Samara Wolpe, MA

Samara Wolpe is an educational psychologist who has extensive experience working with autistic and neurodivergent teens and young adults in clinical and educational settings. She is in her final year of her Ph.D. in Human Development and Psychology at UCLA, with a research focus on the transition to adulthood for autistic teens and young adults. Samara specializes in helping clients with expressive language skills, both written and verbal. As a published journalist, poet, and academic researcher, she has a broad range of writing experience and has taken college classes on personal essays, classic literature, and memoir writing. Samara loves working with clients on finding their voices in a variety of verbal and written mediums. In particular, Samara has published several articles in academic journals surrounding child development in autistic youth and has worked for many years in vocational programs helping autistic adults pursue their passions and obtain paid work.

Samara’s interest primarily lies in helping autistic teens and young adults make the transition out of high school and into adulthood by building strong skills of independence and self-advocacy, as well as endowing students and families with a clear understanding of their rights and options as they enter this exciting next stage of life. Samara has many years of experience as a teacher and assistant at Spectrum Laboratory, helping autistic young adults in film and music classes, as well as building their resumes and finding careers in the entertainment industry. She is also a PEERS® Certified Adolescent and School-based clinician, qualified to teach PEERS® social skills curriculum to those seeking to strengthen their friendships and relationships.

Samara is highly familiar with the Los Angeles private school system, and is an alumna of Milken Community High School. Her 12 years of Jewish school education have endowed her with a deep understanding of Jewish day schools, Jewish studies, and the unique experiences of students attending religious day schools.

Through her wide range of experiences, Samara has come to utilize a holistic, strengths-based approach, addressing quality of life not only through academic skills but through social and emotional skills to address broader quality of life for the client. She utilizes her background in social skills for autistic youth, cognitive behavioral therapy skills, and learning and memory science to reduce anxieties, build concrete skills for social and educational obstacles, and utilize strategies to improve organization.