Wajdi Akef Fakhoury, LMFT 148333
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Your therapist should understand neurodivergence—and still take the time to understand you.
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Clinical knowledge without assumptions.
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At Samar, neurodivergence is part of the clinical picture from the start.
We consider communication, sensory processing, executive functioning, mental health, relationships, and the systems around you—not as separate issues, but as parts of the same life.
Clinical knowledge gives us a better starting point, not a conclusion. We stay curious about your individual experience and adapt therapy to your communication, processing, sensory, relational, and support needs.
WAYS WE CAN WORK WITH EACH OTHER
For neurodivergent adolescents and adults navigating mental health, burnout, identity, executive functioning, relationships, and life transitions.
For neurodivergent and mixed-neurotype couples navigating communication differences, recurring conflict, intimacy, responsibilities, and repair.
For families navigating communication, conflict, caregiving demands, changing roles, and the impact of neurodivergence across the family system.
Therapy and support for parents, caregivers, and siblings navigating the emotional, relational, and practical realities of supporting a neurodivergent family member.
Focused consultation for families, clinicians, schools, and care teams navigating complex neurodevelopmental, mental health, and systems-of-care concerns.
Customized training for clinicians, educators, providers, and interdisciplinary teams on neurodivergence, mental health, and more effective systems of support.
A Pasadena Office Designed for Sensory Choice
Therapy is harder when the room itself adds to the sensory load
Our Pasadena office offers choices around lighting, seating, movement, sound, and sensory input—so the environment can adapt to the person, rather than asking the person to adapt to the room.
A Sensory Menu is available
Choose from adjustable lighting, different seating, weighted and tactile items, movement and grounding tools, and lower-stimulation options. Use what helps. Skip what doesn’t. Preferences can change from session to session.​
Therapy That Adapts to You
You should not have to fit yourself into a standard therapy format. We can adapt communication, pacing, structure, and participation so the work is more accessible and useful.
Adjust the environment
Flexible seating, adjustable lighting, movement, fidgets, and a discreet sensory menu are available when helpful—and never required.
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Communicate without performing
You do not have to answer quickly, make eye contact, sit still, or immediately find the “right” words. We can use direct questions, writing, visuals, pauses, or return to something later.
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Know what to expect
Agendas, written recaps, clear next steps, and more predictability can be used when they reduce uncertainty—without making therapy rigid.
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Work on what affects daily life
Therapy can address sensory overload, interoception, shutdown, burnout, transitions, routines, follow-through, recovery, and how to begin again after disruption.
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Be understood without being overinterpreted
We check our understanding rather than assigning motives based on eye contact, tone, posture, response time, facial expression, or emotional display.
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Have a say in the work
We explain why something is being suggested. Disagreement, discomfort, or “this isn’t helping” is useful information—not something to push past.
Meet our clinician
Wajdi Akef Fakhoury, LMFT 148333
Wajdi Akef Fakhoury, LMFT (CA LMFT 148333), is a psychotherapist specializing in neurodevelopmental mental health. He works with neurodivergent individuals, couples, families, and caregivers navigating a wide range of concerns, including trauma, anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, burnout, executive functioning challenges, relationship difficulties, identity, life transitions, and the cumulative effects of chronic misunderstanding or mismatch with their environments.
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His approach is clinically grounded, relational, and adapted to how each person communicates, processes information, regulates, and experiences the world. Therapy may incorporate greater structure, flexibility, pacing, and sensory or communication supports when helpful, while still making room for reflection, emotional depth, and meaningful change over time.
