About Us
We do things differently here.
Meet Our Team
Dr. Samantha (Sam) Harris, Licensed Clinical Psychologist
(PSY34170) Founder & Clinical Director
Adolescence and young adulthood are among the most consequential periods of psychological development, and I have spent my career building the expertise to meet that complexity seriously.
My education and clinical training are extensive and deliberately multidisciplinary. My doctoral research examined body image and the use of the body to communicate preverbal psychological experience, an early indication of the questions about embodiment and self-expression that continue to organize my clinical thinking. Earning my doctorate at The Wright Institute in Berkeley meant beginning the slow work of becoming a clinician, training in psychotherapy and psychological assessment across university counseling centers and community mental health settings. My APA-accredited predoctoral internship at UC Riverside CAPS consisted of rigorous training in CBT, DBT, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and crisis response. As a postdoctoral fellow at Mount Saint Mary's University Counseling and Psychological Services, I had the honor of working with a remarkable group of students living with learning differences, complex trauma, anxiety, and disordered eating. I then began an associateship with Dr. Deanie Eichenstein in Beverly Hills, where I had the privilege of providing psychotherapy to children, adolescents, and parents. A genuine appetite for learning has driven my path throughout: specialized study in Family-Based Treatment for adolescent anorexia with James Lock at Stanford Medicine, and in Attachment-Focused EMDR through the Parnell Institute, sharpened my clinical range considerably. I am currently a candidate in Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy at The New Center for Psychoanalysis, which has deepened my theoretical sophistication and understanding of development.
My therapeutic style is warm, thoughtful, and direct. I founded Iris Therapy Center on the conviction that great therapy should not only alleviate symptoms, but help young people build the capacity for pleasure, for competence, for love, for work, and for play. A longstanding commitment to queer and gender-diverse youth and their families, rooted in years of study and direct experience that predate my clinical training, is central to this practice. I am passionate about working with parents and caregivers, and encourage you to reach out anytime to consult.
My own life also informs this work. Community, family life, friendship, and creative pursuits continually deepen my understanding of development and the human need for meaning. Vitality comes from both inner reflection and shared connection. That is what I hope to offer here.
Client Populations: Kids and Teens (5-17) | Young Adults (18-25) | Parents/Caregivers
Areas of Focus: Anxiety and Worry | Neurodivergence (e.g., ADHD, autism, and 2e) | Eating Disorders and Body Image | Gender-expansive youth | Digital Life and the Developing Mind | Complex Trauma, Medical Trauma, and Early Relational Trauma | Parent Work
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Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, The Wright Institute (APA-accredited)
APA Doctoral Internship, University of California, Riverside, Counseling and Psychological Services
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Mount Saint Mary's University, Counseling and Psychological Services
Family-Based Treatment Training for Adolescent Anorexia Nervosa, Stanford Medicine
Attachment-Focused EMDR Training, Parnell Institute
Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Program, New Center for Psychoanalysis (in progress)
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I’m an active member of professional organizations that support ongoing learning and high standards of care, including:
American Psychological Association (APA), including the Society of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology (Division 53 / SCCAP)
American Psychoanalytic Association (APsA)
International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (IAEDP)
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Nurturing Body Confidence in the Elementary Years
ADHD and Body Image: Understanding the Connection in Adolescent Girls
Body Dysmorphia and Gender Dysphoria: Clinical Distinctions and Interactions (for clinicians)
Body Image in the Consulting Room (for clinicians)
Raising Resilient Kids with Advantage: Psychology for High-Achieving Families
Dinah Farrell, Associate Marriage & Family Therapist
AMFT #157063, Supervised by Dr. Sam Harris, Psy.D.
It is meaningful for me to be a witness to a client's life and help them make sense of the world around them. Going to therapy as a young person can be intimidating and confusing given all of the challenges that young people face in today's world. I hope to provide a safe, guiding, and supportive space for them to flourish into adulthood.
I work with teens and young adults who find themselves needing extra support to navigate the turbulent emotions and circumstances that arise as one transitions to adulthood. Because teens and young adults are still in the early stages of life development, this is a fruitful and impactful time for them to be learning skills and awareness that will help them in adulthood.
My approach is primarily psychodynamic, which means I work with clients to unearth unconscious motivations and experiences that may be driving their life in a direction that no longer serves them. It is important to me to meet each client with a genuine curiosity, cultural humility, and non judgemental perspective. Through this, I am able to establish a strong therapeutic relationship with each client and this relationship provides stability and validation that promotes positive changes.
The experience of therapy can help build a sense of self exploration, awareness, and confidence that will positively influence a client's ability to thrive in the future. As a result of therapy, clients become more self compassionate, more motivated, and grow deeper and more satisfying relationships.
Populations Served: Preteens & Teens (ages 9–17) | Young Adults (ages 18–25) | Parents | Families
Focus Areas: Anxiety | Depression | ADHD | OCD | Perfectionism | Grief | Life Transitions
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Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Georgetown University
Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an Emphasis on Marriage and Family Therapy, Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology
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Psychodynamic/Depth Therapy
DBT-Informed
Family Systems Therapy
Humanistic/Client-Centered Therapy
Our Philosophy
Young people deserve therapists who understand that adolescence isn't a problem to solve, but a profound developmental stage that requires specialized knowledge and genuine respect.
At Iris, our role is to provide clinical expertise, developmental understanding, and trusted relationships so they can access their own wisdom.
We offer both practical skill-building and deeper therapeutic work to understand the patterns and meanings that shape relationships and sense of self.
We believe families are systems: when one person heals, everyone benefits.
What Sets Our Team Apart
Our practice is dedicated to preteens, adolescents, and emerging adults. We've built our expertise around understanding how the developing brain works and why this stage of life deserves specialized care.
Most importantly, we understand that the work young people do now to build confidence and resilience becomes the foundation for their adult lives.
We think of our work through the lens of an iris: the part of the eye that helps us see clearly and the flower that symbolizes growth. Our approach focuses on four key areas: identifying patterns, regulating emotions, integrating new skills, and sustaining change over time.
The Iris Lens
The iris helps us see clearly, and the flower symbolizes growth. We think of our work through both meanings: therapy as clarity and therapy as growth. Our work is guided by four essentials:
Identify: Bring emotions, patterns, and needs into focus
Regulate: Build tools to manage stress, mood, and anxiety with confidence
Integrate: Apply new insights in daily life and relationships
Sustain: Carry growth forward so change lasts
FAQs
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Sessions are 50 minutes and typically occur once or twice weekly. We determine frequency together, based on the specific needs of the treatment.
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Dr. Harris's fee is $300 per 50-minute session. Dinah Farrell, AMFT's fee is $180 per 50-minute session.
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We are “insurance friendly,” which means that we use a third party (Mentaya) to bill your claims to your insurance if you have out-of-network coverage. Many families with PPO plans receive partial or full reimbursement for our services.
How it works:
Your provider will send you a link to Mentaya to enter your insurance information and verify whether or not you have out-of-network coverage.
After each session, you will pay the full session fee in addition to a 5% claim processing fee.
Mentaya will submit the claims and mail you a reimbursement check and explanation of benefits.
If you prefer, you are able to submit claims to insurance yourself:
Pay for your session at the time of your appointment.
Request a monthly Superbill (detailed receipt) from your provider for you to submit to your insurance.
Your insurance company sends reimbursement directly to you (if you have out-of-network benefits).
Questions to ask your insurance company:
Do I have mental health benefits*?
What are my out-of-network benefits and reimbursement rate*?
What is my annual deductible, and how much have I met*?
How many therapy sessions are covered per year?
Do you cover telehealth sessions?
*Mentaya can verify this insurance information.
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We offer a limited number of sliding scale appointments for those for whom cost is a significant barrier. Please inquire by phone.
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We ask for 48 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or reschedule. Appointments cancelled with less than 48 hours’ notice are charged the full session fee. We understand emergencies happen and will take unexpected circumstances into account.
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The No Surprises Act requires health care providers to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance a Good Faith Estimate, a document explaining the expected cost for your non-emergency medical and mental health care. You can ask your healthcare provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service. Our current fee is always discussed before or during the initial session. Fees may be periodically adjusted with prior notice. If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
For more information on the No Surprises Act and your right to the Good Faith Estimate, click here. -
Yes. Family therapy helps improve communication and strengthen relationships. Parent coaching gives you tools to understand adolescent development and respond more effectively at home.
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Yes. We offer a comprehensive ADHD Support Program that includes individual therapy for your teen and parent coaching. This structured program typically runs 3-6 months and focuses on executive functioning skills, emotional regulation, and family support. Learn more on our ADHD Support Program page.
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At this time we are not offering any therapy groups. Group offerings change throughout the year, so please reach out to info@iristherapycenter.com for updates.
Ready to Begin?
We are here to support you. Start with a free 20-minute consultation to discuss your needs and see if we are the right fit.
