About Dr. Scott Symington

I am a licensed clinical psychologist who has been in full-time private practice for more than 22 years. My practice is broad in scope, helping individuals and couples navigate a wide range of emotional, relational, and behavioral challenges, with specialized focus in the areas of anxiety disorders, executive and high-performance coaching, marital therapy (including sexual intimacy), and addictive behaviors.

In addition to my clinical work, I write, speak, and develop practical tools designed to help people move toward greater emotional freedom, connection, and wellbeing. The common thread running through all of my work—therapy, writing, speaking, and digital tools—is the belief that:

With the right information, tools, and encouragement, we have the capacity for radical life transformation—whether that means breaking free from painful patterns or creating a life that sings.

This is not simply a professional philosophy; it is something I have witnessed repeatedly in both my personal and professional life.

My journey

My professional journey began in the business and consulting world. In the late 1990s, after much soul-searching, I made the decision to leave a successful career brokering agricultural products in order to pursue work that aligned more deeply with both my head and heart. That decision ultimately led me to graduate school and the field of psychology.

I earned a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Fuller Graduate School of Psychology and completed an M.A. in Theology at Fuller Theological Seminary. My graduate training included extensive work in psychodynamic therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based approaches, and neuropsychology. I completed a clinical clerkship in neuropsychology at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute and later worked with veterans at VA hospitals in both Long Beach and the greater Los Angeles area. After graduate school, I completed postdoctoral training in psychoanalytic therapy and became certified in sex therapy and sexual addiction treatment.

This diverse training background shaped the integrative approach I use today—drawing from several evidence-based therapies, including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Psychodynamic Therapy, Acceptance and Mindfulness-Based approaches, and relational therapies tailored to the unique needs of each individual or couple.

Writing & Speaking

Beyond the therapy office, my work has increasingly expanded into writing, speaking, and leveraging technology to help people live freer, more connected lives outside the therapy room. In 2021, I launched ActAgape – Lasting Marriage, a relationship enrichment app designed to help couples increase loving behavior in their everyday, busy lives. More recently, I developed and trained AskDrScott, an AI-supported mental health and relationship coach that is rooted in evidence-based methods and clinical wisdom.

I also regularly guest lecture, present at professional conferences, and speak to both clinical and general audiences on topics related to anxiety, emotional wellbeing, relationships, addictive behaviors, healthy sexuality, and high-performance living. In recent years, the topic receiving the greatest interest has been the Two-Screen Method® (TSM), a practical mindfulness-based framework I developed to help individuals respond more effectively to worry, anxiety, overthinking, and negative mood states.

The Two-Screen Method is also featured in my award-winning book, Freedom from Anxious Thoughts and Feelings, published by New Harbinger Publications in 2019. The book went on to receive the Nautilus Book Award that same year. Over the years, I have contributed to a variety of publications including Forbes, PsychCentral, Bustle, and Thrive Global, in addition to publishing academic work in peer-reviewed journals.

Beyond the work

On the lighter side of life, if I’m not spending time with family or meeting with clients, you can probably find me on the tennis or pickleball court, out on a trail, listening to an interesting podcast, or spending time with good friends. Office visitors will also likely be greeted by Brodie, our beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and trained therapy dog, whose calm and affectionate presence has become a meaningful part of the therapeutic environment for many clients.