Samantha Whelan , LPC

Samantha Whelan is an LPC with 14 years of clinical experience who brings both professional training and real-life perspective to her work. After an intensive early career treating addiction and complex mental health concerns, she paused her practice to raise two children while staying active in continuing education. That time caring for family deepened her understanding of everyday struggles and enriched the practical insight she now brings to therapy.

She views counseling as a collaborative process that blends empathy with concrete skills. Her background includes extensive work with people facing addiction, mood disorders, trauma, and the ripple effects those challenges create in relationships, finances, legal matters, and physical health. That experience shaped a practice focused on meaningful, measurable change rather than quick fixes.

Whelan’s approach draws from cognitive behavioral methods, behavioral theory, motivational interviewing, and client-centered therapy. She uses these tools to help clients identify patterns, set realistic goals, and develop new skills for coping and growth. Having been a therapy client herself, she emphasizes what it feels like to be heard and validated and works to make clients feel understood.

She believes most people fall somewhere on a continuum of change and that awareness of one’s starting point is often the first step. Samantha aims to align her work with each client’s priorities - the client’s agenda is the guiding agenda - and supports steady progress toward stated goals.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Client-centered therapy focuses on creating an accepting, nonjudgmental environment where the client’s priorities guide the work; this approach helps people who need space to explore feelings, values, and relationship concerns at their own pace. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, offers practical strategies to identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress-related issues. Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative method that helps people resolve ambivalence and build motivation for change, which can be especially helpful for addictions, lifestyle changes, and commitment-related concerns.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Samantha works collaboratively with clients to determine which methods best fit their needs, goals, and personal preferences, and adjusts the plan as progress is made. The process is a partnership between the client and the licensed professional.

Online therapy offers flexibility to meet with a therapist from home or another convenient location. Sessions can be scheduled as video calls or phone conversations, and shorter check-ins or support can happen via live chat or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life and maintain continuity of care when schedules or circumstances change.