Samantha Arfin is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and is the founder of The Mind Lab, LLC. She graduated from New York University in 2017 with a Masters in Social Work and is now dual licensed as LCSW in New York and LCSW-C in Maryland. Samantha is available to provide virtual therapy sessions in both of these states. 

While at NYU, Samantha worked as a graduate research assistant to determine the connection between school transitions and adolescent depression. She also worked as an intern with both an elementary school and an adult outpatient mental health clinic, servicing those ages five to 75 years old. Samantha worked with each population utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to encourage a sense of understanding of the Interactions between her clients' behaviors, emotions, and needs. 

Upon graduating from her master's program, Samantha began her career as a school-based clinician at a Transfer High School in the Bronx, NY. Here, she worked with teachers, students, and their families to understand their behaviors, access resources, and build skills to create a safe and enjoyable life. This was done through TF-CBT, which is a trauma-focused version of CBT. TF-CBT allows us to "rewire" the connections in the brain, allowing the body to recognize threats or false alarms while also learning to calm the body when appropriate, available, and necessary. Samantha believes in the importance of truly knowing the interconnectedness of our mind and body and has seen incredible benefits in the lives of her clients through these teachings.

In 2021, Samantha moved from New York to Maryland. She started working remotely for a private practice and through online services that increased accessibility and affordability for clients across the state. This is where The Mind Lab began!

Samantha has devoted her career to being a trauma-informed therapist. She is passionate about teaching others about their mind-body connections; what makes them react in certain ways, how to listen to what their body is telling them, and how to build and utilize skills to help them feel more in control over their life. Samantha practices using several modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Mindfulness, among others. She enjoys mixing and matching these evidence-based modalities to give her clients exactly what they need to live a life they are proud and excited to live. She truly enjoys the process of allowing people to befriend their body and mind. She has seen countless positive outcomes in the lives of her clients from the use of these treatments. 

Outside of therapy, Samantha enjoys spending time with family and friends, being active outside or at her favorite fitness studios, reading, and playing with her new rescue puppy. She is currently reading The Midnight Library by Matt Haig.