Mental health therapy for children, teens, adults & families in Catonsville & Frederick Maryland.
Samantha Norris

Samantha Norris

Therapist, MS, LGPC
Samantha Norris (she/her) is a Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor. She has extensive background in child development and providing case management services for individuals with developmental disabilities. Her clinical interests include making therapy a creative, nurturing, and collaborative experience. She works with children, adolescents, and women's lifespan issues (including perinatal population) related to trauma, relationships, and neurodiversity.

About Samantha Norris

Each day is filled with lots of moments. Moments of feelings, thoughts, meanings, interactions and micro choices. How we define these experiences shape different parts of ourselves and how we engage with the world around us. When life feels too big, we can remember that these little moments are a good place to start! Samantha believes that these cumulative experiences and core relationships provide ease or dis-ease in our lives and that healing can occur when we begin to nourish and align with our most authentic self and optimal environment. Samantha meets each client with the utmost respect, dignity and values bringing a collaborative effort in the therapeutic relationship.  She views her therapeutic role as being a creative tool in helping others develop a strengths-based, resilient will and is passionate about promoting healthy attachment and development in children and in all relationships. Outside of her profession, she too is learning to embrace the chaos of parenthood and being the parent of multiple children. Her self-care includes finding peace in music, painting, poetry and nature.

Training and Education

Samantha is a Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor who graduated from McDaniel College with a Masters in Mental Health Counseling. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Family Studies and Human Services through Towson University. Samantha has a background in child development and previously trained in childcare centers and The Young Parent Support Center, providing life skill classes related to job development and parenting skills. Samantha has extensive experience in her current role providing case management services for children and adults with Developmental Disabilities and accessing state funded waivered services. Samantha is dedicated to her growth and learning. She is always looking for ways to incorporate further learning by listening to audiobooks, podcasts, or attending webinars. Her most recent training included Virtual Reality Therapy and utilizing Digital Play in counseling sessions. She is a member of the American Counseling Association and Association of Play Therapy. Samantha is presently working towards becoming a Registered Play Therapist and is receiving specialized training in Birth Story Processing. 

Supervisor: Niki Picogna, Psy.D., M.S., LCPC, LPC, RPT-S

Therapeutic Approach

Samantha enjoys providing talk, play (including digital play) and expressive based therapy. She aims to provide an integrative approach that is tailored to the comfort and style of the person. She views the therapeutic relationship as being dynamic and collaborative. She would love to incorporate art, play, narrative/poetry and body work in combination with talk therapy. Samantha is humanistic in her approach which is centered around providing holistic support focused on unique human experiences, creativity, free will, and human potential. She values working with children and adults in finding choice, self-acceptance, and developing attunement with one’s own needs and desires.