Pleasant Hill therapist smiling outside in front of a tree.

Meet your therapist

Samantha Schaefer, LCSW, PMH-C

As a trauma-informed therapist and Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I support individuals and couples navigating challenging life transitions. My professional journey began in community-based mental health, where I worked with adults and youth in mental health crisis and developed significant experience addressing safety concerns with calm and sensitivity. Since then, I have worked extensively with people facing issues such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, low self-esteem and postpartum depression and anxiety. As a mom of two, I am passionate about supporting mothers and new parents during pregnancy, the postpartum period, and the transition to parenthood. As a member of the adoption triad, I also bring a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by adoptees, adoptive families and birth parents. I offer therapy in both English and Spanish.

I am deeply committed to serving individuals from diverse backgrounds and firmly believe in the profound impact of bearing witness to each person's unique story. It is a privilege to do this work and walk alongside others during their most challenging moments.

My approach

  • I am direct and bring my authentic self to each session to foster a trusting and mutually respectful relationship. I am not a blank slate who will nod along during session. I show up fully in the same way I hope my clients will.

  • We’ll work together to create goals and actively work toward them so you leave our time together being able to identify concrete strategies to manage any challenges that come up.

  • My goal is to create a mutually-respectful, emotionally safe environment where you feel heard and accepted wherever you are in your journey. You are the expert on your life. I will always treat you with dignity, compassion and professionalism.

  • We’ll work together to create a personalized treatment plan that you feel invested in and that addresses your specific needs. Therapy is not a one-size-fits-all approach. I believe in tailoring my approach to your unique experiences and needs.

  • I bring a variety of training and treatment experience to our work. I provide brief solution-based therapy as well as longer-term work, and incorporate psychodynamic and cognitive approaches including modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

Connect with me

Training and Education

Walnut Creek Therapist smiling at the camera from therapy office.

Licensure and Education

  • Master of Social Work from NYU

  • Bachelor of Art in History, Spanish minor from UCLA

  • Clinically Licensed in California, LCSW#95356

  • Certified in Perinatal Mental Health through Postpartum Support International

Training and Experience

  • Fluent in Spanish

  • EMDR Trained, EMDR Institute

  • Extensive training in crisis intervention and de-escalation

  • Advanced training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)  

  • Trained as a domestic violence advocate 

Questions? Let’s talk.

If you have questions or want to see if I’m the right fit, reach out and schedule a free 15 minute consultation call.

Book a consultation