Samantha Schafer, PMHNP-BC

Samantha Schafer, PMHNP-BC, is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner at Rosecrance Therapies, serving clients at the River North office in Chicago and Dyer/St. John, Indiana. Schafer works with clients across the lifespan and provides psychiatric evaluation and medication management for a range of mental health conditions, with particular expertise in mood disorders. Schafer treats anxiety, depression, ADHD, personality disorders, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders. She works with clients from diverse backgrounds, including members of the LGBTQIA+ community and first responders. Her areas of interest also include helping clients navigate career transitions, high-performance athletics and substance use concerns. In addition to medication management, Schafer refers and manages clients for advanced treatments including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and SPRAVATO®. She also participates in clinical trials exploring new and emerging treatment options. Schafer values the variety of her role and the opportunity to help clients find treatment approaches that support their individual needs and goals. Schafer earned a Master of Science in Nursing from DePaul University and completed a post-master’s certificate as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner at Northern Kentucky University. She also holds an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from Villanova University. Her path to behavioral healthcare began after working in project management and marketing analytics following college. Seeking a career centered on helping others, Schafer returned to school to pursue nursing. A psychiatric clinical rotation sparked her interest in behavioral health and the meaningful connections psychiatric nursing allowed her to build with patients. She went on to work in behavioral health hospitals before becoming a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Schafer joined Rosecrance in August 2026. She strives to create a welcoming, nonjudgmental environment where clients have the time and space to express themselves authentically. She is motivated by seeing clients make progress and helping people find hope and a path forward during challenging periods of their lives.