Hannah Samaha

(she/her)

In-person therapy at two Chicagoland locations;
virtual therapy anywhere in Illinois

How I’d describe myself: caring, curious, thoughtful, and determined, with a witty sense of humor
I come from a large, diverse family, with family members of Lebanese, Irish, Japanese, Chinese, and Ethiopian descent
I love to read and my bookshelves have everything from true crime novels to historical romances
I almost always have music playing and my taste is wide-ranging; if you were to put my Spotify on shuffle you might hear ten different genres in the first ten songs
I am a lawyer with a background in civil rights and criminal law
I feel most present and at peace when I am by the ocean (or lakes!)
I have a love of wordplay and letter games, which I bonded with my grandpa over as we did the newspaper’s word jumble together everyday when I was growing up
My creativity shines through fashion, home design, and writing

“We think that the point is to pass the test or overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don't really get solved. They come together and they fall apart. Then they come together again and fall apart again. It's just like that. The healing comes from letting there be room for all of this to happen: room for grief, for relief, for misery, for joy.”

― Pema Chödrön

Hi! I’m Hannah, and I’m glad you’re here.

Life is wonderful, messy, complicated, and imperfect. We all have different experiences and personalities, and with that comes different perspectives, struggles, and strengths. I believe that times of discomfort are also key times for growth and learning.

Therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all, and there’s no one “right” way to be human. I’m here to help individuals and couples in a way that recognizes and honors your unique human differences and individuality.

I’m here to listen and help.

Being a human is hard, and everyone experiences pain, setbacks, and uncomfortable moments of growth. I find that these experiences are often present in times of change, and so I’m especially interested in working with individuals and couples during life transitions.

In our sessions, I’ll meet you where you are and help you get to where you’d like to be by creating a welcoming space and leading with curiosity—never judgement.

Only by letting go of the pursuit of perfection can lasting, meaningful progress be made. Healing and self-growth are a lifelong journey filled with ups and downs, and I would love to be a part of yours!

Qualifications

Current MSW student at the University of Chicago’s School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice
Graduate of the University of Chicago Law School, with clinical experience in juvenile justice and criminal defense
Undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, with a particular interest in abnormal, forensic, and social psychology