SAMANTHA BURNS
BS, LAC
Hello and welcome!
Navigating the different paths of behavioral health can sometimes feel uncertain and scary. Taking this growth producing risk through the acceptance ofvulnerability is one of the most courageous steps one will take. I am so happy you are here!
“Your brokenness is welcome here”. So rarely are we given the opportunity to find strength in our vulnerability, yet my desire for my clients is to provide them with anenvironment of connection, warmth, safety and security. A place where our once weakness becomes our strength and the experiences that once broke us begin to heal us. The holistic approach that I utilize throughout my practice is used to help guide my clients through the domains of wellness while also working through any biological vulnerabilities, psychological liabilities, social context, or spiritual bankruptcy that has resulted in becoming emotionally stagnant.
Coming from a perspective of working in the field of addiction treatment, I believe that the fuel behind the fire of substance abuse is isolation and shame and the antidote is connection and belonging. By helping foster this awareness with my clients, we begin to see how our experiences and behaviors all lead back to ourattachment needs and desires. My passion for working with adults, adolescents and families suffering from substance misuse, abuse or dependence allows me to meet my clients where they are at in their healing journey. With the utilization of autonomy as well as accountability, we can begin to see motivation for change by deconstructing barriers of ambivalence and messages of shame.
After graduating from the University of Nevada Reno, I began practicing as a Licensed Addiction Counselor. I am dually licensed in the state of Montana and South Carolina where I was previously working in an outpatient treatment setting. My experience within the field has also provided me the opportunity to specialize in trauma focused therapy as I am specifically trained in the Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model. I also utilize a comprehensive model known as the BPSSEM (Biological, Psychological, Social, Spiritual and Experiential Model). Additional modalities within my practice include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Client Centered Therapy. Outside of counseling I enjoy doing puzzles, hiking and cooking. Thank you for taking the time to get to know me and my passion for the field of counseling.