Samuel

Oliver-Palmquist


Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Clinical Supervisor for Professional Counselors

Areas of Specialty:

Child Counseling & Play Therapy, Children and Individuals with Autism & ADHD, Parenting Support, Family & Couples Counseling, LGBTQ+ Support

Philosophy and Approach

First and foremost, I see therapy as a collaborative process in which we thoughtfully work together to identify both the roots of emotional pain and effective strategies for alleviating it. In the context of a safe therapeutic relationship, we will develop a plan of action for reaching your personalized objectives that incorporate your unique strengths, experiences and resources.

I integrate principles and techniques from various theories, such as Cognitive Behavior Therapy, an approach focused on discussing thoughts and behaviors, and Gestalt, an approach that largely focuses on mindfulness and achieving balance in life. When working with children I use Play Therapy, such Cognitive Behavior Play Therapy and Child Centered approaches allowing children to explore their own feelings in a non-threatening environment and supporting caregivers to provide similar opportunities in multiple environments. When working with children who struggle with atypical neurological development, such as autism or cognitive delays, I use Autplay therapy. This theory is designed to help individuals and their caregivers develop skills to manage atypical neurological struggles. The length and course of treatment are dependent upon your presenting problem, diagnosis, treatment history, and willingness to promote change.

A word about play therapy:  Often, children do not share and process events and feelings verbally, therefore individual therapy may be different from adults. Think of play as the child’s language and play therapy as using that language. I am happy to explain this process at any time.

Formal Education and Training

In addition to completing various trainings in the fields of counseling and play therapy, I hold a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Counseling from George Fox University, which I earned in 2016. My graduate studies included a focus on family counseling and play therapy.

As a mental health therapist, I am not a medical doctor, psychological evaluator, or forensic interviewer. I provide evaluation for mental health diagnosis and treatment based on that diagnosis, services are not provided to meet any legal purposes.