About Me: Credentials for Dr Samantha Madhosingh, clinical psychologist, Kids First Psychological Services, Vienna Virginia & Washington DC

My name is Samantha Madhosingh, Psy.D. and I am a clinical psychologist licensed in Washington, DC and Virginia who specializes in working with children and families. I provide therapy to children, adolescents, adults, parents, and families. I also conduct psychological, educational and psychoeducational evaluations. My areas of expertise include trauma, depression, anxiety, and childhood behavior disorders. I also provide parent, life and professional coaching. I have extensive training and experience working with children and adolescents presenting with a wide range of emotional, developmental, social and educational challenges. I have worked with individuals and families coping with issues related to grief and loss, trauma (violence in the home and community), PTSD symptoms, substance abuse and co-occurring disorders, serious mental illness, teen pregnancy and sexuality/sexual health. I am dedicated to helping children and their families relate better with each other and reach their fullest potential at home and school.

I have done extensive research in trauma and related issues and am certified by The National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children as a trauma and loss school specialist and a trauma consultant. I have presented locally and nationally on the impact violence and trauma have on children and youth, and have provided coordination for school-based crises in D.C. public and charter schools. I received my Doctorate of Professional Psychology from The George Washington University; my major paper was entitled, “The Pathological Development of a Traumatized Patient: How trauma impacts the developmental process”. This paper explored how trauma impacts a child's developmental process and can lead to difficulties in adulthood.

My philosophy regarding trauma is that exposure to trauma is not something that should be ignored; nor are traumatic experiences ever really forgotten. Therapeutic intervention should assist the client with exploring the impact the trauma exposure had on their body, brain, and emotions. The body/brain implements survival strategies needed to survive trauma which become maladaptive coping strategies when utilized daily in everyday life. Therapy explores these coping strategies and helps the client identify and implement more adaptive coping skills. One of the most important patterns of thinking that trauma survivors have to master is that the trauma exposure is not the only thing that defines who they are as a person. Trauma exposure is an event or series of events that have occured that need to be understood within the context of the survivor's life and development, so they feel free to move beyond the trauma and experience life differently.