Samantha Bardoo
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
My approach is comprehensive and personalized. I focus on improving mood, behavior, cognitions, and overall wellness, while also supporting you in understanding your diagnosis and adhering to any necessary medication regimens. I am committed to being with you at every step of your journey, from the depths of despair to the heights of healing.
Consider my practice as your sanctuary from the storm of trauma, a place where you can find understanding, support, and the tools to embark on a path towards resilience, recovery, and rejuvenation.
Areas of Focus:
- Individual Psychotherapy (ages 18 – 90+)
- EMDR, DBT, ACT
- Trauma
- Chronic Pain
- Mood Instability
- General Mental Health Issues
Professional Bio
I find profound fulfillment in working with individuals who have endured significant trauma. As am deeply passionate about understanding and healing trauma, I am dedicated to guiding you through life’s toughest challenges. I know that sometimes life can feel like an overwhelming storm, with personal struggles, emotional turbulence, chronic pain, and complex medical issues making each day a battle. My expertise is rooted in not just addressing these issues, but in truly understanding the chaos that can envelop your life.
My expertise in trauma therapy is rooted in my professional and personal experiences. I am adept at handling clients with extensive trauma histories, providing them with the support and guidance they need to navigate their healing journey.
My clients often express feelings of overwhelming chaos in their lives, stemming from mood disruptions, chronic pain, and chronic medical issues. Many have experienced sexual assault or re-traumatization through the justice system. As a therapist, I am familiar with these narratives and adept at providing not just therapy but also guidance on navigating legal and medical systems.
I empathize deeply with my clients’ sense of being overwhelmed by life’s complexities. I help them learn emotion regulation, social conduct, and relationship management. This involves teaching them to advocate for themselves, especially when dealing with chronic pain, to ensure they are not dismissed or mislabeled in medical settings.
My approach includes a variety of relaxation and coping strategies, such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and cognitive restructuring. I use foundational CBT techniques to stabilize clients before progressing to more intensive therapies like EMDR. Part of my method involves educating clients about trauma and PTSD, empowering them with knowledge to understand their condition and identify the skills they need. My extensive library of resources and worksheets further supports this educational aspect.
Meet Samantha
Why choose Samantha Bardoo as your therapist?
While providing services at the VA, I became intimately familiar with the complex needs of service members and began my journey into working with chronic trauma and medical conditions. My extensive history in community mental health settings has provided me with the opportunity to work closely with complex trauma and dissociation.
My journey in this field has been diverse and enriching. At a sexual violence center, I provided immediate support to victims of recent assaults, helping them navigate the intimidating maze of legal and justice systems. This role has given me invaluable insights into the deep-seated effects of trauma, especially in cases of sexual violence. I’ve become proficient in advocacy, and in guiding clients towards essential resources such as legal aid, local support services, and victims’ compensation.
All of these experiences have afforded me the experience and comfort with providing mental health services to a wide range of diverse backgrounds and the ways in which systemic biases and bigotries (e.g., racism, homophobia / heteronormativity, gender role expectations, rape culture, etc.) create deep-seeded emotional trauma.
In my current private practice, I bring all of this experience to the table, offering a blend of psychological therapy and practical support. I am here to listen, to understand, and to acknowledge the full extent of the challenges you face. Utilizing a range of evidence-based therapies, including EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for chronic pain. I aim to not just treat symptoms, but to foster a journey of holistic healing and empowerment.