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.
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.
Live Interview
Watch the conversation with Samantha
Q&A with Samantha Mirarchi
Q: What would you want someone who’s never been to therapy before to know about starting therapy or attending the first session?
Samantha:
It doesn’t have to be as scary as it sounds. In terms of choosing a therapist, the vibe has to be right. That’s 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.
It doesn’t have to be super scary or overwhelming. The first session is usually just the therapist getting to know you, gathering information so that they can best support you. There’s no pressure to share everything all at once.
Q: If someone feels like something’s off but they can’t quite put their finger on it, how can therapy help them find clarity and direction?
Samantha:
That’s such a big deterrent for starting therapy for a lot of people, because it’s like “maybe my problem’s not big enough,” or “because I can’t articulate exactly what’s wrong, how is somebody going to help me?”
Having the space to just talk through and explore what that looks like for you can help bring clarity into what’s 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’s 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.
Q: Why is it important for people to find therapists who truly “get” them, whether that’s about background, identity, or something else?
Samantha:
You need to be picky with choosing your therapist. [This means] reflecting on what is important to you, whether that be a therapist’s lived experience or, again, their specialty, and their ability to help you.
Therapists tailor their education and experience to certain areas, and it’s important to find a really good fit that way. The foundation of that is essentially based on trust. That’s going to impact your therapeutic result over time. Trust in the relationship is the number one indicator for success in therapy. It’s important to just find a therapist who has the education and experience to support you with the challenge that you’re facing.
Q: If you had to explain your therapy approach in one sentence, what would you say makes your work with clients unique?
Samantha:
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’s really important when it comes to therapeutic work and therapeutic growth.
Q: From your experience, what’s a sign that a client and therapist are a good fit?
Samantha:
You want to check in with yourself and ask: how comfortable do I feel talking to this person? I’d say that’s the number one assessor for fit.
Obviously, this is a new person you’re 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’ve struggled with the same challenges that you’ve faced.
Driving Growth With Authenticity
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.
To find an experienced, licensed therapist through GoodTherapy, explore our catalog of therapists by location, specialty, and more.
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If you’re a GoodTherapy member and are interested in participating in our Member Spotlight series, please reach out to editor@goodtherapy.org
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