About
Dr. Samost is a caring, empathetic, and compassionate postdoctoral fellow who works collaboratively with clients to help achieve relief, hold the complex problems of the modern world, and achieve greater fulfillment in their lives.
He works with adults of all ages and from all backgrounds. He has a particular interest in working with young BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ adults, including those with stigmatized/marginalized identities, trauma (incident-specific, developmental, and race/identity-based), gender, sexuality, and sexual functioning, depression, substance use, and men’s mental health.
Dr. Samost works closely with his clients to meet their individualized needs, whether they wish to improve functioning and decrease maladaptive behaviors, work through traumatic experiences, better understand their emotions, behaviors, and thoughts, or strengthen their self-esteem and relationships.
He believes the therapeutic relationship is the core component of effective therapy and aims to create a trusting and safe therapeutic space by practicing cultural humility, honoring clients’ unique and intersectional identities, and providing nonjudgmental support.
License, education + certifications
- PhD. in Clinical Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
- MA. In Clinical Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University
- Predoctoral Internship, Brattleboro Retreat
Approach to therapy
Dr. Samost’s approach to therapy is person-centered and integrative. He identifies and combines components of evidence-based treatments to best meet his client's needs, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), motivational interviewing, and Core Conflictual Relationship Theme (CCRT) psychodynamic therapy. He grounds all of his work in critical intersectional theory and emphasizes respecting and understanding the impact of different intersecting identities on an individual’s lived experience. Additionally, Dr. Samost is a proud nerd (anime, video games, comic books, board games etc.) and, when relevant, welcomes clients’ nerdy identities and interests into the therapeutic process.
What's next?
Starting therapy can feel overwhelming, but we keep the process simple and supportive. Here’s what to expect:
Request an Appointment
Once you complete this form, we will reach out. If we have a fitting opening, we will schedule a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation to assess fit further together.
Assessment and Planning
The first 2-4 sessions involve assessing your history, symptoms, and goals. Together, you and your psychologist will establish a treatment plan and discuss next steps.
Ongoing Weekly Sessions
Sessions are typically weekly for 55 minutes at a consistent time. You and your psychologist will focus on your treatment needs and goals.
Our locations
We proudly serve all of Massachusetts with convenient locations in Boston and Northampton. We also provide teletherapy services from the comfort of your home for any current resident of Massachusetts.
boston
northampton
We are here for you
We recognize the courage it takes to seek professional support, and we are glad you are here.
If you have questions and would like to know more about working with us, please check out our frequently asked questions or reach out to us at info@avivapsych.com.
