Licensed Psychologist,
About Dr. Samantha Winton
Dr. Samantha Winton is a licensed clinical psychologist, certified eating disorder specialist and clinical supervisor through the International Association for Eating Disorder Professionals (iaedp). Dr. Winton has been treating children, adolescents, and adults with eating disorders for over nine years. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Texas in Austin in School and Pediatric Psychology and completed her residency at Stanford University’s Child Adolescent Consortium in Palo Alto, California. Dr. Winton has extensive experience working in all levels of care for eating disorder treatment including inpatient medical stabilization units, residential treatment centers, partial hospitalization programs, and intensive outpatient programs.
In 2014, Dr. Winton started her own private practice specializing in treating eating disorders, body image issues, and food related anxiety. In 2016, Dr. Winton launched Integrated Care Clinic, an outpatient mental health and personal growth counseling center in downtown St. Pete where she and her specialized team of psychologists and dietitians treat eating disorders, anxiety, depression, and trauma.
Dr. Winton’s clinical practice is informed by evidence-based treatment approaches and best practices within the field. She has extensive experience treating anxiety disorders in youth and adults utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure Based Prevention (ERP). Dr. Winton is also trained in Family Based Treatment (FBT) also known as the Maudsley Approach for adolescents with eating disorders. Lastly, Dr. Winton has also been intensively trained in Radically Open Dialectical Behavior (RO-DBT), an evidence based treatment for adults with Anorexia Nervosa, Chronic Depression, Treatment-Resistant Anxiety, Maladaptive Perfectionism and other disorders of ‘overcontrol’.
Dr. Winton is currently the Research & Education Chair Member of the Tampa Bay chapter of the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (IAEDP) as well as a co-facilitator of the Friends and Family Support Group through the Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness. She grew up in Tampa Bay and seeks to support continued education of eating disorders through clinical supervision, consultation, and speaking engagements.
Specialties
I help teens and adults with disordered eating patterns or eating disorders, specifically those whose behaviors have impacted their school or work, health, or relationships. As a psychologist trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Family Based Treatment (Maudsley), I help others discontinue hurtful or painful patterns associated with eating disorders so they can feel comfortable and confident in their body.
I work with teens and adults with a distorted body image or body dysmorphia discover and understand why and how they view themselves in this highly critical way. I utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as well as Interpersonal Psychotherapy techniques to reframe unhelpful or unsupported beliefs and challenge them by examining how one relates to themselves or others.
Developing a normal, balanced, and healthy relationship with food is hard. Familial, social, and cultural pressures keep us feeling overwhelmed, out of control, or restrictive. I utilize Exposure Response Prevention and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques to help you feel safe and comfortable around food and food-related events.
Developing a positive body image takes effort, I know! Working together, you will be able to shift your negative or critical views of yourself and your “imperfect body” and begin to embrace body neutrality/positivity and the freedom that comes with not caring about what other people think. Time to put yourself first, begin to love yourself exactly how you are, and be open to the new perspective you have when you let go of criticism.
Listening to your body, sensing when you’re full or hungry, and developing the self control to make decisions based on nutritional needs instead of impulse, stress, or cravings is what intuitive and mindful eating is all about. The goal is to provide you with the insights and tools you need to shift your relationship with food so you feel whole, in control, and empowered.
Being a perfectionist is exhausting! Never letting the ball drop, taking forever to get things done, feeling like you care way more than others about important matters. It leaves you feeling disconnected and overwhelmed. I can help you learn new strategies to be efficient, accurate, and in control while having more free time, less worry, and the ability to relax.
Training & Certifications
Certified Eating Disorder Specialist
Family Based Treatment (FBT/Maudsley)
Intensively Trained Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapist
Friends & Family Eating Disorder Support Group Facilitator
iaedp Approved Supervisor
Coping Cat Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Anxiety
Treatment Approaches
- Family Based Treatment
- Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Exposure Response Prevention
- Interpersonal Psychotherapy
FBT — Family Based Treatment
Family Based Treatment, also known as Maudsley Approach, is an evidence-based treatment for adolescents with anorexia nervosa. It involves weekly family therapy appointments that serve to help empower and align parents together, strengthen the family bond and communication, and eliminate eating disorder behaviors from the affected child/teen. Family Based Treatment has the highest recovery rates for adolescent treatment approaches with 75-90% of patients being fully weight restored at a five-year followup, and 2/3 reaching weight restoration by the end of treatment.
RO-DBT — Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy is an evidence-based treatment approach for adults who struggle with ‘over-control’. It is ideal for those struggling with loneliness, perfectionism, over-working, eating disorders, chronic depression, anxiety disorders, and obsessive compulsive tendencies. It is the first evidence-based treatment approach for adults with anorexia nervosa (which is super exciting!!). It involves weekly individual therapy sessions and weekly skills class to learn the RO skills.
CBT — Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is an evidence-based treatment for anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. It has also been shown to be effective for depression and bulimia nervosa. Cognitive Behavior Therapy involves learning skills to improve mood, coping, and emotional intelligence. It focuses on understanding and evaluating the links between our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in an effort to reduce unhelpful behaviors such as self-criticism, avoidance tactics, isolation, and chronic worry or sadness.
ERP — Exposure Response Prevention
Exposure Response Prevention is an evidence-based treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder and other anxiety disorders. It works by gradually being exposed to a feared stimuli (heights) so one eventually extinguishes their fear of heights. It is commonly used with people who have repetitive behaviors (checking, cleaning, counting) or obsessive thoughts that impact their daily life. ERP is also utilized with patients with eating disorders, body dysmorphia, and body image issues to help alleviate any repetitive thoughts or behaviors that affect recovery or normal living.
IP — Interpersonal Psychotherapy
Interpersonal Psychotherapy is a treatment for depression that focuses on patterns, themes, and communication styles that tend to interfere with authentic connection, vulnerability, and relationships. Interpersonal Psychotherapy utilizes feedback from the psychologist to provide insight into how one interacts with others in the world in order to make effective changes. It involves examining and evaluating childhood, previous relationships, and current relationships to develop a deeper understanding of oneself.
