About Therapist Samantha Gregg:
Hello! My name is Samantha Gregg. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Pennsylvania and a Licensed Masters Level Social Worker in Maryland. I knew I wanted to be a therapist since I was a teenager and I am so happy to continue my journey with Montgomery County Counseling Center.
Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired? I know I was! And I know how hard it can be to find a therapist that feels like the right fit. This is always a vulnerable process. And it can be especially intimidating if you’ve had unhelpful therapy experiences in the past. I am eager to learn what hasn’t worked for you, either when trying to heal alone OR in previous treatments. I also want to learn what has worked. Then, together we can use that information to create a therapy environment that suits you best and helps you move forward with healing!
People who start therapy when they are young can turnout to be emotionally way ahead of some adults! I love being a part of this process. The trials and tribulations of being a tween or teen are something that we all go through. And it’s a time where extra support can be essential. This is because we all respond to adolescence differently. Instead of comparing those differences as “better or worse”, we can look at those differences with compassion. This is true regardless of whether the difference are caused by pre-existing diagnosis or symptoms of a mental illness, social experiences, family life, or just the hormones that come with puberty. Teens or tweens who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community can have an even more difficult time during these years. You can feel confident that I will provide an affirming space and meet you where you are, at any moment.
I welcome the attitudes and angst that can come with adolescence. I can both connect with and accept those feelings in a way that is supportive to teens without making them feel therapy is just another space where they are showing up “the wrong way”.
Sometimes we aren’t ready to make big changes… or even small ones. Having support during these times can be a game-changer. I use Motivational Interviewing and values activities to help identify your goals as well as the steps that we can take to move towards those goals, when you are ready. I will never push you to do something you aren’t ready for. And at the same time I will challenge you to build skills and move past a point of feeling stuck indefinitely.
A note to parents, if this sounds like your kiddo and they are in therapy with me, please prepare yourself to be patient throughout this process. And if you notice that is hard for you, MCCC can help set you up with additional services to navigate a process that may* look slower than you anticipated .
*of course pacing is completely unique for each case
Education and Experience as a Therapist
I began my journey of becoming a therapist when I graduated high school and moved to Pittsburgh, PA to attend The University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work. I completed my undergraduate and graduate programs at the University of Pittsburgh. There, I also received a certificate in American Sign Language. During that time, I completed my internship at the Pressley Ridge School for the Deaf, where I discovered a passion for working in mental health with the Deaf population. I continued at Pressley Ridge for several years in various roles including outpatient and school-based therapy. I’ve also conducted mobile therapy with Deaf adults and youth across Western Pennsylvania.
In addition to my extensive work with the Deaf community, I have spent significant time in clinical settings working with those who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community. I’ve also worked in settings providing supports to teens in the Jewish community. While the majority of my experience is with children and teens, I am also familiar with working with adults.
I work from an eclectic trauma-informed therapeutic approach. This means I use many different interventions by combining my clients’ needs and preferences along with what I believe will be the most effective way to make progress in the moment. I have been trained in Motivational Interviewing and Structured Sensory Interventions for Traumatized Children, Adolescents, and Parents (SITCAP). I also lean into modalities including play-based therapy, art-based therapy, problem solving, CBT, and trauma therapy. But no matter what, I use a strengths-based approach that always puts the client’s needs and goals at the forefront of the session.
Specialties
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults
- American Sign Language and Deaf culture
- LGBTQIA+ clients
- Parent Coaching for LGBTQIA+ families
- Trauma- informed care
- Anxiety
- Depression
Personal Life
Whenever I think about my hobbies, the first thing that comes to mind is walking my adorable pup, Isabelle. But when she is sleeping, I also enjoy cooking, joyful movement, thrifting, doing my hair, puzzles, and spending time with my family and partner. Originally from in Harrisburg PA, I moved to the DMV area after spending 10 years in Pittsburgh.
I have a passion for mental health advocacy and awareness, and try to incorporate self-care into my daily life. I love learning new things! Recently, I learned how to make a roux (if you are like me, and aren’t sure what a roux is, it is what makes things creamy), how to do the ‘Wednesday dance’, and how to get maple from a tree.