Sam Barney

Dr Sam Barney

Registered Psychologist

You might hear Sam say, “We are the architects of our lives,” and ask, “How do you want to design yours?” Sam believes in making therapy something that works for you and gets you excited to grow in whatever way makes sense for you. She sees therapy as a space to foster a deeper understanding of ourselves. She encourages clients to use their personal values, strengths, and support systems to build a life that is meaningful to them. Sam is grateful that her doctoral training—specializing in clinical work with children, adolescents, and families—provides her the opportunity to serve as facilitator of growth with the client(s) in the driver’s seat. She welcomes clients from across the lifespan and all walks of life with a mentality that celebrates the diversity and complexities of life.

SERVICES

Inspired by the unique strengths, perspectives, and experiences that each person brings to the therapy room, Sam prioritizes tailoring evidence-based approaches to resonate with her clients. She provides therapy for children, adolescents, and adults as well as psychoeducational and psychodiagnostic evaluations. Her therapeutic approach draws from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), and Functional Family Therapy (FFT). She aspires to infuse her values of growth, exploration, connection, and fun into these research-based treatments to collaboratively create a supportive, engaging, and dynamic change process.

Sam’s Clinical Specialties Include:

– Interpersonal relationship concerns
– Mental health concerns: anxiety, depression, etc.
– Parenting challenges
– Life transitions and solutions
– Working with the LGBTQIA2+ community
– Identity and self-esteem
– Behavioural challenges
– Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
– Substance use
– Sleep problems

Sam also conducts the following assessments for youth and adolescents
– Psychodiagnostic assessments (e.g. depression, anxiety, etc)
– Psychoeducational assessments (e.g. learning disorders, ADHD, etc)

A SELECTION OF REASONS SOMEONE MIGHT COME TO ME
– Something feels off and I’m not quite sure what.
– Why won’t my kid just listen to me?
– I feel sad. Nothing is fun anymore.
– Life feels overwhelming.
– My emotions are driving the bus. Where are the brakes?
– Life just threw me a curve ball. What now?
– That whole communication thing. Words be hard.
– Navigating that LGBTQ+ life
– I’m stuck and I want to get back on track.
– Why does parenting not come with a rule book?
– I would like to feel better about myself and/or my life.
– I need a friend; or more friends; or better friendships.
– Who do I want to be?
– I would like to have a better relationship with ________.
– How do I ask this cutie out?
– Can’t we all just get along?
– Insert your unique personal conundrum here.

 

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP

College of Psychologists of BC (CPBC)

British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC)

 

Education
Doctorate (PhD) in School Psychology- University of Washington
Master of Education in Secondary Education- University of Arizona
Bachelor of Arts in International Relations- Brown University