Brisa Samudio, LCSW
Brisa is a licensed clinical social worker who has worked in behavioral health since 2004. Her experience in the field has centered on trauma resolution and social determinants of health. She has had extensive experience working with a wide array of diverse populations including children & adolescents in the foster care system, veterans, and in community health centers. Licensed in both California and Tennessee, Brisa currently works in the private practice as the founder of and practitioner at the Samara Group. Additionally, she has recently launched a startup to continue the work of her collaborative community team. In her time away from work, she enjoys music of virtually all genres, - with a special fondness for live music - travel, making good memories with loved ones, bikram yoga, & having the occasional conversation with her pets. She is a certified clinical trauma professional through the International Association of Trauma Professionals and is trained in EMDR. Her clinical case management work has been featured in Harvard Business Review and the American Journal of Managed Care.
Sally Smith-Kendrick, MSSA
Sally is Samara Group’s veteran clinician: in addition to serving for 10 years in the United States Marine Corps & receiving an honorable discharge, she has been with Samara since 2019. While serving, she attained Combat Water Survival 3 (CWS-3) & Government Secret Clearance as well as many other accolades. As a veteran case manager with more than 10 years of field experience, she has a common foothold to serve any population. She is certified in Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) & Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM). Sally holds a Master of Science degree in Social Administration (MSSA) from Case Western Reserve University, and she is a member of the National Association of Social Worker, National Association of Black Social Workers, Golden Key International Honour Society, Psi Chi, Psychology Honor Society, Alpha Kappa Delta, and Sociology Honor Fraternity.
Keith Frederic, MS, NCC
Keith Frederic is a Licensed Professional Counselor and National Certified Counselor who has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Louisiana State University and a Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Memphis. His therapy approach is humanistic, meaning he focuses on the complexity of one’s lived experiences as a whole, and he strives to provide a calm, confidential space where individuals can express and reflect on their difficult thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Keith is available for individual counseling with adolescents and adults.
Laura Moreno-Marin, LMSW
Originally from Colombia, Laura Moreno-Marin earned her Bachelor of Social Work at La Salle University in Bogotá before completing her Master of Social Work (MSW) at the University of Memphis. She holds certificates in both clinical and school social work, and completed her training at the Shelby County Public Defender’s Office, at St. Jude Research Hospital, and at the YMCA in Colombia. Her skill set centers on providing psychotherapy, psychosocial support, medical social work, and crisis intervention. Laura enjoys working with children, adolescents, and families. She is fluent in Spanish, and has experience in providing support to members of diverse and vulnerable populations. Laura joined the Samara Group in May 2023 as a valuable addition to the team.
Katie Bruce, LMSW
Katie is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW). She earned her Bachelor of Arts at Northeastern University in Boston, MA in Human Services with a Minor in American Sign Language, and her Masters of Social Work at Simmons University. During her master’s program she received clinical training at Serenity Recovery Centers and Avalon Hospice. In addition to traditional work with adults, adolescents, and families, she has worked in residential, in-home, and school-based outpatient. She also has experience in medical social work. Katie has her Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT) certification, has received training in Collaborative Problem Solving, and has extensive experience utilizing and providing psychodynamic therapy for clients, families, and groups. Katie really enjoys working with children and adolescents along with their families in a creative therapeutic setting. Katie enjoys exploring the outdoors, eating yummy food, crafting, and getting to be a kid again playing with her own two, small children. Katie’s overall approach to therapy involves providing a supportive, nonjudgmental space where clients feel calm and safe to share whatever they need to work through. Katie is available for individual and family counseling with adolescents and young adults.
Melissa Cano
Melissa works with Samara Group as the Clinic Coordinator. She was born in Colombia and moved to Memphis in 2015. She holds a bachelor's degree in Health Sciences with a concentration in Dietetics from the University of Memphis. She has worked for and volunteered with various nonprofits organizations focused on addressing health disparities by informing, educating, and empowering individuals to advocate for improved health outcomes in the community. Melissa is eager to encourage people to have a healthier lifestyle through nutrition. She is an advocate for preventive health care
and improving people's quality of life. In her time off, she enjoys cooking, traveling, and spending time with her family, friends, and pets. Some of her hobbies include playing the flute and piano, going to the gym, roller skating, and playing volleyball.
Faith McCoskey
Faith works with Samara as our Community Health Case Manager. She is a Clinical Mental Health Counseling intern with a Bachelor's in Psychology and a minor in Child Advocacy Studies from Culver-Stockton College. Faith is currently completing clinical hours in the final year of her Master's program. She has been with Samara Center since January 2026, where she completed her practicum before joining the team as a community health case manager. Faith takes a person-centered approach, meaning she believes the client is the expert of their life, and prioritizes showing clients unconditional positive regard and empathy. Faith is trauma-informed and strives to help clients navigate difficult emotions, feelings, and behaviors. In her free time, Faith enjoys spending time with her two cats, being in nature, and making jewelry.
Greta
Greta is a Weimaraner who was adopted from a rescue in Texas. She was born in February 2024 shortly after her birth mom was removed from terrible living conditions. She still receives updates on her 4 brothers every few months. Greta enjoys galloping like a pony, eating pears, and shadowing her family members closely. Greta is training to work with behavioral health clients full-time. She has already offered immeasurable support to her clients and is available to join sessions when requested.