About Samantha Lewis, Ed.M., M.Phil., Ph.D.
Dr. Samantha Lewis is a New York State licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist with over two decades of experience. She provides psychotherapy to children, adolescents, and young adults within our practice. Dr. Lewis received her Ph.D. in School Psychology from Columbia University, where she also earned her M.Ed and MPhil degrees. She completed her predoctoral internship at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Prior to earning her doctoral degree, Dr. Lewis also completed Masters program coursework in Developmental Psychology at Teacher College, Columbia University. She earned her undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis, with a BA in psychology. In addition to her work at the practice, Dr. Lewis is also a school psychologist in a public school district in Westchester County, New York.
Dr. Lewis’ extensive experiences in school, hospital, and clinic settings have helped her acquire a highly specialized skill set. She has expertise in supporting young people who present with a variety of concerns, including: depression, anxiety, low self-esteem; identity challenges, academic stress, emotional and behavioral dysregulation, school refusal, low motivation, social concerns and challenges, social skills deficits, attentional and executive functioning challenges, college transition issues, and family changes and related life stressors. The heart of her work is promoting the emotional and social well-being of young people. She aims to create a safe space where children, adolescents, young adults, and families feel accepted and supported. She approaches her care with genuine warmth and respect, fostering a nurturing environment where individuals can feel valued as they grow and develop the skills necessary to enhance their well-being, progress toward their goals, and live happy, fulfilling lives.
Dr. Lewis uses a variety of empirically-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to provide the most effective, evidence-based treatment. She regularly incorporates core tenets of DBT, including mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness skills, into her therapeutic work. Within her school, Dr. Lewis helped develop a Tier 1 Social-Emotional Learning program to teach these vital skills to all students. In addition, Dr. Lewis has significant depth of experience in evaluating and supporting children with neurodevelopmental differences. She has also served as a Chairperson for the Committee on Special Education (CSE) and Section 504 Teams at both the elementary and high school levels, in addition to the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE). This background gives her a unique expertise in preparing and advocating for students and families during these important meetings.
Through her experience with young people across all developmental levels, Dr. Lewis has developed a thoughtful approach to supporting each individual and their family. In addition, her extensive experience in the school setting provides her with a significant depth of knowledge about how youth spend the majority of their time away from home. This perspective is invaluable in understanding and helping young people navigate academic, social-emotional and developmental challenges. Central to her practice is a focus on helping young people develop self-awareness and resilience. Dr. Lewis believes that dedicated communication, strong collaboration, and unconditional, positive regard for youth and their families are fundamental to success, and that progress is best achieved in a nurturing and supportive environment where individuals feel understood and valued as they learn new life skills.
In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Lewis is dedicated to supporting training the next generation of mental health professionals by providing supervision to both Master's and Doctoral-level psychology graduate students. She is also a member of the Southern Westchester's Regional Crisis Response Team, which helps to provide psychological support services to local schools during times of need.
