Samantha Gambino

Dr. Samantha Gambino is a licensed psychologist in New York State with a private practice in New York City. She believes in building safe, caring, and trustworthy relationships with her clients and that change happens through these solid relationships.

Samantha's down-to-earth approach, ability to listen, and knowledge of psychological dynamics allow her clients to feel seen, heard, and understood in a non-judgmental and supportive way. Samantha is skilled at forming honest relationships and teaching clients to think differently about themselves over time. She is trained psychodynamically to examine family patterns and how one's family history may influence current-day behaviors. Samantha has over 20 years of experience working with individuals who struggle with low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, issues of self-worth, perfection, imposter syndrome, family and relationship challenges, burnout, and general dissatisfaction with life.

Before establishing her private practice, Samantha dedicated several years to serving as a school psychologist at the elementary, middle, and high school level. This extensive experience equips her with a deep understanding of the challenges that can arise at each developmental stage of life.

Samantha currently offers parent consultations when a child or adolescent struggles with an emotional or behavioral issue. Samantha works with the parents from a top-down approach. Many times, it is not necessary for the child to be in therapy, but the family needs support in terms of how to manage the concerns. Through a developmental lens and a solid handle on the inner psyche of children and adolescents, Samantha can offer parents a better understanding of the psychological issues their child is struggling with and strategies to address these concerns. Parent consultations are fruitful because an adult mind can work through psychological challenges and implement change at home more efficiently and promptly than a child or adolescent.

Some common issues addressed in parent consultations are:

• tantrums, acting out, defiance, and disregard of rules or respect at home
• how to foster independence at the different developmental levels
• setting appropriate limits and expectations with and for their child
• developing self-esteem that is not contingent on grades or performance
• managing attentional issues through more structure and simplified language at home
• managing a child's anxiety, separation difficulties, black-and-white thinking, OCD, perfectionism, and other anxious behaviors
• how to foster open communication where kids will want to confide in you
• how to talk to children and teens about global issues, challenges, and fears

Samantha received her PsyD in School Clinical Psychology from Pace University and her Postdoctoral Degree in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy from New York University.