Samara Volodin Muniz
You might be someone who has learned to adapt quickly—to new places, cultures, and relationships—while carrying experiences that haven't always been fully understood or named. On the outside, life goes on. On the inside, there are stories, tensions, and emotions that don't always find space to be processed. Intercultural relationships, family expectations, and the search for belonging can bring additional layers of complexity, especially when different values and histories collide. And when the time comes to tell this story in a structured way—whether to yourself or in a legal context—it's not always easy to find the right words to represent everything that has been lived.
Samara Muniz, nice to meet you!
I am a licensed Mental Health Counselor in Massachusetts (LMHC), with over 15 years of experience in the mental health field, including 12 years working in the United States. My professional journey began as a psychologist in Brazil, where I started my clinical work and developed the foundation of my practice.
Over the years, I have dedicated myself to supporting immigrants and multicultural families in dealing with the emotional challenges of building a life in a new country.
With a master's degree in mental health and a specialization in trauma, I combine clinical knowledge with a human, culturally sensitive, and accessible approach.
I deeply believe that mental health is not a luxury—it's a necessity, and my mission is to make psychological care more accessible, welcoming, and free from stigma for those seeking support.
Here, you are seen, heard and supported. Together, we can navigate the challenges of immigration with compassion and understanding.
My own journey as an immigrant has also deeply shaped my work.
Beyond my academic training and clinical experience, many of the approaches I developed emerged from observing real gaps in the support available to immigrants.
Throughout my personal and professional path, I realized that many of the challenges immigrants face are not only practical or legal — they are also deeply emotional and cultural. Experiences such as acculturation, the process of adapting to a new culture while maintaining one’s identity, and cultural trauma, which can arise from loss, displacement, or difficult migration experiences, are still not fully understood within traditional clinical practice.
My personal life also informs this perspective. I am Brazilian, married to a Russian, and together we are raising two children who are growing up with multiple cultural identities. This everyday experience allows me to understand, in a very concrete way, the complexities of multicultural families and cross-cultural relationships.
Along my own journey, I have also faced difficult experiences as an immigrant — including moments of vulnerability and trauma. These experiences remind us that even with education and professional knowledge, no one is completely immune to unfamiliar systems, lack of information, or situations of exploitation. Many times, we simply do not know our rights or have the language to understand what we are experiencing.
These experiences led me to deepen my studies and develop a multicultural clinical approach, which I now also share through trainings for other mental health professionals.
I may not speak every language, but I am committed to creating a space where your language is welcome, your cultural identity is respected, and multicultural relationships are embraced.
Because often, feeling understood begins with being able to show up exactly as you are — in the full complexity of your story.
My Journey and Why Multiculturalism Matters in My Work
Specialized Therapy for Trauma and Multiculturalism in Boston, Massachusetts
All services are offered online - in English , Portuguese and Spanish - providing practical and confidential service.
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Training and Specializations
Bachelor's Degree in Psychology -
Catholic University of Brasilia (Feb 2005 - Dec 2010)
Postgraduate Program in Psychopathology and Diagnosis -
Catholic University of Brasilia (Feb 2011 - Dec 2012)
Master in Mental Health Counseling with a Concentration in Trauma -
Cambridge College (Jan 2018 - Jan 2021)
Motivational Interviewing: Advancing the Practice
Psychological First Aid
National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), face-to-face course;
Specialist in Sex Therapy
Clinical Psychology and Integrated Sexology;
Specialist in Psychological Diagnosis with Rorschach
Training Course in Psychodiagnosis with Rorschach. National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), in-person course.
Specialist in Psychological Diagnosis with Rorschach Drug Abuse Prevention
Federal University of Santa Catarina;
Ego State Psychotherapy
Trauma Space;
Work with Intrafamily Sexual Violence against Children and Adolescents
Agilita Institute;
System for Detecting Abuse and Dependence on Psychoactive Substances
Federal University of Sao Paulo;
Human Resources in Psychosocial Services for Drug Addicts
Brazilian Federation of Therapeutic Communities.
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Areas of Expertise
Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Assessment and treatment of psychological trauma and PTSD, including experiences related to violence, exploitation, abuse, accidents, displacement, migration processes, and other situations of intense stress that can deeply affect emotional and psychological functioning.
Psychological Evaluations for Immigration Cases
Conducting specialized clinical evaluations for immigration processes, including VAWA, Asylum, T-Visa, U-Visa, I-601, I-601A, SIJS, and other immigration cases, with professional psychological reports that document the emotional and psychological impact of lived experiences.
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Psychological Evaluations in Accident Cases
Assessment of the psychological impact resulting from accidents, including symptoms of trauma, persistent fear, anxiety, emotional changes, and difficulties adjusting after the event.
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Psychological Reports for Restraining Orders
Preparation of clinical reports that document the psychological impact of situations involving threats, violence, or abuse, helping to clearly and professionally express emotional effects that are often difficult to put into words.
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Immigrant Mental Health
Psychological support for immigrants facing the emotional challenges of living between cultures, navigating immigration uncertainties, and rebuilding their lives in a new country.
Acculturation and Cultural Identity
Therapeutic work focused on the process of cultural adaptation, identity changes, and the emotional tensions that can arise when living between different cultures, languages, and social systems.
Cross-Cultural Relationships
Support for couples and families navigating different cultural dynamics, helping them address differences in values, communication styles, family expectations, and migration-related stressors.
Anxiety
Treatment of symptoms such as constant worry, physical tension, feeling constantly on edge, racing thoughts, and difficulty relaxing.
Depression
Support for individuals experiencing persistent sadness, low energy, lack of motivation, sleep difficulties, emotional overwhelm, and decreased interest in daily activities.
Professional Training and Capacity Building
Development of trainings for mental health professionals on multiculturalism, trauma, and culturally responsive clinical care for immigrant populations, grounded in both clinical practice and multicultural experience.
Evidence-Based Therapeutic Approaches
Integration of Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Attachment, Regulation, and Competency (ARC) in clinical work with individuals and families, promoting emotional regulation, strengthening relationships, and building adaptive coping skills.