Samantha Kolkey, LCSW ✷
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
In Private Therapy Practice
Executive Director
About Samantha.
HQ: Evanston, Illinois, USA
Client Range: Illinois ONLY
Client Age: Adults (18+)
Accepting New Clients? Yes
Sessions Offered: Virtually + In-Person
Samantha (she/her) received her BA in Psychology and Women’s Studies from the University of Michigan, and her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois-Chicago. She is a licensed clinical social worker in Illinois and began her career working as a case manager and clinician for children, youth, and families within the child welfare system. In 2017, Samantha joined a nonprofit organization called Options for College Success in Evanston, IL. as the Director of Programming before taking on the Executive Director role in January of 2018.
To bring more balance to her life, Samantha dedicates herself to the practice of mindfulness. She also enjoys dancing, drawing, gardening, listening to vinyl, and playing with her dog.
Embracing her neurodivergence inspires Samantha’s wholehearted approach to her work. Leaning into her personal values of vulnerability, connection, collaboration, and empathy, Samantha believes in approaching everything with compassion and encouraging a growth mindset. Samantha has dedicated her career to improving the lives of children, adolescents, young adults, and families.
Superwell Specialties.
Gifted-Specific Support (Individual, Group)
Samantha provides interpersonal and relational counseling, creative expression groups and academic advising for gifted individuals.
Creative-Specific Support (Individual, Family, Couples, Parent, Group)
Samantha provides therapy and coaching in various capacities for creative-minded individuals. Creative expression work can be incorporated into all services offered. Creative expression focused groups are offered. She likes to ensure that individuals, parents, and families have the tools to communicate and express themselves in a manner that works best for them. She looks to engage individuals in the community for even more opportunities to support creative clients.
Neurodivergent-Specific Support (Individual, CoParent, Family, Group)
Samantha’s work at Options for College Success utilizes the neurodiversity model. This approach supports destigmatizing neurodivergence, individuals harnessing the unique strengths of one's own neurodivergences, and feeling empowered.
The neurodivergent community is at much higher risk for developmental, social, and physical trauma, so all services are trauma-informed. The agency’s services are also sensory-safe. All services can be adjusted to meet clients' sensory and physical accessibility needs, the center hosts a sensory decompression room, and has ADA compliant entryways and bathrooms.
Neurodivergent-Specific Training:
Certified ADHD Professional (ADHD-CCSP) Intensive Training Course: Evidence-Based Strategies for Managing ADHD Across the Lifespan
Certificate for Changing the ADHD Brain: Moving Beyond Medication
Neurodiversity Affirmative Focus on Autism with Dr. Angela Marx
Other Areas of Clinical Specialization:
Neurodivergent Support Across the Lifespan
Life Transitions
Anxiety
Solution Focused Therapy
Trauma Informed Counseling.
Fun Stuff.
How do your clients describe you?
Warm, Empathic, Engaging, Person-Centered, Wholehearted
What are your favorite books?
Untamed by Glennon Doyle; The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown; Mindset by Dr. Carol Dweck;
What are your creative outlets?
Sketching, Acrylic and Oil Painting, Dance
What would you do with $10M USD?
I would purchase property for and donate to the organization were I am the executive director to expand our impact. With money remaining, I would travel and renovate my older home.
Education and/or Training institute
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois at Chicago
