ABOUT 

Person in glasses wearing a suit sitting on a sofa with framed artwork on the wall.

Sam del Castillo, Ph.D.

Pronouns: they/them/elle

Dr. Sam del Castillo is a queer and trans Mexican immigrant (indigenous and Spanish) deeply dedicated to 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 has extensive experience developing and expanding institutional support for marginalized people. 

MY STORY

Teaching and Trainings

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. Dr. del Castillo is passionate about 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

Service and Memberships

Bay Area Psychological Association - Board Member, DEI Co-Chair

Gaylesta - Advocacy Committee Member

California Psychological Association - Member

American Psychological Association - Div. 44 and 45, Full Member

  • 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

  • Academics

  • Masculinity 

  • Relationships, including family of origin

  • 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

Values and Approach

My approach can be best summarized as believing that agency and self-determination are fundamental to every person. I work collaboratively and with transparency. I prioritize safety and trust in the therapeutic relationship. I believe that culture, race, and other contexts are central parts of our experience. I have done work, and continue to do work, around decolonizing psychology and learning more about indigenous and non-western approaches to therapy.

  • Trauma-Responsive

  • Collaborative

  • Culturally-Responsive and Attuned

  • Feminist and Liberatory (de-colonial)

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