Samanda has traveled extensively as a result of being a military child, but has called North Carolina home for 13+ years.
After obtaining her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Mary Washington in Virginia, Samanda began a career in law enforcement where she became aware of the intersection between substance abuse, mental health, and the criminal justice system, inspiring her to pursue a career in addiction counseling.
Samanda obtained her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Regent University and holds a Certificate of Substance Abuse Counseling from East Carolina University. She is a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS), Certified Clinical Supervisor Intern (CSI), Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC), AADC (SC), and a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC). She is also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a particularly effective approach to treating trauma, which often presents in conjunction with substance use disorder.
Samanda has a passion to educate and support both clients and their families in addressing the effects of substance use disorder on the entire family system. Samanda has been employed with The Blanchard Institute since 2020 and she is also a proud alumni who is excited to empower others during their recovery journey.