About Dr. Smita Kapoor, DMFT, LMFT | Online Therapist in CA, OR, TX, NV, AZ, VA

Dr. Smita Kapoor, DMFT, LMFT, doctoral-level marriage and family therapist

Hello, I'm Dr. Kapoor

I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 11 years of experience helping individuals, couples, and families move through life's hardest chapters and come out the other side with more peace, connection, and confidence.

I hold a Doctor of Marital and Family Therapy (DMFT) and a Master of Science in Marital and Family Therapy from Loma Linda University, along with degrees in Child Development and Psychology, and I'm currently completing my second doctorate, a Ph.D. in Clinical Sexology. Learning is a lifelong love of mine, because you deserve care that draws on the best of what works. I'm certified in EMDR, ERP, Gottman Method Couples Therapy (Level II), sex therapy, and clinical hypnotherapy, which I use to support anxiety, depression, addiction, self-image and self-esteem, burnout, pain management, disordered eating, and more.

My professional journey spans private practice and specialized mental health programs, including dedicated work with active-duty military personnel, veterans, and neurodiverse individuals and couples.

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Credentials

Training you can trust

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Two Doctorates

DMFT & M.S. in Marital and Family Therapy, Loma Linda University. Second doctorate, a Ph.D. in Clinical Sexology, in progress.

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Certified EMDR

Certified EMDR therapist for trauma, PTSD, and complex PTSD, including intensive formats.

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Certified ERP

Certified in Exposure and Response Prevention, the gold-standard treatment for OCD. ~60% of my caseload is OCD-focused.

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Gottman Level II

Level II Gottman Method Couples Therapist, also trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT).

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Certified Hypnotherapist

Clinical hypnotherapy for anxiety, depression, addiction, self-image & self-esteem, burnout, pain management, and disordered eating, integrated with sex therapy where it helps.

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Sex Therapy

Certified sex therapy training through doctoral study in Clinical Sexology. Comfortable, shame-free care for intimacy, desire, and connection.

My approach: evidence-based, holistic, human

Therapy with me is not just about overcoming challenges, it's about building a life with meaning, purpose, and joy. I integrate evidence-based methods with a holistic understanding of your unique story:

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD and anxiety disorders
EMDR for trauma, PTSD, and complex PTSD
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) and mindfulness
CBT, CPT, and DBT for mood, thought patterns, and emotion regulation
Gottman Method & EFT for couples and relationships
Clinical Hypnotherapy for anxiety, depression, burnout, pain, self-esteem, and deeper change
Sex Therapy for intimacy, desire, and connection, free of shame
Trauma-informed care that empowers resilience and recovery

And here is something I want you to know: my work with you does not end when our session does. After we meet, I'm still thinking about what we explored, what might help you next, and what could make your daily life a little lighter. I read, I plan, I prepare, so each session you walk into is built on everything I learned in the last one. You are never just an hour on my calendar. You are someone I am actively rooting for, all week long.

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Dr. Smita Kapoor, certified EMDR therapist and ERP specialist for OCD and anxiety

A quiet garden path beneath blossoming cherry trees, a gentle way forward

Trauma-informed care, without the stigma

If you grew up hearing that struggling means weakness, that family matters stay in the family, or that therapy is for "other people," then simply being on this page took courage. Let me say it plainly: needing support is not a flaw, and asking for it is one of the strongest things you'll ever do. Anxiety, OCD, depression, and trauma are not character defects. They are human responses that respond to the right care, and tending to your mind deserves the same respect as tending to your body.

Trauma-informed simply means I never forget there's a story behind what you're carrying. Anxiety, anger, perfectionism, relationship patterns, even physical symptoms often trace back to experiences your nervous system never got the chance to process. So my first job is safety: a warm, non-judgmental space where nothing you say will shock me, you set the pace, and you will never be pushed to relive anything before you're ready. We work with your story, not against you.

That safety extends to every part of who you are. With over a decade of experience serving diverse and underserved communities, including BIPOC clients, military families, and neurodiverse individuals and couples, I practice with cultural humility and honor how your background, identity, and values shape both your struggles and your strengths. Whatever brought you here, you'll be met with respect, warmth, and zero judgment.

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Dr. Smita Kapoor, DMFT, LMFT