Samantha, APRN, PMHNP-BC

Background and Education

Samantha's approach to mental health is shaped by both her clinical training and her lived experience. In 2016 she earned her bachelor's degree in nursing from Weber State University, followed by a Master of Science in Nursing with a focus in Psychiatry from Gonzaga University in 2020.

Early in her career, Samantha worked at a medical weight loss clinic, supporting patients facing both obesity and co-occurring mental health challenges. Her passion for psychiatric nursing deepened during her time at the Utah State Hospital, where she advanced from staff nurse to Unit Nursing Director of the Geropsychiatric Unit—one of the most medically and psychiatrically complex units in the facility. She later served as a Shift Supervisor in Nursing Administration, overseeing patient care and staff hospital-wide during night shifts.

Personal Journey

Having been diagnosed with depression, PTSD, and ADHD herself, Samantha brings a personal understanding to the challenges many of her clients face. She strives to create a therapeutic environment that is safe, supportive, and empowering. Rather than viewing mental illness strictly through a clinical lens, she approaches healing with empathy, authenticity, and insight.

Clinical and Holistic Practice

Though grounded in evidence-based psychiatric care, Samantha also draws on holistic modalities as a certified Human Design Reader and Reiki practitioner. As a splenic projector, she is especially attuned to emotional and energetic patterns that influence mental and emotional well-being. She believes true healing goes beyond symptom management, involving deeper exploration of generational patterns, lifestyle factors, and social context.

Therapeutic Approach

Samantha believes each person is the expert on their own life. She takes a collaborative approach, working with clients to explore how genetics, personal history, and environment shape their current experiences. Her work is grounded in a humanistic-existential framework, with an emphasis on Gestalt holism, which views individuals as integrated wholes—mind, body, and emotions functioning in relationship to their environment. She also draws from Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), which enhances emotional awareness and strengthens interpersonal bonds through secure attachment.

In addition, Samantha incorporates a psychodynamic approach to help uncover unconscious motivations and explore how they contribute to emotional dysregulation and relational patterns. This deepens the humanistic-existential work by offering insight into how past experiences shape present behavior, allowing clients to move from awareness into lasting change. Together, these approaches support both emotional integration and personal freedom.

These frameworks guide her commitment to present-moment awareness, authentic connection, and meaningful change. When appropriate, Samantha incorporates medication management to support and deepen the healing process.

Guiding Philosophy

Samantha's goal is for every session to feel like a meaningful step toward greater self-awareness, connection, and hope. She believes healing is not only possible but deeply personal. With compassion, curiosity, and respect, she walks alongside her clients as they navigate their unique paths toward transformation.