Samantha Quackenbush, MA, LGPC, Therapy in Chevy Chase, Maryland

Samantha Quackenbush helps children, adolescents, teens, and adults navigate emotional challenges, strengthen resilience, and create meaningful change in their lives. Through LifeStance Health, she provides individual and family therapy for patients throughout Maryland, offering a compassionate and collaborative approach to mental health care. Samantha works alongside clients to better understand their experiences, build effective coping skills, and move toward greater emotional well-being. She frequently supports individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, and PTSD/trauma, while also helping clients address a variety of additional concerns. Samantha is particularly passionate about helping individuals affected by alcohol and drug use issues. She understands that substance use concerns often intersect with stress, relationships, trauma, and life transitions, and she believes recovery is most effective when approached with empathy, respect, and personalized support. Her goal is to help clients identify underlying challenges, develop healthier coping strategies, and build sustainable pathways toward healing and personal growth. In addition to substance use concerns, Samantha works with clients facing anxiety, depression, and childhood behavioral challenges, while providing support for many additional mental health needs. She utilizes evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Her therapeutic style is warm, nonjudgmental, and strengths-based, encouraging clients to recognize their capabilities while learning practical tools to manage symptoms and improve daily functioning. Samantha also enjoys working with individuals from the LGBTQ+ community and those involved in adoption and foster care experiences. She recognizes that every person’s story is unique and strives to provide an affirming environment where clients feel safe exploring their identities, relationships, and life circumstances. She earned degrees from Southern New Hampshire University and Eastern Washington University, experiences that helped shape her foundation in counseling, personal growth, and evidence-based therapeutic care. Outside of her work, Samantha enjoys spending time with a good book, practicing yoga, connecting with nature, and experimenting in the kitchen. She especially values meaningful relationships and believes that making space for joy, connection, and grounding activities is an important part of overall wellness. As a LifeStance Health therapist serving communities across Maryland, Samantha is committed to helping children, teens, adults, and families overcome obstacles and thrive. Whether someone is seeking therapy for anxiety, depression, trauma, substance use concerns, or other mental health challenges, she provides personalized, compassionate care designed to support lasting growth and well-being.