{"id":44411,"date":"2025-11-25T11:24:14","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T16:24:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/?p=44411"},"modified":"2025-11-25T11:27:22","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T16:27:22","slug":"member-spotlight-samantha-mirarchi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/member-spotlight-samantha-mirarchi\/","title":{"rendered":"GoodTherapy Member Spotlight: Samantha Mirarchi"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"max-width: 780px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 0px 18px 48px; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, sans-serif; background: #ffffff;\">\n<p><!-- Hero \/ Title Block --><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.8; text-align: left; margin-top: 0;\">As part of our new GoodTherapy Member Spotlight series, we\u2019re excited to introduce <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><a style=\"color: #ff6600;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/therapists\/profile\/samantha-mirarchi-counselor\">Samantha Mirarchi<\/a><\/span>, director and founder of Wild Sage Therapy. This series highlights therapists who are eager to offer insight into the therapy experience and share valuable perspectives on how to make mental health care more approachable and authentic.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.8; text-align: left;\">In this interview, Samantha offers practical advice and essential tips on starting therapy for the first time, choosing the right mental health professional, and why authenticity and trust are at the heart of effective therapeutic relationships.<\/p>\n<p><!-- Styled Video Embed Area - WIDER \/ NOT LIMITED BY PARAGRAPH PADDING --><\/p>\n<div style=\"margin: 40px -18px 40px; padding: 24px; border-radius: 24px; background: radial-gradient(circle at top left, rgba(155,169,23,0.19), transparent 60%), radial-gradient(circle at bottom right, rgba(224,109,0,0.22), transparent 60%), #0b1120; color: #f9fafb; border: 1px solid rgba(148,163,184,0.45); box-shadow: 0 20px 50px rgba(15,23,42,0.55);\">\n<div style=\"display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 14px; margin-bottom: 16px;\">\n<div style=\"width: 48px; height: 48px; border-radius: 999px; background: rgba(15,23,42,0.85); display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; box-shadow: 0 0 0 1px rgba(148,163,184,0.6);\">\n<div style=\"width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 9px solid transparent; border-bottom: 9px solid transparent; border-left: 15px solid #E06D00; margin-left: 3px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div style=\"font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0.16em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #e5e7eb; opacity: 0.9; margin-bottom: 3px;\">Live Interview<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 20px; font-weight: 600; color: #f9fafb;\"><strong>Watch the conversation with Samantha<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- Video container --><\/p>\n<div style=\"margin-top: 10px; padding: 15px; border-radius: 8px; background: rgba(15,23,42,0.9); border: 1px dashed rgba(148,163,184,0.8); text-align: center;\">\n<div style=\"max-width: 900px; margin: 0 auto;\"><video style=\"width: 100%; height: auto; border-radius: 8px;\" preload=\"metadata\" controls=\"controls\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><source src=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/GT-Full-Social-Edited-1-1.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\" \/><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_end\">\ufeff<\/span><br \/>\nYour browser does not support the video tag.<\/video><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 12px; margin: 32px 0 20px;\">\n<div style=\"flex: 1; height: 1px; background: linear-gradient(to right, transparent, #9BA917);\"><\/div>\n<h2 style=\"margin: 0; font-size: 22px; color: #111827; text-align: center; white-space: nowrap;\">Q&amp;A with Samantha Mirarchi<\/h2>\n<div style=\"flex: 1; height: 1px; background: linear-gradient(to left, transparent, #E06D00);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- Q&A Cards --><\/p>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 22px;\">\n<p><!-- QA 1 --><\/p>\n<div style=\"padding: 18px 18px 16px; border-radius: 16px; border: 1px solid rgba(148,163,184,0.5); background: linear-gradient(135deg, rgba(155,169,23,0.07), rgba(224,109,0,0.03)); box-shadow: 0 10px 26px rgba(15,23,42,0.06);\">\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.8; text-align: left; margin-top: 0;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #9ba917;\">Q:<\/span> What would you want someone who\u2019s never been to therapy before to know about starting therapy or attending the first session?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.8; text-align: left; margin-bottom: 10px;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #e06d00;\">Samantha:<\/span> <\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.8; text-align: left; margin-bottom: 10px;\">It doesn\u2019t have to be as scary as it sounds. In terms of choosing a therapist, the vibe has to be right. That\u2019s the best indication of therapy success. Take advantage of phone consultations or video consultations, just to feel out the connection that you have with that person.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.8; text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0;\">It doesn\u2019t have to be super scary or overwhelming. <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><a style=\"color: #ff6600;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/navigating-the-stages-of-therapy-what-to-expect-during-your-first-sessions\/\">The first session<\/a><\/span> is usually just the therapist getting to know you, gathering information so that they can best support you. There\u2019s no pressure to share everything all at once.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- QA 2 --><\/p>\n<div style=\"padding: 18px 18px 16px; border-radius: 16px; border: 1px solid rgba(148,163,184,0.5); background: linear-gradient(135deg, rgba(224,109,0,0.07), rgba(155,169,23,0.03)); box-shadow: 0 10px 26px rgba(15,23,42,0.06);\">\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.8; text-align: left; margin-top: 0;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #9ba917;\">Q:<\/span> If someone feels like something\u2019s off but they can\u2019t quite put their finger on it, how can therapy help them find clarity and direction?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.8; text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #e06d00;\">Samantha:<\/span> <\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.8; text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0;\">That\u2019s such a big deterrent for starting therapy for a lot of people, because it\u2019s like \u201cmaybe my problem\u2019s not big enough,\u201d or \u201cbecause I can\u2019t articulate exactly what\u2019s wrong, how is somebody going to help me?\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.8; text-align: left; margin-top: 12px; margin-bottom: 0;\">Having the space to just talk through and explore what that looks like for you can help bring clarity into what\u2019s off, and so that you can actually create some goals and work towards that in therapy. But that is, honestly, a normal starting point for a lot of people: just that feeling of something\u2019s not right. Therapy can really help: the beginning phases of [therapy] can really help open that up more to get you back to feeling like yourself.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- QA 3 --><\/p>\n<div style=\"padding: 18px 18px 16px; border-radius: 16px; border: 1px solid rgba(148,163,184,0.5); background: linear-gradient(135deg, rgba(155,169,23,0.06), rgba(224,109,0,0.02)); box-shadow: 0 10px 26px rgba(15,23,42,0.06);\">\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.8; text-align: left; margin-top: 0;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #9ba917;\">Q:<\/span> Why is it important for people to find therapists who truly \u201cget\u201d them, whether that\u2019s about background, identity, or something else?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.8; text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #e06d00;\">Samantha:<\/span> <\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.8; text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0;\">You need to be picky with <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><a style=\"color: #ff6600;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/how-to-find-the-right-therapist-a-step-by-step-guide\/\">choosing your therapist<\/a><\/span>. [This means] reflecting on what is important to you, whether that be a therapist\u2019s lived experience or, again, <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><a style=\"color: #ff6600;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/learn-about-therapy\/types\">their specialty<\/a><\/span>, and their ability to help you.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.8; text-align: left; margin-top: 12px; margin-bottom: 0;\">Therapists tailor their education and experience to certain areas, and it\u2019s important to find a really good fit that way. The foundation of that is essentially based on trust. That\u2019s going to impact your therapeutic result over time. Trust in the relationship is the number one indicator for success in therapy. It\u2019s important to just find a therapist who has the education and experience to support you with the challenge that you\u2019re facing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- QA 4 --><\/p>\n<div style=\"padding: 18px 18px 16px; border-radius: 16px; border: 1px solid rgba(148,163,184,0.5); background: linear-gradient(135deg, rgba(224,109,0,0.06), rgba(155,169,23,0.02)); box-shadow: 0 10px 26px rgba(15,23,42,0.06);\">\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.8; text-align: left; margin-top: 0;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #9ba917;\">Q:<\/span> If you had to explain your therapy approach in one sentence, what would you say makes your work with clients unique?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.8; text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #e06d00;\">Samantha:<\/span> <\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.8; text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0;\">I really value authenticity in my approach. Going back to the therapeutic relationship, I think that authenticity helps me really connect with clients, and it should make the therapy experience feel a lot more comfortable. That\u2019s really important when it comes to therapeutic work and therapeutic growth.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- QA 5 --><\/p>\n<div style=\"padding: 18px 18px 16px; border-radius: 16px; border: 1px solid rgba(148,163,184,0.5); background: linear-gradient(135deg, rgba(155,169,23,0.06), rgba(224,109,0,0.025)); box-shadow: 0 10px 26px rgba(15,23,42,0.06);\">\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.8; text-align: left; margin-top: 0;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #9ba917;\">Q:<\/span> From your experience, what\u2019s a sign that a client and therapist are a good fit?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.8; text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #e06d00;\">Samantha:<\/span> <\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.8; text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0;\">You want to check in with yourself and ask: how comfortable do I feel talking to this person? I\u2019d say that\u2019s the number one assessor for fit.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.8; text-align: left; margin-top: 12px; margin-bottom: 0;\">Obviously, this is a new person you\u2019re not going to feel 100% comfortable right off the bat, but there should be a little bit of ease there when it comes to starting a new therapeutic relationship. And then in terms of fit, again, look at their specialties, their background, their experience supporting other people who\u2019ve struggled with the same challenges that you\u2019ve faced.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- Section Divider with Label --><\/p>\n<div style=\"display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 12px; margin: 32px 0 20px;\">\n<div style=\"flex: 1; height: 1px; background: linear-gradient(to right, transparent, #9BA917);\"><\/div>\n<h2 style=\"margin: 0; font-size: 22px; color: #111827; text-align: center; white-space: nowrap;\">Driving Growth With Authenticity<\/h2>\n<div style=\"flex: 1; height: 1px; background: linear-gradient(to left, transparent, #E06D00);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.8; text-align: left;\">Starting therapy can feel overwhelming, but it can help you work through challenges, create a safe space for real connection, and set goals for growth with a professional. Finding the right therapist might require some work and evaluation, but the benefits of working with someone who truly gets you are worth the effort.<\/p>\n<p><!-- Pull-Quote Style Highlight --><\/p>\n<div style=\"margin: 22px 0 26px; padding: 18px 20px; border-radius: 16px; background: #f8fbf0; border: 1px solid rgba(155,169,23,0.4); position: relative; overflow: hidden;\">\n<div style=\"position: absolute; inset: 0; opacity: 0.09; background: radial-gradient(circle at top left, #9BA917, transparent 60%); pointer-events: none;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div style=\"font-size: 38px; line-height: 0.6; color: rgba(155,169,23,0.8); margin-bottom: 8px;\">\u201c<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.8; margin: 0; color: #374151;\"><em>We\u2019re so grateful to Samantha for joining us as one of the first featured therapists in the GoodTherapy Member Spotlight series. Her perspective on authenticity, trust, and connection underscores what makes therapy such a powerful space for growth and self-understanding.<\/em><\/h3>\n<div style=\"font-size: 38px; line-height: 0.6; color: rgba(155, 169, 23, 0.8); margin-bottom: 8px; text-align: right;\">\u201c<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.8; text-align: left; margin-top: 0;\">To find an experienced, licensed therapist through GoodTherapy, explore our catalog of therapists by location, specialty, and more.<\/p>\n<div style=\"margin: 32px 0 20px; padding: 22px 26px; border-radius: 18px; background: linear-gradient(135deg, #fff7f0, #fdf3e6); border: 1px solid rgba(224,109,0,0.35); box-shadow: 0 12px 28px rgba(15,23,42,0.08); display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 14px;\">\n<div style=\"text-align: center; flex: 1 1 220px;\">\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0.16em; text-transform: uppercase; color: #9ba917; margin-bottom: 4px;\"><strong>Ready to take the next step?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"font-size: 17px; color: #4b5563; margin-bottom: 12px;\"><strong>Connect with a licensed, experienced therapist near you.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3><a style=\"display: inline-flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; gap: 8px; padding: 10px 22px; border-radius: 999px; background: linear-gradient(135deg, #E06D00, #f59532); color: #ffffff; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 600; text-decoration: none; box-shadow: 0 10px 20px rgba(224,109,0,0.35);\" href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/find-therapist.html\"><strong>Find a Therapist<\/strong><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 18px; line-height: 1;\">\u279c<\/span><br \/>\n<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.8; text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0;\"><em>If you\u2019re a GoodTherapy member and are interested in participating in our Member Spotlight series, please reach out to <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><a style=\"color: #ff6600;\" href=\"mailto:editor@goodtherapy.org\">editor@goodtherapy.org<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As part of our new GoodTherapy Member Spotlight series, we?re excited to introduce Samantha Mirarchi, director and founder of Wild Sage Therapy. This series highlights therapists who are eager to offer insight into the therapy experience and share valuable perspectives on how to make mental health care more approachable and authentic. &nbsp; In this interview, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3218,"featured_media":44416,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[598,569,2095],"tags":[2895,2055,2892,2891,2896,2890,2135,2897,2899,1232,644,2894,1825,2900,2893,1118,1165,2898],"class_list":["post-44411","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interviews","category-faq","category-find-therapist","tag-authenticity-in-therapy","tag-choosing-a-therapist","tag-finding-a-good-therapist","tag-first-therapy-session","tag-goodtherapy-member-spotlight","tag-how-to-find-the-right-therapist","tag-mental-health-support","tag-samantha-mirarchi","tag-starting-counseling","tag-starting-therapy","tag-therapeutic-relationship","tag-therapy-fit","tag-therapy-for-beginners","tag-therapy-interview","tag-therapy-tips","tag-trust-in-therapy","tag-what-to-expect-in-therapy","tag-wild-sage-therapy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44411","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3218"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44411"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44411\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44416"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44411"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44411"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44411"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}