Samantha Houda

LCSW

I work with adults navigating anxiety, depression, PTSD, and the often overwhelming weight of major life transitions. Many of the clients I support are moving through forms of grief that aren’t always recognized—what I think of as non-linear grief. This can show up after the loss of a relationship, shifts in family dynamics, growing up in or untangling the impact of alcohol or substance use in the family, changes in health, or unexpected career and financial challenges. Even when a loss isn’t traditionally acknowledged, the life you imagined may have changed—and that deserves space and care. Whether you’re processing divorce, family estrangement, the lasting impact of being an adult child of an alcoholic, caregiving stress, a new diagnosis, or a sudden shift in your sense of stability, I offer a collaborative, trauma-informed space where we can slow things down and make sense of what you’re going through. My approach focuses on both your symptoms and your story—helping you understand the patterns that keep you feeling stuck while also honoring the very real losses you’ve experienced. When it’s helpful, we may also explore inner-child work to better understand how early experiences continue to shape your emotions, relationships, and sense of self today. I integrate evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with a deep sense of curiosity, compassion, and respect for your lived experience. Together, we’ll work to strengthen emotional awareness, navigate grief in all its forms, challenge unhelpful thinking patterns, and build practical, sustainable tools so you can move forward with greater clarity, resilience, and a stronger sense of self.