About Sam
Curious about people. Passionate about possibility.
I’m Stefani — though pretty much everyone calls me Sam. I’m a coach, a writer, and a graduate student in positive psychology who has never quite outgrown asking “but why?”
My path into this work
I’ve always been fascinated by people. Why do we think the way we do? Why do we behave the way we do? And why can two people experience the exact same situation and walk away with completely different perspectives?
That curiosity led me to earn my bachelor’s degree in psychology, but some of my most meaningful lessons have come from life itself. Parenting, marriage, neurodivergence, and military family life have taught me just as much about human behavior as any textbook.
Professionally, I spent three years in pediatric mental health coaching, supporting children and families navigating anxiety, OCD, and behavioral challenges. Using approaches drawn from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure and response prevention (ERP), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), I learned how powerful it can be when people feel understood and have practical tools that actually fit their lives.
I’m a Certified Mental Health Coach, pursuing National Board Certification in Health & Wellness Coaching (NBC-HWC), and currently earning my master’s in positive psychology. I’m especially interested in neurodivergence, strengths-based parenting, military family transitions, and resilience — topics that are deeply personal as well as professional.
I’m also writing Taking Off the Uniform, a memoir about military family life, marriage, transition, and rebuilding a life together, with a hoped-for release in 2027.
At the heart of everything I do is one belief: sometimes meaningful change begins with seeing things differently.
That’s the idea behind The Soles Perspective.
A little more about me
I live in a small town in Georgia with my husband, our two kids, and a slightly ridiculous collection of animals who seem convinced they’re running the household.
A good day involves coffee, a little quiet, getting lost in a book or an interesting idea, writing, and spending time with the people I love. I’m endlessly curious, ask entirely too many questions, and have a habit of challenging things simply because someone says, “That’s how it’s always been done.”
After years of balancing a career, parenting, and everyone else’s needs, I’m learning to make more room for the things that bring me joy, too.
I believe in science, compassion, humor, and the freedom to figure things out as we go. I don’t believe growth requires perfection, and I think life is a whole lot more interesting when we’re willing to question our assumptions.
And somewhere between graduate school, writing a memoir, raising two kids, and managing our miniature zoo, I’m trying to remember that the point of building a meaningful life is to actually enjoy living it.
Preferably with good coffee and at least one day when the laundry gets folded.
A note on what I’m not: I’m not a licensed therapist or psychologist, and I don’t diagnose or treat mental health conditions. I’m a coach who loves research and believes it belongs in everyday life.
Background
- Certified Mental Health Coach
- Pursuing National Board Certification in Health & Wellness Coaching (NBC-HWC), expected March 2027
- Advanced training in CBT for anxiety and OCD
- Bachelor’s degree in Psychology
- Graduate student pursuing a Master’s in Positive Psychology
- Three years in pediatric mental health coaching, drawing on CBT, ERP, and ACT approaches
- Experience supporting children and families navigating anxiety, OCD, and behavioral challenges
- Writing a memoir, Taking Off the Uniform (hoped-for release in 2027)
Curious about
Off the record
A Few Things About Me
the fun part ↓
My coffee order
Cold brew with Irish cream and cold foam.
On my nightstand
Currently reading The Upside of Your Dark Side. The one I always recommend? The Throne of Glass series.
A question I can’t stop asking
How am I simultaneously writing a memoir, getting a master’s degree, raising two kids, managing a small farm, and planning a business — but I still can’t seem to remember where I put my ADHD meds?
Unexpected fact
I can keep two kids, a husband, three dogs, a cat, chickens, ducks, and a bearded dragon alive. But give me a houseplant, and suddenly I’m a person of interest.
Behavioral Alchemy Lab
A future research and education initiative exploring how psychological science can become accessible, useful tools for everyday life — turning findings into practices, and questions into experiments worth trying.
It’s early days: right now the Lab is a notebook full of ideas, not an organization. If you’re a researcher, educator, or fellow curious mind who’d like to follow along or collaborate someday, I’d love to hear from you.
Start a conversation
so, what’s on your mind?
Let’s explore what’s possible.
Whether you’re interested in coaching, collaborating, or starting a conversation, I’d love to hear from you.