Sam Kemp, AMFT
Creating Brave, Compassionate Spaces for Healing and Growth to Help You Flourish
“Mental health is a commitment to reality at all costs”
The world moves fast. We rarely get the chance to slow down and pay attention—to what we’re carrying, how we’re showing up, and what is shaping us. It is even more rare to find spaces where we can safely and honestly look at our past and present with compassion. But in a world of half-truths and deception, a “commitment to reality” fosters humility, honesty, and ultimately, healing.
Before becoming a therapist, I spent almost a decade in pastoral ministry, walking alongside a diverse community of families, adolescents, and young adults. I saw then, and still see today, faith as a spectrum—capable of both empowering and wounding, healing and hurting, restoring and marginalizing. The space between is often messy, grey, and complex.
I have witnessed the weight of disconnection—cycles of pain rooted in false narratives about ourselves and others. Yet, I have also seen the beauty of transformation—families breaking generational patterns they didn’t think they would ever break. People stepping into change, and reclaiming their voices and stories. That is why I do this work. Healing is possible. Growth is real, and you don’t have to walk the path alone.
My Counseling Philosophy
My approach is relational—rooted in warmth, compassion, and a deep commitment to truth. Pain has a way of shaping us, often in ways we don’t realize. Naming it, facing it, and moving through it is how we step into healing. Therapy is a vulnerable process, and vulnerability is a key to transformation. I believe in creating spaces of safety and courage where people can heal, grow, and step into who they are created and called to be.
Relationships can be difficult. We have an innate desire to be seen, known, and understood. And yet, so much of our pain is relational—messages we’ve internalized, wounds we carry, patterns we repeat. The good news is that healing is relational too. I’m committed to cultivating a space where clients can move from disconnection to wholeness, from feeling stuck to stepping into a life of peace and purpose.
Specializing In Therapy for Men & Couples Therapy
I work with men, couples, church leaders, and families seeking healing, wholeness, and flourishing. Many come to therapy feeling stuck and defeated—relationally, emotionally, or spiritually—wondering if real change is possible. I am committed to walking alongside you in that tension, helping you move from survival to a life of deeper connection, peace, and purpose.
I support people navigating depression, anxiety, relational strain and difficulties, spiritual issues, and trauma. Healing happens when we name the pain, understand the patterns, and step into new ways of living and relating.
I earned my Master’s in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Azusa Pacific University. I’m a Level 1 Restoration Therapist and trained in Level 1 of the Gottman Couples Method. Therapy is sacred work. Together, we’ll explore your story, untangle what’s keeping you stuck, and empower you to flourish. It would be an honor to hear your story and journey alongside you.
A Little More About Me…
When I’m not doing the work I’m passionate about, you’ll find me outside in either the mountains or at the beach. I love camping, hiking, backpacking, and the fresh air, especially with close friends. I’m drawn to those rare, unplugged moments, gathered around a bonfire in nature, where the only thing that matters is the conversation. I deeply value diversity and find joy in hearing stories and experiences that stretch me, perspectives that challenge my own. I’m a learner at heart, always creating space for growth, and I’m committed to becoming a person of love in the world.
I’m surrounded by dear friends who know me, who walk with me, and who I share moments that I hold close. I have a soft spot for good coffee, the art of baking bread and desserts, and I treasure time spent with family. Above all, though, I’m a husband and a dad to my daughters—and there’s nothing that brings me greater joy than my family.
Sam Kemp is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) under the supervision of Ryan Forsell, LMFT #118331 and is based in Pasadena, California. After receiving a Bachelor’s Degree of Arts in Business Administration from Azusa Pacific University, Sam went on to receive a Master’s Degree of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Azusa Pacific University. Since 2015, Sam has gained experience working with adolescents, young adults, and families within a diverse church community for almost a decade. Sam has worked in private practice settings since 2023 and is a Level 1 Restoration Therapist and trained in Level 1 of the Gottman Couples Method.