Samantha Calvillo, LCSW, DSW

My name is Dr. Samantha Calvillo (she/her), and I’m a licensed clinical social worker and trauma therapist offering culturally grounded, affirming therapy for adults in California. I specialize in working with Latina survivors of sexual trauma and second-generation Latinas/os who are navigating the complexity of culture, healing, and identity.

My practice, Sábila Psychotherapy, is named after the Spanish word for aloe vera—a plant renowned for its profound healing properties and cultural significance. I chose this name intentionally, as a reflection of my commitment to supporting clients in reconnecting with their inner wisdom, their culture, and their capacity for healing.

I was born and raised in a small agricultural town in Central California, where I witnessed both the beauty and the burdens that often come with tight-knit families, generational expectations, and navigating bicultural identities. Now based in Los Angeles, I offer in-person therapy in West LA as well as online therapy across California. My therapeutic style is warm, collaborative, and trauma-informed. I believe that healing occurs in relationships—and that therapy should be a space where you feel fully seen and supported.

I have over five years of experience in the field of social work and mental health. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, a Master’s in Social Welfare, and a Doctorate in Social Work, with a capstone project focused on understanding the unique needs of Latina survivors of sexual assault. My clinical experience includes working in community mental health, crisis response, medical settings, and now private practice. I draw from evidence-based approaches like EMDR, the Trauma Resiliency Model (TRM), and CBT, while always centering the client’s culture, values, and lived experiences.

Many of the clients I work with are processing relational, familial, or intergenerational trauma—often for the first time. Some are the first in their families to attend therapy. Others are navigating life transitions, such as the end of a relationship, leaving home for college, or the messy in-between period after graduation. Some struggle with persistent anxiety, self-doubt, or feeling like they’re “too much” or “not enough”—especially when trying to live in ways that feel different from what they were raised with.

My work is rooted in cultural humility and deep respect for the complexities of being Latino—especially in spaces where we’re often asked to compartmentalize or assimilate. I support clients in exploring how cultural values, such as familismo, marianismo, machismo, and spirituality, manifest in their lives—not to pathologize, but to understand and reclaim what serves them. Together, we work to make sense of what’s been inherited, what’s been painful, and what’s worth keeping.

I also want to note that while my focus is on serving the Latino community, I welcome individuals of all backgrounds who are seeking a safe, inclusive space to process trauma, manage anxiety, or reconnect with themselves during major life transitions.

Therapy with me is not about fixing you—it’s about creating space to hold what’s heavy, to honor your story, and to help you move through life with more self-trust, clarity, and compassion. I believe that healing is not a linear process, and I don’t expect perfection. Whether you’re coming to therapy feeling lost, tired, ashamed, angry, or hopeful—I’ll meet you where you are.

If you’re curious about working together, I invite you to reach out. I offer a free consultation and would be honored to hold space for your story.

Samantha Calvillo, DSW, LCSW