ABOUT
Sam del Castillo, Ph.D.
Pronouns: they/them/elle
Dr. Sam del Castillo is a queer and trans Mexican immigrant (indigenous and white). They are dedicated to serving their communities. Dr. del Castillo is a licensed psychologist (CA license #PSY3496). They hold a doctorate degree in Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara (APA Accredited) where they also conducted research on LGBTQIA+ and Latino/a/e populations. Dr. del Castillo completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University with a gender and sexual identities specialization. As a researcher, they study parental support of transgender Latine youth. Dr. del Castillo also has extensive experience developing and expanding institutional support for marginalized students in higher education.
MY STORY
They have served in numerous leadership and service roles in organizations, including National Latinx Psychological Association (NLPA)’s Orgullo and Gaylesta. While at UCSB, Dr. del Castillo co-founded the Queer and Trans Graduate Student Union at UCSB, (an organization that still exists today). They were successful in advocating to the university for funding for community-building programming, mentorship programs, and an inaugural conference on LGBTQIA+ wellbeing. Dr. del Castillo created the Decolonizing Psychology Learning Group, a space for psychologists-in-training to interrogate beliefs about psychology and learn anti-colonial methods of healing.
Dr. del Castillo has facilitated workshops on topics such as impostor syndrome, queer and trans identities, disability justice, strengthening institutional support for mental health, and transforming institutions and building institutional equity.
They have taught undergraduate courses on topics such as Psychology of Gender, Feminist Studies - Women and Cultural Production, and introductory psychology courses. They have supervised doctoral students at the practicum and internship levels. They enjoy teaching and mentorship.
Dr. del Castillo is available to develop and lead workshops, teach courses, and provide consultation.
Dr. del Castillo is bilingual in English and Spanish
Stanford University - Counseling and Psychological Services | Postdoctoral Fellow
Gender and Sexual Identities Specialization
University of California, Santa Barbara - Counseling, Clinical and School Psychology | Ph.D. (APA Accredited)
APA Accredited Doctoral Internship: California State University, Long Beach | Counseling and Psychological Services
University of California, Santa Barbara | M.A. in Counseling Psychology
University of Houston | B.A. (Magna Cum Laude)
Major: Psychology | Minor: Human Development
EDUCATION
LGBTQIA+, Sexuality and Gender, Gender Diversity, Transgender, Nonbinary, Bisexual, Questioning
Black, Indigenous, and People of Color
Immigrants, children of immigrants
Parents, Parents of LGBTQIA+ children, Transgender Parents
Young adults, Adults
College and Graduate students
Masculinity
Difficulties with embodiment - eating disorders, in recovery, body image issues - using a health at every size, harm reduction framework
Neurodivergence/neurodiversity
Disability justice
Anxiety and Panic Disorder
Depression
OCD
Life transitions
Grief
Trauma - including complex PTSD
SPECIALTIES AND EXPERTISE
