Empowering couples and individuals of color to interrupt painful cycles with culturally rooted, emotion focused therapy so they can thrive in their relationships
You deserve to feel emotionally safe and seen so you can build healthy relationships and experience healthy love that feels mutual.
Latina Therapist for relationships in Irvine, CA | CASA Therapy
You’re here because you’re tired of surviving or drowning in your relationship
You love each other but lately, it feels like you keep missing each other and like you’re speaking different languages.
You’re stuck in a cycle of disconnection: one of you shuts down, the other gets louder, and both of you end up feeling alone.
One of you carries the emotional labor while the other seems unaware of what’s happening.
You miss what your relationship once was but you’re not sure how to rebuild it.
You’ve kept going, hoping things will shift on their own… but deep down, you know something needs to change.
You’ve been trying really hard. You’ve implemented strategies that you already know, maybe even circled back to that one therapist you met a few years back.
And still, the disconnection lingers.
Because it’s not just about communication, it’s about emotional safety. It’s about understanding where the breakdown is occurring and building new patterns of relating to one another.
You want a relationship where you don’t have to shrink to be heard.
Where asking for your needs isn’t seen as too much.
Where you can talk openly about all the hard stuff without shut downs or escalations.
And yet, you’re hesitant because what if the hurt is too deep, or the distance between you too wide?
Here’s what I want you to know:
Many couples go through ebbs and flows in their relationship.
You don’t have to do this perfectly, You just have to show up.
Together, we’ll slow down, name what’s been unspoken, and begin to repair the root of the disconnection.
Whether you’re rebuilding, re-evaluating if you want to continue being in the relationship, or deciding what’s next for your relationship, we will make space for all of it.
Because true partnership creates room for your whole selves, not just the pleasing parts.
It can mean coming to honor all parts of yourself and each other. And this is the space where we unpack it all.
My approach is rooted in emotional depth, cultural fluency, and relational healing.
We discuss the problem and I help you
get to the root of it.
So you can finally understand the patterns that keep showing up in your relationship. Together, we untangle the expectations, guilt, and negative cycles that may be challenging to identify when in conflict with your partner.
This isn’t therapy that asks you to leave parts of yourself at the door.
Your story, your identity, the good and the bad all belong here.
We move at a pace that feels safe and doable.
Using emotionally focused methods that honor both your history, your experiences, and your hopes.
I’m not here to “fix” either of you, I’m here to help you understand each other more deeply, rebuild trust, and create a relationship where you both feel safe, seen, and valued.
My services
Couples counseling
Emotionally focused couples therapy for those ready to break the cycle of disconnection and build a relationship rooted in mutual care, safety, and understanding.
Individual counseling
Compassionate, culturally responsive therapy for first-gen women of color navigating relationship pain, identity struggles, and the weight of emotional burnout. Together, we’ll work toward clarity, confidence, and self-trust.
Grief counseling
Culturally sensitive, grief-informed therapy to help you navigate loss. Whether it’s the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or a life transition you didn’t choose, this space will honor your pain, make meaning of loss, and begin healing at your own pace.
Immigration evaluations
Trauma-informed psychological evaluations for U Visa, VAWA, Asylum, and Hardship Waivers delivered with care, clinical depth, and cultural awareness.
Couples counseling
Emotionally focused couples therapy for those ready to break the cycle of disconnection and build a relationship rooted in mutual care, safety, and understanding.
Individual counseling
Compassionate, culturally responsive therapy for first-gen women of color navigating relationship pain, identity struggles, and the weight of emotional burnout. Together, we’ll work toward clarity, confidence, and self-trust.
Grief counseling
Culturally sensitive, grief-informed therapy to help you navigate loss. Whether it’s the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or a life transition you didn’t choose, this space will honor your pain, make meaning of loss, and begin healing at your own pace.
Immigration evaluations
Trauma-informed psychological evaluations for U Visa, VAWA, Asylum, and Hardship Waivers delivered with care, clinical depth, and cultural awareness.
Couples counseling
Emotionally focused couples therapy for those ready to break the cycle of disconnection and build a relationship rooted in mutual care, safety, and understanding.
Individual counseling
Compassionate, culturally responsive therapy for first-gen women of color navigating relationship pain, identity struggles, and the weight of emotional burnout. Together, we’ll work toward clarity, confidence, and self-trust.
Grief counseling
Culturally sensitive, grief-informed therapy to help you navigate loss. Whether it’s the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or a life transition you didn’t choose, this space will honor your pain, make meaning of loss, and begin healing at your own pace.
Immigration evaluations
Trauma-informed psychological evaluations for U Visa, VAWA, Asylum, and Hardship Waivers delivered with care, clinical depth, and cultural awareness.
Feeling emotionally disconnected from your partner?
Download my Free Guide Monthly Relationship Reset Calendar "30 Days of Small Actions for Big Connection"
You deserve more than survival mode.
Let’s build the kind of life and relationships that feel nourishing, safe, and rooted in your truth. Ready to start feeling like yourself again?
Hola, I’m Dama, short for Damaris
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified Grief Educator, and founder of CASA Therapy.
I’m trained in Emotion Focused Therapy for both couples and individuals. I firmly believe that love can be healing when both people are willing to do the work.
I didn’t come to this profession by accident. I’ve walked away from toxic relationships and an abusive marriage, done the messy work of healing, and still believe in the kind of love that feels safe, mutual, and deeply rooted.
I started this practice to create the kind of space I once needed where your story is honored without judgement, your pain is seen with empathy, and your healing leads to empowerment. For some, that also means untangling and deconstructing religious beliefs or cultural narratives that have shaped how they see themselves, love, and relationships.
Since then, I’ve had the privilege of supporting many clients as they’ve broken old cycles and reimagined what love can feel like. Outside the office I’m known to always say yes to a hike, a heartfelt conversation, or a second cup of coffee.
Testimonials
Dama's approach to therapy is marked by empathy, insight, and a profound commitment to fostering positive change. I can confidently attest to her exceptional skills and unwavering dedication to the well-being of her clients.
Depression/Anxiety ~ Hyland & Associates
Dama is a colleague & a professional that truly cares about her clients & their therapeutic journey. She is highly skilled in Emotionally Focused Therapy helping individuals & couples navigate & strengthen their emotional connections within relationships.
Jan Covyeau
As a former US military officer, I can see Dama being a great therapist for active-duty members, families, and veterans. I confidently recommend clients to Dama because she cares and has clients' best interests in mind.
Angela Chwe
You both deserve more than simply coexisting. Let’s create the kind of love that feels mutual, grounded, and emotionally safe for both of you.
On the blog
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