Samantha Vamosy
Hello! My name is Sam Vamosy, and I’m so glad you’re here and considering working together. Starting therapy can feel vulnerable, whether it’s your first experience or you’ve been in therapy before. Taking that first step isn’t always easy, and you don’t have to navigate it alone. My goal is to create a warm, compassionate, and judgment-free space where you feel comfortable being your authentic self and exploring what brought you to therapy.
Through these techniques we will work together to identify maladaptive thoughts that contribute to avoidance behaviors and fears that keep us stuck, feeling even more anxious and often depressed.
I value a person-centered approach and believe therapy should be tailored to your unique experiences, strengths, and goals. I incorporate strength-based and solution-focused techniques, along with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), to help you recognize and challenge thought patterns and behaviors that may no longer serve you. Together, we’ll identify your goals by exploring what is and isn’t working in your life and develop practical tools and strategies to help you navigate challenges and overcome barriers. We’ll work at your pace, and adjust goals along the way as your needs evolve. I believe meaningful change happens when we can explore not only the challenges we face today, but also the experiences, relationships, patterns, and emotions that have shaped us. Together, we can identify thoughts that contribute to avoidance, fear, anxiety, or feeling stuck and begin developing healthier ways of responding. Whether you’re experiencing anxiety, navigating a life transition, facing uncertainty, or working through past experiences, therapy can provide an opportunity for healing and growth. My hope is that you feel heard, understood, supported, and empowered throughout the process. I received my Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Fairfield University and became a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) after completing 3,000 hours of clinical experience in an outpatient substance use treatment setting. I would be honored to work with you as you build the life you want!
First session
Your first session is a chance for us to get to know each other and begin creating a comfortable, supportive space for therapy. We’ll talk about what brought you to therapy, what you’ve been experiencing, and what you hope to get out of the process. You don’t need to have everything figured out or know exactly what to talk about—I’ll help guide the conversation. Together, we’ll begin identifying areas you’d like to work on and turn larger concerns into smaller, realistic, and attainable goals. We’ll work at a pace that feels comfortable for you, and your goals can change and grow as we learn more about what you need. My hope is that you leave your first session feeling heard, understood, and with a better sense of what therapy can look like for you. Most importantly, you don’t have to have all the answers before you walk through the door. We’ll figure it out together.
Strengths
One of my greatest strengths as a therapist is my ability to genuinely listen with empathy, compassion, and without judgment. I want my clients to feel heard, understood, and comfortable being themselves while working toward the goals that matter most to them. My background includes working with individuals struggling with substance use, difficult life experiences, and unhealthy coping skills. I have had the opportunity to work with people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and experiences, including members of the LGBTQIA+ community. These experiences have taught me the importance of approaching every person with openness, curiosity, and respect for their individual story. I believe therapy should never be a one-size-fits-all experience. Everyone’s journey, circumstances, and needs are different, so I strive to provide individualized support that reflects who you are and what you need. I meet clients where they are and work collaboratively to identify goals and develop strategies that feel realistic and meaningful. I also believe in allowing clients to set the pace of therapy. Some days may call for guidance and practical tools, while other times, simply having a safe space to process and be heard is what is needed. I aim to provide both support and encouragement while empowering clients to take an active role in their own growth. Above all, I want my clients to know that they don’t have to have everything figured out before coming to therapy. My role is to walk alongside you, help you navigate challenges, recognize your strengths, and support you in creating meaningful change. If I do not accept your insurance I can provide you with a super bill to submit for reimbursement!
Ideal clients
I’m excited to work with clients who know they want something to change but may not know where to begin or how to take the first step. You don’t need to have everything figured out before starting therapy. Sometimes, simply knowing that something doesn’t feel right is enough to begin. I also feel grateful to work with clients who are processing past trauma, unresolved experiences, or difficult relationships, as well as those who may not fully understand where their struggles are coming from but recognize that they are feeling distressed, overwhelmed, anxious, or stuck. Together, we can slow things down, explore what you’re experiencing, and begin to better understand what may be contributing to these feelings. Whether you come to therapy with specific goals or simply a sense that you want things to feel different, we can work together to identify what you need and what meaningful change might look like for you. My goal is to meet you where you are, without judgment, and provide a space where you can feel supported as you begin to understand yourself, your experiences, and the changes you want to make.
Treatment methods
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
I incorporate Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help you learn how to handle difficult thoughts and feelings without letting them control your life. We all experience worry, fear, sadness, stress, and uncertainty. Sometimes, we try so hard to avoid these feelings that we end up feeling even more stuck. ACT helps us learn that we can experience uncomfortable feelings while still moving forward. Together, we’ll explore what is within your control and what may be outside of your control. We’ll also spend time identifying your personal values—what is truly important to you and the kind of person you want to be. This might include things like family, friendships, health, personal growth, independence, or having a meaningful career. Once we understand what matters most to you, we can set goals that match those values and take small, realistic steps toward them. We’ll work on noticing unhelpful thoughts, letting go of the need to control everything, and learning how to respond to difficult emotions in healthier ways. My goal is not to make every uncomfortable thought or feeling disappear. Instead, I want to help you feel more confident handling life’s ups and downs while continuing to move toward the life you want. We’ll work together, at your pace, to build skills that help you feel less stuck and more connected to what matters most to you.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
I use a Person-Centered approach to create a safe, supportive, and comfortable space where you can be yourself without fear of judgment. This approach, developed by psychologist Carl Rogers, is based on the belief that you are the expert on your own life. My role is not to tell you what you should do, but to listen, understand, and help you discover what feels right for you. I believe that feeling truly heard and understood can be an important part of the healing process. I will listen with empathy, compassion, and genuine curiosity as we explore your thoughts, feelings, experiences, and concerns. You will have the space to talk openly and work through things at a pace that feels comfortable for you. Together, we will identify goals that are meaningful to you and focus on the areas of your life where you would like to see change. I’ll help you recognize your strengths, build self-confidence, and better understand yourself and the patterns that may be affecting you. I believe everyone has the ability to grow and make meaningful changes in their life, even when they may not see those strengths in themselves yet. Rather than providing a one-size-fits-all solution, we will work together to find strategies and solutions that fit your individual needs, values, and goals. My hope is that through therapy, you feel more comfortable with who you are, gain a better understanding of yourself, and feel empowered to make choices that support the life you want to live.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help you understand the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The way we think about ourselves and situations can have a big impact on how we feel and how we respond. Sometimes, we can get caught in negative or unhelpful thought patterns that make us feel anxious, sad, overwhelmed, or stuck. Together, we’ll work on noticing these patterns and understanding how they may be affecting your emotions and choices. We’ll gently challenge thoughts that may not be helpful or accurate and work toward developing healthier and more balanced ways of thinking. CBT is also focused on taking action. We’ll work together to set realistic goals and find small, manageable steps that can help you feel more in control and move toward the changes you want to make. This may include learning new coping skills, practicing problem-solving, changing behaviors that are no longer helpful, or gradually facing situations that you may have been avoiding. My goal is to give you practical tools that you can use both inside and outside of therapy. These skills can help you better manage anxiety, depression, stress, difficult emotions, and other challenges. We’ll work collaboratively and at your pace, creating strategies that fit your life and individual needs. I want you to leave therapy not only feeling supported, but also feeling more confident in your ability to understand your thoughts, manage difficult emotions, handle challenges, and make meaningful changes in your life.
Eclectic
I use an eclectic approach to therapy, which simply means I don’t believe there is one type of therapy that works for everyone. Every person is different, so I draw from different therapeutic approaches and techniques based on what you need and what feels most helpful to you. Depending on your goals and what you’re experiencing, we may use tools from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Person-Centered Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Psychodynamic Therapy, or other approaches. We may focus on understanding your thoughts and behaviors, exploring past experiences, building coping skills, identifying your values, or working through emotions and relationships. I believe therapy should be flexible and personalized rather than a one-size-fits-all experience. Together, we’ll explore what is working for you and what isn’t, and we can adjust our approach as your needs change. You are an important part of the process. I want you to feel comfortable sharing what is helpful, what doesn’t feel right, and what you would like to focus on. We’ll work together to find strategies that fit your personality, experiences, and goals. My goal is to meet you where you are and provide the support, tools, and guidance that make the most sense for you. By using different approaches, we can create a therapy experience that is uniquely yours and helps you feel more confident, understood, and empowered as you work toward meaningful change.
Strength-Based
I use a strength-based approach to help you recognize and build on the strengths you already have. When we’re struggling, it can be easy to focus only on what is going wrong or what we feel we need to “fix.” Instead, I believe it is just as important to recognize the qualities and abilities that have helped you get through difficult times. Together, we’ll explore your strengths, such as resilience, determination, creativity, compassion, or the ability to keep going even when things feel difficult. You may have strengths that you don’t always recognize in yourself, and part of our work can be discovering and building confidence in those qualities. We’ll look at how you have handled challenges in the past and identify what has helped you along the way. From there, we can find ways to use those strengths when facing challenges today. A strength-based approach does not mean ignoring the difficult parts of life. Instead, we’ll acknowledge the challenges you’re experiencing while also recognizing that you have existing skills, resources, and abilities that can help you move forward. My goal is to help you see yourself as more than the challenges you are facing. Together, we’ll build on what is already working, develop new skills when needed, and help you feel more confident in your ability to handle life’s challenges and work toward the goals that are important to you. By emphasizing your strengths, we can aim to empower you and foster a sense of confidence and motivation in addressing challenges. This approach is about recognizing that you already possess valuable resources that can support your personal growth and help you overcome obstacles.
Location
Virtual sessions