Samantha Istakhorov

I believe that suffering is not an interruption to life but an intrinsic part of the human experience in a fallen world and that God meets us redemptively in our pain. My therapeutic approach is rooted in Integrative Systemic Therapy (IST), which I apply through the lens of gospel-centered biblical counseling. I engage clients at the intellectual level, helping them think deeply about their struggles while anchoring their hope in the sovereignty and goodness of God. My counseling integrates rigorous clinical methodology with the transformative truths of Scripture, helping clients find healing, meaning, and growth through their relationship with Christ. I am passionate about accompanying those who long to understand how faith speaks into their suffering.

Throughout my time as a Marriage and Family Therapist, I have provided treatment across several inpatient residential settings— including an eating disorder recovery center and a mood/anxiety disorder treatment facility— as well as private practice, community outreach, and substance use rehabilitation. This breadth of experience has equipped me to work with individuals, couples, and families navigating profound change and uncertainty. I am particularly drawn to working with clients facing identity concerns, life transitions, neurodivergence in relationships, depression/spiritual depression, and grief— contexts where people ask fundamental questions about who they are, what their lives mean, and how God meets them in suffering.

I am a member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and hold an LMFT-Associate license in Illinois and Texas. I completed my Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy at Northwestern University's The Family Institute and earned my Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Loyola University Chicago, with minors in English and Psychology.

After living in Chicago for many years, I am still discovering the rhythms of life in Houston and the South with my husband and young daughter. My husband is completing his PhD, and together we share a love for deep conversations, good books, and the joys (and challenges) of parenting. In my free time, I enjoy reading widely— from theology and philosophy to literature and poetry— and capturing beauty through photography and art.

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