Greensboro Counselor Samantha Atkins

You are searching for the right counselor. It’s a big step – that doesn’t have to be difficult. I became a counselor because I wanted to give people (kids, teens, adults) the opportunity to show up as they are and proactively work on empowering them to achieve the very goals that brought them to start therapy in the first place.

My common clients:

• Young kids ages 5 and up.
• Middle Schoolers and teens that need a little help with self-esteem, confidence, emotional regulation, and the tough years of school.
• Young couples.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate and a member of the National Association of Mental Illness and the National Association of Social Workers. I’m a proud Appalachian State University grad! Go, Mountaineers!

Get To Know Your Counselor

Education and Background:

Samantha received her B.S degree in Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and her Masters in Social Work from the Appalachian State University. Samantha holds training in Play Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and The Gottman Method.

Her previous clinical and mental health work experience includes working as an Autism Support Professional for the Autism Society, a Behavior Specialist, and an MSW Intern at Triad Psychiatric and Counseling Center where she gained experienced and practice in facilitation grief groups and leading therapeutic sessions. 

Specialization:

Samantha enjoys working with kids ages 5 to 18. Some of her common clients are middle school kids that are having a hard time with fitting in, self-esteem, and finding their way in the world.

Her background includes supporting kids and young adults with addressing mental health challenges connected to anxiety, body image, and depression and developing healthy coping skills.

Clinical Approach:

I have a background in using a holistic approach that effectively pulls from evidence-based practices such as Person-Centered and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. My approach is to get to know you and give you a space where you can show up to the session as you are. We will work collaboratively to get you to address the challenges and attain your counseling goals.

COMMON CLIENTS I WORK WITH

Mood Changes In Kids and Teens

Kids and teens often show anxiety and depression a little differently than adults. You may notice that your child seems irritable, sluggish, their sleep is off, they are eating more or less than usual, struggling at school, or more on edge. You as the parent are doing your job and searching for help. Well, you are at the right place. My approach for young kids, Is to work with the parent and child. For older kids, like teens, I typically hold most of my sessions with your teen and a few with the parent to ensure we are all on the same page and heading in the right direction. 

College Students

The journey of the college student isn’t always a fun-packed weekend with one too many drinks. Sometimes it’s feeling alone in your dorm room regardless of how many people are around. It’s struggling to catch up and just when you thought you did, you are behind again. It’s working to somehow prepare now so that tomorrow things will work out. 

Navigating Life Difficulties

Difficult life transitions can cause people to feel that they are going in cycles and not effectively addressing the issue taking place. Common life transitions that I help people with include the passing of a family member, starting a new job, kids going through divorce or separation of their parents, starting a new school, or learning about a new diagnosis like ADHD.

Depression and Anxiety In Adults

As an adult, you have certain things in life that you just need to get done. Right? The day-to-day tasks of life. Well, you now are finding yourself struggling to manage. This can feel a little scary. Your sleep may be off. You may feel anxious to the point that you struggle to think, concentrate, and keep it together. Others are noticing. You have tried to deal with this “hurdle” on your own and it’s not quite working. I encourage you to try counseling. 

Love Your Body And Self

I work with kids and adults that are needing a little bit of support with healing, recovering, and learning to accept and love themselves. Together we will take a compassionate approach to developing healthy mindful practices for self-esteem, self-love, and developing a connected relationship with the mind and body. My goal is to be with you, support you, and move forward one step at a time together. 

Relationships

My typical clients include couples seeking premarital counseling, young couples aged 18 to 30, and individuals focused on improving self-love, setting boundaries, and boosting self-esteem.