LCSW, 7 years of experience
Let’s not sugar coat it! Starting therapy can feel like a HUGE, exciting and terrifying step forward. Let’s not focus on the mountain, let’s focus on what’s right in front of you! You don't have to have it all together, nor do you have to navigate life’s challenges alone. I’m Perleen Daroowalla and I aim to create a safe space where we can be straightforward and honest with each other while working through life’s challenges. I model the same honesty, accountability, and responsibility that I encourage in my clients. Therapy begins with where you are now, factors in where you have been, and builds a plan for where you want to go. You are the expert on your life! The therapeutic relationship is a collaborative process. Together, we will create an individualized plan based off where you want your life to be in a month, 6 months, and/or a year from now. I offer creative and realistic strategies to assist you in tackling life’s challenges. You'll leave sessions with skills you can actively use to accomplish your goals.
During our first session we will discuss what issues you are facing and what you intend to accomplish throughout therapy. We will also go over mandated reporting, confidentiality, and address any questions or concerns you may have.
My approach is both collaborative and practical. I will follow your lead in your healing journey and what goals you want to work on. I strive for direct and open communication, a safe space to feel supported and heard. I utilize different evidence based practices and treatment modalities, providing you realistic and effective skills to assist you in creating positive change in your life.
My ideal clients are those who are facing challenges that they want to tackle head on, despite the intense emotions that they may be experiencing. Whether you do not know where to start, are struggling with the your past impacting your present, or simply feel stuck, I am here to provide a supportive space to help you have hope for the future. With a growth mindset, self awareness, and effort we can work together to improve your quality of life and achieve your individualized goals.
In my practice, I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to work together with clients on noticing unhelpful thoughts, exploring how thoughts affect feelings and actions, and building healthier ways of thinking and coping that support lasting change. I use a mind-body approach by helping clients notice how their thoughts, feelings, and physical experiences are connected. My goal is to bring balance and relief by supporting clients in becoming more self aware and learning how to respond to their thoughts, emotions, and physical experiences with greater understanding and care.
By integrating components of evidence based practices such as Family Centered Treatment and Alternatives for Families: A Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, I empower clients to foster healthy and open communication to create emotional safety within their family system. I aim to increase overall wellbeing by addressing patterns within the family system to improve relationships and empower clients to develop skills to resolve conflicts on their own.
When I provide psychoeducation, I focus on breaking down complex mental health concepts into clear everyday language so clients can better understand what they're experiencing. I often use examples, visuals, or real-life situations to make the information relatable. I encourage clients to ask questions, so it feels like a conversation rather than a lecture. This approach empowers clients to maintain awareness of their symptoms, treatment options, and coping tools so they feel more confident and engaged in their own healing process.
I take a humanistic approach by meeting clients where they are, offering a safe and supportive space where clients feel truly heard and encouraged in their growth - all while walking alongside them as they grow.
I have extensive experience in trauma informed care, drawing on several evidence-based practices to support clients in a safe and empowering way. I integrate approaches and components of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Alternatives for Families: A Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Family Centered Treatment, Dialectal Behavioral Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. My focus is to help clients process their experiences while also building resiliency.