Samantha Pinto (she/her or they/them)

I have experience doing therapy with children ages 4+ in both outpatient and in-community settings. I love integrating creativity, art, music, sensory activities and play with clients of all ages! Prior to becoming a counselor, I worked in the education field with elementary and middle school students for over a decade.

Oppenness, curiosity, and cultural humility are core values that guide my work with clients. Applying a systemic lens and understanding the impact of history, material conditions, and culture is essential to my professional and personal code of ethics. My upbringing in South Philadelphia, my humanities education, and my background as an organizer have given me valuable experiences working with people from all walks of life.

Talking about suicidal thoughts and self-harm urges can often feel uncomfortable and even scary. As a DBT therapist, I aim to help clients understand where these thoughts & feelings come from without feeling judged, stigmatized, or surveilled. Then, we can help identify things in their life that make life feel worth living, and what kind of supports & changes will help them get there.

I completed foundational DBT training at DBT of South Jersey, an adherent and DBT Linehan Board Certified group practice where I work as a clinical therapist. There I receive individual and group supervision, weekly DBT team consultation, and ongoing continuing education on DBT and other areas of clinical interest. I have experience with DBT skills groups, phone coaching. individual skills training, individualized DBT-informed therapy, and DBT with children & teens.