Clinical Psychologist
Background and Education
Dr. Samuel (Sam) Jeannite is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in work with children, adolescents, and families. He earned his doctorate in School Psychology/Clinical Child Psychology from Pace University. His clinical training includes internships at Nassau University Medical Center and MercyFirst Residential Treatment Facility. Dr. Sam has worked in hospital, residential, and therapeutic day treatment settings, including as a treating psychologist and coordinator at the League Education and Day Treatment Center in Brooklyn, NY.
Professional Experience
Dr. Sam works with children, adolescents, parents, and families, as well as adults facing significant life stressors. He supports clients experiencing a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and developmental challenges.
His areas of expertise include:
Anxiety, Depression, and Trauma
Dr. Sam provides evidence-based interventions such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Mentalization-Based Treatment (MBT), and Exposure and Response Prevention (ExRP).
Behavioral and Emotional Dysregulation
He utilizes parent coaching, family therapy, and SPACE, including its adaptations for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (SPACE-ARFID) and failure to launch (SPACE-FTL), to address difficulties with anxiety, behavior, mood regulation, and family dynamics.
Autism and Other Neurodiversity
He works within a neuroaffirming lens to support kids and adults of all neurotypes.
School and Social Challenges
Dr. Sam works with individuals experiencing school refusal, executive functioning difficulties, and social skill deficits, incorporating therapy techniques to support skill development and emotional growth.
Transracial Adoption and Identity Development
Dr. Sam also supports children, adolescents, and families navigating transracial adoption. He helps parents and young people explore issues of identity, belonging, and cultural connection in an affirming and developmentally sensitive way, fostering open communication and emotional security within the family.
In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Sam is an Assistant Professor at Pace University, where he teaches, supervises graduate students, and conducts research. His scholarship focuses on improving mental health access for Haitian-American communities and on developing group treatments to build social skills in children through tools like comic books. Dr. Sam is bilingual in English and Haitian-Creole and provides therapy in both languages. He works with many clients of diverse backgrounds and identities.
Current Clinical Focus and Philosophy
Dr. Sam believes that every individual views the world through a unique lens, and he tailors therapy to reflect each person’s perspective and needs. His approach emphasizes collaboration, cultural responsiveness, and practicality, integrating evidence-based interventions to help clients process emotions, navigate stressors, and build long-term coping strategies.
Individual Therapy for Children and Adolescents
He provides personalized therapy that fosters confidence, resilience, and emotional growth in children and adolescents. Using evidence-based techniques, he tailors each session to the child’s unique needs, incorporating play therapy, cognitive-behavioral strategies, and emotional regulation skills to foster growth and self-awareness in a supportive environment.
Group Social Skills Therapy for Children
Dr. Sam runs a popular social skills group centered on comic books for children 8–11 years old. This treatment group improves communication skills, friendship building and maintenance, emotion regulation, and coping strategies.
Family Therapy and Parent Coaching
Recognizing the central role of family in children’s well-being, Dr. Sam offers family therapy and structured parent coaching to strengthen communication, establish healthy boundaries, develop effective parenting strategies, and improve coping strategies at home.
Individual Therapy for Adults
Dr. Sam also works with adults navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, and stress, offering grounded, evidence-based support that balances exploration of the past with a focus on present challenges.
Outside of work, Dr. Sam enjoys movies, music, comic books, and sci-fi novels. He is always ready to dive into discussions of superhero lore or the latest developments in pop culture.