Sami Midwood, LMFT
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

Referral Relationship Manager (RRM)

Hello, I’m Sami, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT #160082).

I moved from Melbourne, Australia to San Diego in April 2024 and have been enjoying exploring everything this sunny state has to offer. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time in nature and with friends and family, as well as bird photography, gardening, baking, puzzles, crochet, and a good cup of tea.

Clinical Experience

Before moving to California, I worked as an Educational and Developmental Psychologist in Australia across private practice, schools, and outreach settings. I provided individual therapy, group programs, neurodevelopmental assessments and ran workshops, primarily working with, and supporting, autistic individuals.

Since moving to the U.S., I’ve continued working with individuals across the lifespan and have also begun seeing couples. In couples work, I support partners with communication, navigating conflict, and strengthening connection, and I incorporate Gottman-informed ideas where helpful.

Overall, my approach is collaborative, warm and grounded in empathy. I aim to create a space where people feel comfortable being themselves and talking openly, while also working toward practical, meaningful change. I help clients reconnect with their strengths and build new skills and strategies that fit their lives. I also work from a neurodiversity-affirming approach, focusing on understanding our brains and supporting each person’s unique way of thinking, processing, and experiencing the world. 

I commonly support clients with:

  • Anxiety (including OCD, social phobia, and selective mutism)

  • Depression and Low mood

  • Navigating neurodiversity (including Autism and ADHD)

  • Stress and life transitions

  • Self-esteem and confidence

  • Relationship and communication challenges

I draw from a range of evidence-based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), and Collaborative and Proactive Solutions (CPS). In my work with couples, I incorporate the above alongside Gottman-informed principles. 

Pronouns: she/her
Language: English

Location: scripps ranch

Licensure

California - LMFT160082, expiration 12/31/27

Education

Master of Educational and Developmental Psychology
Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
2015 Exchange Program at Warwick University, United Kingdom

Professional Affiliations  

Australian Psychological Society

Please note: Each individual therapist is responsible for the legal and ethical psychotherapy treatment of their own clients. The therapist on this page operates independently from other providers in this office.