Therapy Based In Psychological Science
Serving Californians at our Santa Monica office and via teletherapy.
At Santa Monica Psychology Group, our approach to therapy is grounded in psychological science and emphasizes the client-therapist relationship. We treat a range of difficulties and specialize in anxiety disorders, depression, emotion dysregulation, and trauma.
To learn more about our services schedule a free 15 minute phone consultation.
Choosing a therapist can feel overwhelming — unlike medical treatment, there are fewer guideposts for the general public in finding effective, science-based care.
Making the first call or email, arriving at a new office, and sitting in the waiting room are anxiety provoking for everyone. Deciding to tolerate those feelings is admirable. If you’re new to therapy, the NPR article, How To Start Therapy, is an excellent overview of the process of finding the right therapist for you.
Learn more about our practice and our philosophy around therapy.
Our Clinicians
Shaina Katz-Lindquist, Ph.D.
Shaina Katz-Lindquist, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist (PSY 27802) specializing in evidence-based treatment approaches, including CBT and ACT, in the treatment of anxiety and related disorders, such as generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic disorder, and anxiety associated with major life stressors, losses, illnesses, and transitions.
Prior to co-founding Santa Monica Psychology Group, she held positions at Stanford University, as a Staff Psychologist for the student population and as a Lecturer in the Graduate School of Education. She additionally worked with Pacific Anxiety Group, a group practice in the San Francisco Bay Area, and has served as a clinical supervisor for psychology interns and postdoctoral fellows.
Dr. Katz-Lindquist received her B.A. with Distinction and Departmental Honors in Psychology from Stanford University and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from UCLA. Her doctoral research focused on the intergenerational transmission of stress and depression, as well as the impact of depression on romantic partner choices in young adulthood. She completed her clinical internship at the VA Long Beach and her postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.
Molly Hunt, Ph.D.
Margaret “Molly” Hunt, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist (PSY 28866) trained in cognitive behavioral and mindfulness-based psychotherapies. She specializes in treating trauma and trauma-related diagnoses, such as borderline personality disorder (CPT, PE and DBT), and in treating anxiety and depression (CBT, ACT).
In addition to her role as co-director of Santa Monica Psychology Group, Dr. Hunt is chair of the Los Angeles County Psychological Association Ethics Committee, and Clinical Faculty at UCLA, where she supervises doctoral students learning to provide therapy. Dr. Hunt received her B.A. with Departmental Honors in Human Biology from Stanford University, and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from UCLA. Dr. Hunt completed pre- and postdoctoral training in the Veterans’ Affairs system in Los Angeles.
Dr. Hunt’s doctoral research looked at the relationships between inflammation, stress, and depression. Additionally, she contributed to studies of the placebo effect in pharmacological treatment of depression. Her work has been published in Brain, Behavior and Immunity, Frontiers in Psychiatry, and The British Journal of Psychiatry, among others.
Sarah Thompson, Ph.D.
Sarah M. Thompson, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist (PSY 34690) who specializes in providing cognitive behavioral and mindfulness-based therapies for adults experiencing anxiety, depression, and trauma as well as concerns around relationships, challenges with work or school, chronic pain, and sleep difficulties. As a therapist, she primarily utilizes CBT and ACT and holds specialized training in evidenced-based treatments for trauma, including CPT and PE.
She received a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from UCLA and a B.A. in Psychology with Distinction from Yale University. She completed her clinical internship at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System and her postdoctoral fellowship in trauma recovery at the Durham VA Health Care System.
Dr. Thompson previously served as an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychology and the Associate Director of the UT Psychological Clinic at the University of Tennessee, where she trained graduate students in clinical and counseling psychology, social work, and mental health counseling. She continues to provide training to mental health providers in evidence-based cognitive behavioral treatments and the practice of clinical supervision. Her research and writing focus on factors that contribute to the development of depression, best practices in clinical supervision, and professional development.