We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Samantha Silverman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Samantha below.
Samantha, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
My confidence and self esteem was nurtured and acquired through resiliency and hardship.
Growing up, I had 0 confidence and self-esteem. My one sibling-my extraordinary younger brother-was diagnosed with a rare form of meningitis and encephalitis when he was a toddler. He barely survived, rendering him with permanent brain damage. To cope, my father turned to drug abuse and extramarital affairs, which caused a marital rift. My steadfast mother raised us on a teacher’s salary and financial support from her close friends.
My childhood was difficult-I was bullied at school for having a big nose and the mean kids dubbed me “Toucan Sam”. I found solace in artwork and my mother gifted me my first art studio-the tiny slanted closet under our townhome staircase.
I was shy, quiet, and always hid in the background; walking with a slumped posture and low hanging head to hide my nose.
As I grew up, I slowly started challenging myself. Thanks to my mom, I always had a close-knit group of loving friendships. I started working at 12 years old and worked odd jobs throughout middle, high school, and college.
After 9/11, I was a shell of my former self and developed horrid PTSD and insomnia, I struggled with low motivation, no energy, anxiety and depression.
I sought out various mental health professionals who all played a role in who I am today. Incorporating a slew of mental health modalities-including physical fitness, journaling, mindfulness, talk therapy, and more. Through acquired insight, emotional intelligence, and self discovery, I slowly pieced together the tortured fragments of my life and moved towards healing.
Resiliency in the aftermath of trauma catapulted my confidence and self-esteem. I conquered Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and developed Post Traumatic Growth.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am the very proud owner of a mid size behavioral health company called Silver Linings Counseling https://www.silverliningsmh.com
I started SLC as a solopreneur in 2017 to placate a community pain point-mental health for older adults and those with disabilities. We have since expanded and now have 11 therapists, accept Medicare, Medicaid, and most major insurances. We provide virtual counseling services to all residents of Colorado, regardless of geographical location.
I am also launching a Post Traumatic Growth platform in the upcoming months. I will focus on coaching, teaching, and educating those who have experienced trauma. Through psychoeducation and other healing proponents, I will inspire individuals to move towards resiliency in the aftermath of trauma. Through my personal and professional experiences, I am passionate about helping others overcome traumatic obstacles and achieve self actualization.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Three impactful qualities/skills that have been the most impactful in my journey have been: Motivation, Emotional Intelligence, and Perseverance
Intrinsic motivation comes from within and is driven by your own internal desires and values. By aligning your goals with your passions and interests, you can develop a strong sense of motivation and find joy in the process of achieving your goals.
Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage one’s own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. It involves the ability to use emotional information to guide thought and behavior, and to adapt to different situation.
Perseverance is the ability to persist in pursuing a goal or task despite facing obstacles, setbacks, or difficulties. It is often associated with traits such as resilience, grit, and determination.
I would advise those early in their journey to recognize that you are a constantly evolving human being. You are not the same person you will be in 10 years, will be a different version of yourself in 20 years, and an even more evolved YOU in 30 years.
Ideas, notions, and advice heeded at this time of your life may be discarded only to be reclaimed again in your future life. Keep a journal so you have your own personal time capsule.
Embrace who you are today. Every year, push yourself a bit more out of your comfort zone to confront a new challenge. Foster relationships, seek consult, and always be humble and gracious.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I am always looking to foster and grow my community. I value colleague inter-connectedness, communication, and support. I love collaborating with other providers-whether therapists or primary care providers. Continuity of patient care is so integral to wholistic health.
I also love nurturing long-standing relationships with other therapists. By working collaboratively, we can can tap into a wider range of resources and expertise, leading to more creative, innovative, and successful outcomes.
I am currently in major marketing mode and looking to strengthen my online presence. I will be creating a Post Traumatic Growth training module this year and would love to build an online community who is interested in learning about Post Traumatic Growth.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.silverliningsmh.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/silver_linings_counseling/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SilverLiningsCounselingLLC/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-silverman-lcsw-6927ba184/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SilverLiningsMH
Image Credits
Michael and Brooke Allen-Kent https://allen-kentphotography.com/
