Meet the Team
Miriam Duston
LCSW
Sammy Faulkender
LCSW
MIRIAM
Hi, I’m a therapist and an artist.
I believe healing happens in connection — with ourselves, each other, and the world around us. I work with adults, kids, and teens who are navigating change, feeling uncomfortable in their bodies, or disconnected from their creativity or relationships. I also support kids (5+) and their grown ups increase understanding, communication, and ease in their lives.
In our work together, you can bring the parts of yourself you usually keep tucked away — the messy, angry, scared, uncertain, or exhausted pieces. I bring warmth, honesty, and creativity to help you understand what’s going on and move forward at your own pace. My approach is deeply human, informed by research and more than a decade of experience.
I live in Sacramento (Bay Area born and raised). When I’m not working, you’ll find me tinkering in my art studio, tending my garden, swimming, or spending time with my loved ones.
If you feel a spark of recognition reading this, reach out — I’d love to meet you and see how we can work together.
Miriam may be a good fit for you if you are …
Going through a big life transition (career change, breakup, move, loss)
Struggling to slow down or rest without guilt
Feeling disconnected from creativity, purpose or joy
Hoping to improve communication and connection in relationships
Struggling even when “everything looks fine”
Creative, queer, or neurodivergent
A high-functioning perfectionist
Someone who feels like an outsider
Having complicated feelings about your body
A therapy first-timer
In a partnership or friendship that has room to improve through couples therapy
SAMMY
Hi, I’m a therapist and a mom.
My goal is to create a supportive, non-judgmental space where you can slow down, reconnect with your authentic self, and make sense of what feels overwhelming, confusing, or out of sync. I take a warm, collaborative approach shaped by both my professional training and my own lived experience with anxiety and parenthood. My work is grounded in an integrative and holistic framework, often incorporating things like mindfulness, breathing, and other somatic exercises into sessions. But what I believe in most is the power of relationship and the growth that can naturally happen when we are seen, heard, and held for exactly who we are.
I grew up in Sacramento and, after spending time in San Luis Obispo, San Francisco, and Portland, returned home in 2017. Outside the therapy room, you’ll usually find me reading, cooking, or chasing after my twin daughters.
Sammy may be a good fit for you if you are…
Really hard on yourself
Struggling with parenting feeling harder than you thought it would
Anxious as h*ll
Wanting to understand yourself better
An adolescent or teen who wants someone other than their parent to talk to
Pregnant, postpartum, or trying to conceive
A parent trying to sort through all the parenting noise to find what works for their kids
Someone who prefers telehealth
Looking for a morning or mid-day appointment time
Wanting a therapist who won’t mind if you are holding, feeding, or tending to your baby or young kids during session