Dr. Smita Kapoor

Dr. Smita Kapoor is a dedicated and accomplished professional with a strong background in marriage and family therapy. She holds the position of a part-time core assistant professor at the National University, where she imparts her knowledge and expertise to DMFT and PhD students. Additionally, Dr. Kapoor serves as an Adjunct Professor at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Anaheim, where she plays a pivotal role in educating and guiding MFT and PhD students. Her commitment to the field extends beyond academia, as Dr. Kapoor also maintains a thriving private practice. As a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the states of California and Oregon, she offers her specialized services to individuals, couples, and families facing a variety of challenges. Dr. Kapoor's expertise includes working with clients who have been diagnosed with conditions such as depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, childhood attachment/trauma, systemic racism, eating disorders, addiction, and infidelity, often in cases where change is resistant. One of Dr. Kapoor's notable strengths is her ability to create caring and collaborative therapeutic environments where clients feel safe and supported in their healing journeys. She is a multilingual therapist, fluent in Hindi and Punjabi, enabling her to connect with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds. Dr. Kapoor has pursued extensive training and certifications in various therapeutic modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), Certified EMDR Therapist, ERP, Gottman Methods Level I & II, Certified Mental Health Integrative Medicine (CMHIM), Mindfulness, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), ACT, IFS, and Anger Management. This wide array of skills allows her to tailor her approach to each client's unique needs. In 2018, Dr. Kapoor earned her Doctor of Marital & Family Therapy degree from Loma Linda University, where her dissertation focused on a needs assessment of foster parents, turning struggles into strengths. She also holds a Master of Science in Marital & Family Therapy from the same institution, along with a Bachelor of Science in Child Development from Union Institute & University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Kumaon University in India. In addition to her academic and clinical roles, Dr. Kapoor is actively involved in professional associations, serving as an AAMFT Approved Supervisor and CAMFT Certified Supervisor. Her dedication to ethical standards and inclusivity is evident in her work and advocacy for collectivist cultures and individual freedoms. Dr. Kapoor's passion lies in using her Marriage and Family Therapy training as a researcher and clinician to positively impact the lives of families, especially those deemed "at-risk" by the welfare system. She is committed to evidence-based relational interventions aimed at improving well-being and continues to contribute to the field through her teaching, research, and clinical practice. Dr. Kapoor's work is driven by a deep desire to provide culturally sensitive care for minority and underprivileged families affected by stigma and healthcare disparities, with a particular focus on underserved populations and BIPOC communities. She is dedicated to building bridges between diverse groups while remaining responsive to individual needs, embodying her core values of being culturally, sexually-oriented, and spiritually sensitive in her approach to therapy and advocacy. Dr. Kapoor knows that choosing the "right" therapist can sometimes feel overwhelming, so please feel free to reach out to book a 15-minute complimentary consult call to speak with her directly and get started on your therapy journey today.