Meet Dr. Wagner
Hi, I’m Dr. Samantha Wagner, a licensed psychologist.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me and the services I provide. Finding a therapist who is the right match for you or someone you love is an important decision. It’s normal to be a little hesitant and oftentimes making first contact is the scariest part!
Expertise
I am a generalist by training, meaning that I have worked with individuals across the lifespan, families, couples, and groups and have experience with a wide range of issues from managing everyday stressors through working with serious mental illness. As such, I know the importance of finding what works for each person and am well trained to be able to do so.
One of my areas of specialty is working with couples. I offer services for couples that span the life of the relationship from premarital counseling for soon-to-be newlyweds through couples therapy for partners who want to reconnect and establish security in their relationship. I also offer discernment therapy for couples who are uncertain about continuing their relationship, as well as divorce mediation services for spouses who choose to separate their lives and file for an uncontested divorce.
I also work extensively with adults on issues related to challenging relationship dynamics, boundaries, anxiety, and self-esteem, which can manifest as many different mental health issues. As such, I see clients who have a wide variety of diagnoses including, but not limited to, anxiety, personality disorders, and mood disorders. I have extensive training in Emotionally-Focused Therapy (Couple and Individual), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, as well as many other integrative approaches.
Engaging in a meaningful and value-driven life can be challenging and at times we feel lost in the uncertainty of our decisions, ourselves, or our relationships. I approach therapy in a way that acknowledges that everyone’s path to obtaining a fulfilling and successful life looks different and that progress in therapy is based on understanding and respect for each person, exactly as they are. I take an empathic approach that seeks to find a balance between acceptance and change so that we can make meaningful progress towards whatever goals you define.
Credentials
I am a Licensed Psychologist in both Florida and New York State who has been conducting therapy for 9+ years. I received my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from APA accredited Binghamton University in 2021 after completing my doctoral internship at The Faulk Center for Counseling. Prior to this, I obtained my Masters in Psychology from Binghamton University and my Bachelors in Psychology with a minor in business from Canisius College.
In addition to the extensive and multifaceted training I accomplished while obtaining my degrees, I also completed a two-year post-doctoral fellowship at Tampa Bay Center for Relational Psychology. During my post-doctoral training I specialized in Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy that included completing Externship, Core Skills, and all necessary supervised hours alongside continuation of my generalist work. I am currently working towards formal certification. Most recently I successfully finished the APA accredited Conflict Resolution Training where I became a nationally certified Divorce Mediator.
My areas of research expertise relate to couples and dating and include work on attachment, relationship satisfaction, physical touch, intimacy, sexuality, as well as work on intimate partner violence and sexual assault. Both my doctoral dissertation and master’s thesis emphasized couple-related processes that impact relationship satisfaction, such as attachment, physical touch, and sexual satisfaction. I also have substantial research background in issues specific to aging in romantic relationships and sexuality.