Browse specialties
Chiropractors
Dentists
Dermatologists
Ear, Nose & Throat Doctors
Endocrinologists
Eye Doctors
OBGYNs
Ophthalmologists
Optometrists
Orthopedic Surgeons
Podiatrists
Primary Care Doctors
Psychiatrists
Psychologists
Therapist-Counselors
See all specialties A-Z
Zocdoc
HomeAbout usPressCareersHelp
Contact
service@zocdoc.com855-962-3621
Discover
The Paper Gown: Stories for and about patientsThe Script: Insights for doctorsCommunity StandardsData and privacyVerified reviewsTech BlogNew
Are you a top doctor or health service?
Try Zo, your AI Phone AssistantList your practice on ZocdocLearn about Zocdoc for Health SystemsBecome an EHR partner
Insurance Carriers
Top Specialties
Welcome to Zocdoc!
Book local doctors who take your insurance
Sign up
For providers
Grow your practice
For patients
Zocdoc
HomeAbout usPressCareersHelp
Contact
service@zocdoc.com855-962-3621
Discover
The Paper Gown: Stories for and about patientsThe Script: Insights for doctorsCommunity StandardsData and privacyVerified reviewsTech BlogNew
Are you a top doctor or health service?
Try Zo, your AI Phone AssistantList your practice on ZocdocLearn about Zocdoc for Health SystemsBecome an EHR partner
Insurance Carriers
Top Specialties
HelpList your practice on Zocdoc
Sign up
Samantha Houda, LCSW

Samantha Houda, LCSW

Psychotherapist
CA
My initial approach is to create an open and comfortable atmosphere by using open ended questions, engaging, having the client share about what’s important in their lives, their culture, background, hobbies. From there, explore reasons for coming into therapy - longstanding struggles, more recent/situation, history of trauma, are we in a crisis and are there safety concerns. This helps gauge the treatment interventions. As a feedback-informed, goal-oriented therapist, I would use the cognitive behavioral skill of exploring thoughts and feelings and how those may shape unhealthy/unwanted beliefs about themselves or others. In the meantime, build their internal resources/strengths by teaching distress tolerance. I believe in the practice of mindfulness and offer resources for clients to use in between sessions along with other homework/activities. We will come up with a treatment plan with goals and objectives with homework/activities and check in on progress at each session. Two common approaches I practice are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Solution-focused therapy. CBT helps clients increase their awareness of the trigger for their thinking patterns and the works to identify the impact that has on their beliefs, feelings of oneself/others, their behaviors and subsequently how this interfere’s with their relationships/interpersonal experiences. We will practice various skills to help catch unhelpful thinking patterns and learn ways to correct that way of thinking and minimize distress. I also teach and guide meditations that can and are encouraged to be practiced in between sessions. Solution-focused therapy helps clients make changes by constructing solutions rather than focusing on problems. I find solution focused to be future-oriented approach for formulating, motivating, achieving, and sustaining desired behavioral change. I am a therapist at Octave, a behavioral health practice creating a new standard for mental health care that’s both high-quality and accessible. To learn more about my availability, please reach out to our Client Experience team by emailing or calling.

Book an appointment on Zocdoc

The office partners with Zocdoc to schedule appointments
External video visit

Scheduling details

  1. See if they are in network

Today, Apr 23 – Wed, May 6
At the moment, there's no availability on Zocdoc for the selected date range and appointment type at this location.
View more availability

What patients are saying

Overall rating

4.80

About Samantha Houda

Focus areas

Anxiety
Depression
Stress
Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Family Therapy/ Marriage Therapy
Trauma
Bereavement / Grief Counseling
Life Transition

Clientele seen

Young adults (18-24)
Individuals
Adults (25-64)
Seniors (65+)

Treatment approaches

Mindfulness-Based (MBCT)
Psychodynamic
Motivational Interviewing
Relational
Prolonged Exposure Therapy
Solution Focused Brief (SFBT)

Identity

Gender

Female

Ethnicity

White

Languages spoken

English

Getting to know Samantha Houda

My initial approach is to create an open and comfortable atmosphere by using open ended questions, engaging, having the client share about what’s important in their lives, their culture, background, hobbies. From there, explore reasons for coming into therapy - longstanding struggles, more recent/situation, history of trauma, are we in a crisis and are there safety concerns. This helps gauge the treatment interventions. As a feedback-informed, goal-oriented therapist, I would use the cognitive behavioral skill of exploring thoughts and feelings and how those may shape unhealthy/unwanted beliefs about themselves or others. In the meantime, build their internal resources/strengths by teaching distress tolerance. I believe in the practice of mindfulness and offer resources for clients to use in between sessions along with other homework/activities. We will come up with a treatment plan with goals and objectives with homework/activities and check in on progress at each session. Two common approaches I practice are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Solution-focused therapy. CBT helps clients increase their awareness of the trigger for their thinking patterns and the works to identify the impact that has on their beliefs, feelings of oneself/others, their behaviors and subsequently how this interfere’s with their relationships/interpersonal experiences. We will practice various skills to help catch unhelpful thinking patterns and learn ways to correct that way of thinking and minimize distress. I also teach and guide meditations that can and are encouraged to be practiced in between sessions. Solution-focused therapy helps clients make changes by constructing solutions rather than focusing on problems. I find solution focused to be future-oriented approach for formulating, motivating, achieving, and sustaining desired behavioral change. I am a therapist at Octave, a behavioral health practice creating a new standard for mental health care that’s both high-quality and accessible. To learn more about my availability, please reach out to our Client Experience team by emailing or calling.

Is this doctor in your insurance network?

Enter your insurance carrier and plan

  1. choose insurance

In-network insurances

Aetna
BlueCross BlueShield
Cigna
200+ more in-network plans

Don’t see your insurance?

It’s common for mental health providers to be out-of-network. Many insurance plans offer out-of-network coverage, so you may get partially reimbursed. Learn more

Popular visit reasons

Anxiety Disorder
Depression
New Patient Visit
Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD)
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy Intake / Initial Visit
Sleep Problems
Young Adult Issues
Anxiety Disorder
Depression
New Patient Visit
Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD)

Education and background

Practice names

Education and training

  • San Diego State University, Master's in Social Work
  • San Diego State University (Bachelor's)

NPI number

1154659050

Patient reviews

All reviews have been submitted by patients after interacting with the practice.
Overall rating
4.80
Trust Banner Shield
Your trust is our top concern, so providers can't pay to alter or remove reviews. We also don't publish reviews that contain any private patient health information. Learn more here
30 reviews
Most relevant
Frequently asked questions

How soon can I make an appointment with Samantha Houda?

Generally, Samantha Houda has appointments available on Zocdoc within 1 week. You can see Samantha Houda's earliest availability on Zocdoc and make an appointment online.

Is Samantha Houda accepting new patients?

Samantha Houda generally accepts new patients on Zocdoc. You can see Samantha Houda's earliest availability on Zocdoc and schedule an appointment online.

Does Samantha Houda accept my insurance?

Choose your insurance plan to verify if Samantha Houda is in-network.

Can I make an appointment with Samantha Houda online?

Yes, you can make an appointment online with Samantha Houda using Zocdoc. It’s simple, secure, and free.

What practice does Samantha Houda work with?

What are common reasons for patients to see Samantha Houda?

Samantha Houda frequently sees patients for Depression, New Patient Visit, Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy Intake / Initial Visit, and Sleep Problems. You can see other visit reasons for Samantha Houda on their profile.

What languages does Samantha Houda speak?

Samantha Houda speaks English.

Find doctors