Welcome
About Dr. Munson
Dr. Samantha Munson
Dr. Munson is a licensed psychologist in California (PSY 31513) and Florida (PY 10598). After receiving her B.A. in Psychology, she went on to complete a B.S. Honors in Psychology from the University of Cape Town. Dr. Munson then completed a M.A. and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the APA-Accredited Program at Washington State University.
Dr. Munson completed an APA-accredited pre-doctoral internship at the University of South Florida, including training in the evidence-based theory of Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT). She then completed a post-doctoral residency at James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital where her training with evidence-based therapies, including Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT) and ACT, continued.
Years of experience have enabled Dr. Munson to develop strong clinical skills and competence treating a variety of mental health disorders and concerns, with a special focus on life adjustment, anxiety, relationship, and health related issues.
Dr. Munson is a Certified Lifestyle Medicine Professional, meaning that she is educated to provide evidence-based care that supports whole person health with official acknowledgment from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Dr. Munson has additionally published research in peer-reviewed journals on aspects of health, including within the area of psychology-oncology.
As a consistent practitioner of mindfulness and a certified yoga-teacher, she regularly seeks opportunities that expand her ability to provide scientifically supported mindfulness-based therapies to clients.
Currently, Dr. Munson serves on the board for the Southern California Chapter of the Association for Contextual and Behavioral Sciences and is dedicated to providing excellent, holistic client care in her private practice. She is involved in the Venice, Brentwood, and Santa Monica communities where she enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, being active outdoors, and sourcing fresh food at farmers’ markets.
Therapeutic Approach
Dr. Munson is dedicated to providing a warm therapeutic space where meaningful change and growth can occur for her clients.
She uses an integrative style of evidence-based therapies to help clients make changes that are important to them. CBT and ACT are commonly incorporated into treatment to help clients reach their goals, decrease suffering, and improve relationships and life satisfaction. Dr. Munson also often includes a strong focus on mindfulness and self-kindness.
Dr. Munson strongly believes that our best functioning comes from caring for the whole person - mind, body, and spirit. She therefore emphasizes the importance of lifestyle habits to support overall health including sleep, movement, positive relationships, and stress management.
In Therapy, You Can Learn Skills To
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Manage Stress
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Calm Anxiety
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Effectively Communicate & Set Boundaries
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Enjoy Relationships with Yourself & Others
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Improve Lifestyle Habits
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Overcome Challenges & Difficulties
Summary
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• Licensed psychologist in California (PSY 31513) and Florida (PY 10598).
• Ph.D., Counseling Psychology, Washington State University (2018).
• Certified Lifestyle Medicine Professional
• Post-Doctoral Residency, James A. Haley VA Hospital, Tampa, Florida (2019).
• M.A., Counseling, Washington State University (2015).
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Areas of practice include:
• Life adjustment & change
• Anxiety
• Stress management
• Lifestyle habits
• Personal growth
• Chronic illness
• Relationship concerns & friendships
Specialized areas of health psychology include psychology-oncology (psychological sequela of cancer diagnosis, treatment, and recovery) and chronic pain.
See the services page for more information.
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Commonly incorporated evidence-based theories include:
• Cognitive-Behavior Therapy
• Acceptance & Commitment Therapy
• Mindfulness
• Self-Compassion
• Lifestyle Medicine