Hey there! I’m Sami.

  • Trauma Informed Care

  • Children and Families

  • Young adults

Professional Philosophy

Many people can be intimidated by the idea of drama therapy. You might find yourself interested but not quite sure how it would fit your needs thinking “I’m not an actor.”

In the world of the theater, not everyone needs to be an actor to lead the growth of a production. There are lighting and set designers, choreographers, stage crew members, musicians. The goal is for all to come together using and developing their strengths to complete set goals. This is my philosophy as a therapist. Let’s explore and develop your strengths to further understand your goals as the main character of your story.

“I believe that a different therapy must be constructed for each patient because each has a unique story.”

― Irvin D. Yalom

Personal Background

In drama therapy we frequently quote William Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” stating  “All the world is a stage and all the men [and women]  are merely players…” I grew up on the stage and identified tremendously with this metaphor. As a performer I expressed myself and gained perspective through different roles, developed spontaneity and humor through improvisation, honed a sense of commitment and time management through structure in scheduling and memorization, and made long lasting friendships within created communities. This translated to my outside performances in school, extracurriculars, and familial interactions. I felt powerful and resilient knowing that I was strong at something within the world of the play. If there is direct power in engaging in theater, I now ask, As drama therapy practitioner, what if we can bring some of these strength engaging tools and techniques to people who seek empowerment for their self worth and emotional wellbeing?

Specialties Descriptions

All of us here at START address the mental health areas of stress, trauma, and anxiety in our practice. We apply these three topics to unique, specific challenges that our clients are going through. I offer specialized treatment in the following areas:

Trauma Informed Care

Didactic tools using drama therapy to engage a body and brain connection. 

Children and Families

Engaging social emotional development and language to assist families empower their unit.

Young Adults

Exploring and developing identity through creative arts based intervention.