Nina Horne, MPP

Nina Horne is a public policy expert, social entrepreneur, mental health advocate, and Samara’s founder. Most important, she’s a mom who’s been there and back.

Nina has devoted her career to social and emotional skill-building and fostering effective communication, providing a high-touch, strengths-based, whole-family support system that reduces counterproductive behavior and turmoil, and increases resiliency, hope, and ease. In addition, Nina is recognized for her work improving processes, communication, and effectiveness within large public and private organizations, with an emphasis on enhancing positive outcomes for all.

This diverse background in public service, academics, and engaged, strategic motherhood has become an invaluable game-changer for families in crisis.

Jacob Towery, MD

Dr, Jacob Towery is a pediatric and adult psychiatrist and who serves on the Adjunct Clinical Faculty at Stanford University. He was a psychology major at Duke University for undergraduate, then attended the University of Virginia for medical school, then did his adult psychiatry residency at Stanford, followed by a two year fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at Stanford. In 2008, he received the Gold Humanism Award for Humanism and Excellence in Teaching.

Tess Brigham, LMFT, BCC

Tess Brigham is a Licensed Psychotherapist and Board-Certified Coach and specializes in helping Millennials discover their unique life path so they can go out into the world and make an impact. She helps other early-career professionals navigate the same quarter-life crisis process and has been dubbed the ‘Millennial Therapist’ by CNBC.

With over 15 years of experience, Tess has helped thousands of people find their purpose, develop their confidence and create a life they’re excited about living. Identifying your issues is one thing, taking action to get past them is another. Tess’s rare combination of being a trained psychotherapist and a certified coach make her uniquely qualified to help young adults find clarity so they can confidently discover their path and make an impact on the world.

Vania Matheus, MA, MS

Vania Matheus is founder of V. Matheus – Therapeutic & Educational Consulting. Vania holds an M.A. in School Counseling from La Sierra University and an M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Loma Linda University. In her ten year practice as a consultant, Vania has helped hundreds of families allocate appropriate treatment options for teens and young adults struggling with mental and behavioral health issues. Vania is an expert in researching, designing and implementing interventions. Her knowledge of therapeutic programs and resources is extensive.

Her expertise with teens, young adults, and their families comes from experience working in a variety of therapeutic settings, including: Clinical Therapist for the Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Program and Dual Diagnosis Partial Hospitalization Program at Loma Linda University Behavioral Medicine Center; Child and Adolescent Clinical Social Worker at St. Helena Hospital; and Family Therapist at Caritas Counseling. Having developed a resiliency and strength-based approach to transitioning students home, post-treatment, Vania holds expertise and experience in helping families navigate the challenges young people and their families face when a young person returns home after treatment.

Tyler Sack, M. Ed., ET/P

Tyler Sack has a  Masters of Education degree from Holy Names University and a B.A. degree in Sociology from Wellesley College. She is certified by the Association of Educational Therapists.  In addition to her private practice, she is a Learning Specialist for an independent school. She works with students, teachers, administration and families to provide learning plans that are practical to implement and enable students to do their best learning. She works with college counselors, students and families to prepare the student for the level of independence needed in college and life after high school.

“As an Educational Therapist I meet students as they are.  We work together to identify and fill gaps in their education and develop strategies that will enhance their learning experiences.  For some students the struggle is with processing information, for others it accessing content from memory, and for others it is in getting the ideas out in a form that will demonstrate their mastery of the material.  Through observation, assessment and partnered learning, the student develops a solid foundation and clarity about how to approach learning. This clarity paves the way for successful learning.”

Kara Scanlon, M. Ed, ET/P

Kara Scanlon is an educational therapist who specializes in support of: Mathematics including Statistics, Arithmetic, Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Geometry , Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Physics and other topics. She also has a background in study skills issues including organization, time management, planning, and other executive function issues.

Kara works with school-age children, adolescents, and adults who want additional assistance in their learning or social environments. Her training allows her to work effectively with students with diagnoses of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) inattentive and/or hyperactive type, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), processing disabilities/difference, math anxiety, generalized anxiety, and learning disabilities/differences including dyslexia and dyscalculia. She provides consultations, individual sessions, parent support, educational evaluations, and teacher trainings.

Andrew Vargas-Delman

Andrew Vargas-Delman is an experienced coach, tutor and mentor to teens and college students. He began his career providing academic support, but quickly developed an interest in whole-person mentoring and coaching. After receiving his B.A. in Cognitive Science and Spanish from Johns Hopkins, Andrew co-founded an educational company, North Coast Prep, in Marin County. There, Andrew continued learning about teens and how to support their academic, emotional and social well-being. He takes a strengths-based coaching approach, empowering young people to draw on their own natural wisdom and unique strengths.

As a content developer, Andrew has created workbooks, guides, articles and graphic organizers to support his students’ success. These materials have helped students in the college application process, to increase their self-awareness, and more. Thus, he brings a wealth of knowledge to Samara, which he uses to develop relevant, useful and evidence-based content. In addition to Samara, Andrew works with individuals and businesses to improve their emotional intelligence and communication skills so they can resolve conflict and build healthier relationships.

Robert Carroll

Robert Carroll is a father of two, an experienced coach, and a successful entrepreneur. He understands the real world challenges of balancing the dynamics that ensure healthy families while performing under the pressures of today’s demanding business environment.

Robert was trained at the Teleos Leadership Institute and is a member of the International Coach Federation. He brings a deep understanding of family communication, personal resiliency, and entrepreneurial experience to his coaching. For over 15 years he navigated the demands of single parenthood while working at both Fortune 500 companies and start-ups.

As a peer coach, Robert enables fathers to leverage emotional intelligence and communication skills to help enhance family well-being and growth. Robert passionately believes that fathers play a key role in modeling healthy behaviors, emotional resilience, personal responsibility, and purpose.