you find yourself here, know that these qualities are already within you. When you’re ready, reach out and we’ll get started.
How I work…
I approach therapy through a strengths-based and trauma-informed lens: when listening to a person’s story, I notice and highlight their resilience as it has served them in surviving through their hardships. Your strengths are innate and unique to your life experiences. It is important to lean on those strengths as you progress through therapy because honoring what is already within you reinforces your ability to rely on those strengths outside of therapy. I have walked and continue to walk the path of both client and clinician, and I will come into the room ready and willing to grow and learn alongside you so that I can provide therapy that is most effective for you. In our work together, you are driving the car, you determine the destination, and together we find the path that works best for you to get there (with room for detours and re-routing). I am passionate about helping others find empowerment through the cultivation ofmindful self-compassion, healthier relationships, and a more integrated sense of self that will guide and ground them while navigating through life.
Education:
Samantha Skiles, MA, AMFT is a registered associate marriage and family therapist at Whole Wellness Therapy.
M.A. in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis on Marriage and Family Therapy, University of San Francisco, Sacramento (2023)
B.A. in Psychology, California State University, Sonoma (2017)
Certifications/Trainings:
Motivational Interviewing (Beginner & Advanced)
Samantha provides in-person and online therapy in CA to teens and adults.
More About Samantha:
Samantha is an associate therapist in the practice. Samantha is passionate about psychology and connecting with others on a meaningful level. She earned her MA from the University of San Francisco where the curriculum encompasses values of inclusivity, diversity, and compassion for serving one’s community. She has experience working in a wellness center within a high school setting where she provided individual and group therapy to teens ages 13-18. She has addressed client concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma, LGBTQIA+ support, suicidality, self-harm, and relational dynamics. She has co-facilitated groups focused on healthy relationships, self-compassion, and LGBTQIA+ peer support. Outside of being a therapist, Samantha enjoys comedy, music, creativity, and spending quality time with loved ones.
California Board of Behavioral Sciences Registration Number: AMFT141669
Supervised by Jamie Johnson, MS, LPCC #LPCC9506
Serving clients in-person at our Fair Oaks & Midtown locations, and providing online therapy throughout California.
