Sam Himelstein, Ph.D.

I’m a Licensed Psychologist (PSY25229) in the the state of California. Most of my work has involved working with high-risk and marginalized youth in the juvenile justice system, foster care system, and those suffering from addiction issues. I’ve previously worked at the Chemical Dependency program at Kaiser Permanente with teens and their families, in a number of juvenile halls conducting psychotherapy, psychological evaluations, and  researching the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions with incarcerated and underserved adolescent populations. I am the  author of multiple scholarly journal articles and three books, I travel the country speaking at conferences and conducting professional trainings, and I am the founder and president of the Center for Adolescent Studies. 

I am passionate about training professionals from multiple disciplines in creating authentic, healing relationships with adolescents that contribute to positive outcomes. Most of my speaking lies at the intersection of building authentic relationships, trauma-informed care, and teaching mindfulness to youth. 

I am a formerly incarcerated youth myself and was privileged to change my life from a path of drugs, violence, crime, and self-destruction to that of healing and transformation. My mission is to help young people become aware of the power of self-awareness and transformation, and train professionals with similar interests. Learn more about my philosophy and approach in his books: A Mindfulness-Based Approach to Working with High-Risk Adolescents (Routledge, 2013), Mindfulness-Based Substance Abuse Treatment for Adolescents: A 12-Session Curriculum (Routledge, 2015), and Trauma-Informed Mindfulness With Teens: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals (Norton, forthcoming).