Cornelius, NC

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Our newest location and the home of our second Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Program. Set in beautiful Cornelius minutes walk to the lake and Robbins Park. 

Samantha is our Cornelius Leadership team Member. She sees clients in our office on Village Harbor drive or virtually anywhere in NC. Samantha's specialties are eating disorders, teens, and couples. She is an integral part of our Intensive Outpatient program team providing leadership and supervision to our IOP staff. If you would like to schedule a session with Samantha call (919) 893-9444 option 1.

As your therapist, you are my focus and we will work together to build a life that you deserve and find fulfillment in.  We will explore why we do what we do, not with judgment but with compassion. All behaviors make sense and you will gain insight to explain behaviors and learn to heal from previous hurts. There is no room for judgement in my sessions, we are learning the root causes of unskillful behaviors and how to interact in the world, develop healthy relationships, all while maintaining your needs and acting in congruence with your values. We will create goals for therapy and celebrate the successes (large or small), and continue to build on the progress.  

I have years of experience working with adolescents, family conflict, eating disorders, parenting challenges, and couples. 

My therapy style is client focused and I use a wide variety of techniques to tailor to the clients needs. 

I am a family therapist by training and use a Structural Family Therapy approach to identify the needs of the family system, identify the problematic cycles and the internal strengths, and improve the overall functioning. I can help families learn to manage the challenges of parenting adolescents with big feelings in a safe relationship that develops trust and respect. 

I teach my clients healthy coping skills with a blend of cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy. You will learn how to allow space for being uncomfortable and gain confidence to be able to regulate your emotions and not let your emotions control you.  Emotional progress is not linear and I will be here with you during the ups and downs. 

As your therapist, my goal first and foremost 

is to ensure that you feel deeply seen, heard, and understood. Many individuals seek therapy because they are suffering in some way, and I am here to remind you that you do not have to go through this chapter alone. From an existential lens, suffering is an innate part of life. However, we can create meaning in this suffering and forge a new path. When we become victims of our suffering over prolonged periods of time, we are powerless. When we create meaning from suffering, we are powerful. 

Whether you are struggling with anxiety, depression, substance use, life transitions or purpose, we will find meaning and solutions together.  I utilize an eclectic blend of approaches such as existentialism, internal family systems, and motivational interviewing to cater to your specific desires and needs. We will walk this path as fellow travelers. Let’s take the first step together.

As a former middle and high school teacher Suzanne brings a weath of experience and insight into the many day to day challenges her teeen and tween clients are dealing with. 

 Hello! My name is Dessi Caldwell. I am a therapist intern here at Krippa Family Psychological & Wellness Services in Cornelius, NC. I have developed a passion in working with the youth demographic. Therapy is a process and it takes going backwards and navigating through the uncomfortable or unknown to be able to move forward. It’s important to collaborate with the whole family during treatment to figure out how to best support the client in need. 

Play Therapist

Adolescent Intensive Outpatient for teens 11-18