Sam first moved to North Carolina in 2014, where she was introduced to the fire service and quickly discovered a passion for serving her community. That same year, she earned her Firefighter I&II certifications and began her journey in emergency services. Over the years, she has been involved with Columbus Fire Department, Crowders Mountain Fire and Rescue, Gaston County EMS, Polk County EMS, and Henderson County EMS, where she currently serves as a paramedic. In 2017, she obtained her paramedic certification, and throughout her career has had the privilege of working alongside and supporting other first responders during some of their most challenging moments.

Sam’s years of experience in various first responder roles give her a deep appreciation for the unique culture of first responders. She also came to understand the invisible weight that this work can carry, the impact of trauma, the stress of long hours, and the unspoken pressure to remain strong. These experiences have inspired her to pursue mental health, with the goal of supporting others in the same way she would have wanted support for herself and her colleagues.

Sam completed her bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of South Carolina Beaufort and began her Master’s of Social Work at the University of South Carolina in 2023. Her clinical focus is on first responder and military mental health, and she is especially passionate about providing client-centered care. She believes that therapy should be a collaborative process where clients feel understood, respected, and empowered. She is currently training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a modality that helps individuals clarify their values, increase psychological flexibility, and build resilience. As she continues to grow as a clinician, she looks forward to exploring additional approaches so she can find new ways to tailor treatment to each client’s unique needs and goals.

Outside of her work and studies, she enjoys reading, crafting, playing strategy-based board games, and spending time with her wife and friends. She also has a love for international travel and recently returned from Scotland and Ireland, where she enjoyed immersing herself in new cultures. These experiences remind her of the importance of curiosity, connection, and perspective, all of which guide her work with clients.

Above all, her goal as a clinician is to create a safe, supportive space where clients feel comfortable being themselves, knowing that they are heard and understood. Her background allows her to bridge lived experience with clinical training, offering care that is empathetic,informed, and centered on what matters most to each individual she works with.