What Is Health Psychology, and How Can It Help You?
Hi there—I’m Dr. Samantha Domingo, a licensed psychologist specializing in health psychology and behavioral sleep medicine. I started this blog as part of launching my brand-new website, which I hope will serve as a more accommodating and accessible hub for information about my practice. Whether you're a current client, considering starting therapy, a healthcare professional, or simply curious, you’re welcome here.
I created this space to share evidence-based tools and reflections on the connection between our physical and emotional health. You don’t need to be in therapy to benefit—my goal is to make health psychology more accessible, especially for folks living with chronic illness, sleep challenges, caregiving responsibilities, or the stress that comes with managing health day to day.
So, What Is Health Psychology?
Health psychology is a branch of psychology that looks at how our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors impact our physical health, and how living with medical conditions affects our mental well-being. It recognizes that our health isn't just about symptoms or test results, but also about how we cope, what we value, and how we adapt to life changes. It encompasses a whole-person approach.
Most health psychologists traditionally work in medical settings, like hospitals, cancer centers, or other specialized clinics, where they support patients dealing with serious or complex health conditions. While this kind of care can be incredibly helpful, it’s not always easy to access outside of those systems. Access to specialized mental health services, especially for those managing both emotional and medical challenges, can be difficult, particularly in more rural areas where mental health resources may be limited. That’s one of the reasons I started my private practice: to make this kind of specialized support more available in the community.
Who Can Benefit?
Therapy with a health psychologist can be helpful if you’re:
Living with a chronic illness or disability
Dealing with sleep issues like insomnia or disrupted sleep
Supporting a partner, parent, or child through medical challenges
Feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or disconnected from your body
Trying to find balance or meaning after a major health event
You don’t need to be in crisis or have a diagnosis to reach out. This work can be just as much about reconnecting with your values and building resilience as it is about managing specific symptoms.
What to Expect from This Blog
In future posts, I’ll be sharing approachable, evidence-based information about topics like:
Improving sleep without medication
Coping with the emotional ups and downs of chronic illness
What therapy looks like for caregivers and family members
Managing medical stress and burnout
Reclaiming rest, meaning, and self-compassion during tough times
If any of this speaks to your experience, I hope you’ll follow along. I’ll be updating this space regularly with reflections, practical tools, and resources to help you feel more informed, supported, and connected.
Thanks for being here – and welcome!
-Sam
