Meet Samantha Hoover | Licensed Professional Counselor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Samantha Hoover and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Samantha, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Connections. Not just professional, but personal, too. In any field, but especially the mental health field, having a team of people you can go to for support and referrals is incredibly important. I’ve been building a network of counselors I trust in case I need to refer a client, which is one part of the job that’s vital. I see mainly individuals, so if a client has a need for couples therapy, I better be sure the colleague I’m referring my client to is a good one and I feel confident entrusting a client with them.

As far as personal connections, I like call my support team my Board of Directors. Cute, right? I have someone who I go to for accounting advice, business perspective, counseling crisis consultation, marketing strategies, and then multiple people for emotional support. Being a one-man shop can be really daunting and isolating, so I’ve found it to be super helpful to have a team of trusted people that have your back. It takes a village to make a counselor, let alone a business.

I’ve always envisioned myself having my own business… I just never really believed I could do it. It can be scary! And it’s easy to compare yourself to others. Which is where my Board of Directors come in. That’s my biggest piece of advice: If you’re navigating something new and scary, equip yourself with people who can support you.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Becoming a therapist is no joke. When I tell people the Master’s program was 3 years, I’m usually met with a joke about if I’m sure I’m not a PhD. Nope. It takes 3 years to get a MS in Counseling Psychology, coupled with a few semesters of practicum, followed by an 18-month associateship, until you’re fully licensed. Which basically means lots of learning, lots of hours, and lots of experience. I started grad school thinking I wanted to do couples work, and quickly found out that was not what I was created for. I hopped, jumped, and skipped around different counseling focuses, but ultimately landed in two: career counseling and attachment relationships in young adults and adolescents. I see a lot of people who have anxiety that manifests as a “failure to launch” in their 20s, showing up as career stagnation or relationship issues. It’s been really rewarding to be able to help those who need some support in this area. Course I have some experience in these two subjects, as well. I remember being petrified to pursue a Master’s degree, lots of imposter syndrome and thinking I wouldn’t have the endurance to see it through. I floundered a bit in high school and undergrad, knowing I wanted to do something meaningful with my career, but feeling stuck and not good enough. Everything seemed so far out of reach. Until I met a mentor who helped me figure out my skills, my interests, and how to pair the two things together. 8 years later, it has been an incredible privilege to help others in a similar spot find their purpose, too.

I see mostly Millennials and Gen Zs who are struggling with identity, anxiety, insecurities, and life transitions (like breakups, dating, new jobs, navigating friendships). Trauma is usually interwoven somewhere in our history, and I work to help clients redefine their story and make meaning of their life. I live by planting the seed of hope–it only takes a little bit to change our perspective.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I consider myself a bit boring… so my list will definitely not be as exhaustive or cool as others. But…
I’d probably suggest a coffee shop tour, and compare different coffees in DFW. Start with something like Native Coffee Co in Dallas, then check out Pax and Beneficia in Irving, and end our tour with the best coffee shop in DFW, Edison Coffe Co in Flower Mound.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Definitely my grad school program at Southern Methodist University. Amazing teachers, intense program, and I left with so many lifelong friends and colleagues. Pony up!

Website: www.samanthahoovercounseling.com

Instagram: samanthahoovercounseling

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthahoover/

Other: Psychology Today Profile: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/samantha-hoover-allen-tx/791270