Therapy in Aliso Viejo, CA | Counselor Dama Perez
In Aliso Viejo, CA, surrounded by order and comfort, it can feel surreal that inside your relationship you’re quietly shrinking. I help first-generation women of color break free from survival-mode love that disconnects them from themselves. Together, we create space for clarity, softness, and emotional safety where you no longer need to disappear to stay loved.
How it works
Step 1
A thorough intake session where we explore your relationship history, cultural backgrounds, and current struggles so we can understand the deeper patterns behind the disconnection.
Step 2
Emotionally focused sessions to help you with clarity, begin repairing trust, and rebuild emotional safety.
Step 3
Ongoing, guided sessions with personalized homework, where we break unhelpful cycles, strengthen connection, and practice healthier ways of relating so your relationship feels more like a true partnership.
Explore my therapy services and specialization
Couples Therapy
LEARN MOREIt’s not that you don’t love each other, it’s that the weight of repair has been uneven for too long. Maybe one of you overfunctions while the other shuts down. Couples therapy becomes the chance to rebalance the emotional load, uncover why the distance grew, and create new ways of relating that don’t require self-erasure.
Individual Therapy
LEARN MOREYou’ve done everything right and still feel stuck in the same relationship patterns. Maybe you stay silent so conflict doesn’t explode. Maybe you over-explain just to not be misunderstood. In counseling, we unravel those patterns and explore what safety, honesty, and emotional reciprocity could feel like for you, not just in theory, but in practice.
Anxiety Therapy
LEARN MOREYou might be used to hearing that you worry too much, but the truth is your mind has been doing the best it can to keep you safe. For women of color holding multiple identities and expectations, anxiety often shows up as perfectionism, emotional exhaustion, or feeling like you can never rest. Therapy offers a culturally aware space to understand that this anxiety isn’t a weakness, it’s a response. And it can be transformed.
Premarital Counseling
LEARN MOREYou love each other wholeheartedly, but you come from different stories. One of you may have grown up in emotional chaos, the other in quiet disconnect. In therapy, we explore how those stories inform your expectations of love, conflict, and partnership. Premarital work at CASA Therapy helps you build a foundation that honors both where you come from and where you want to go together.
Grief Counseling
LEARN MOREYou may feel like there’s no room to grieve because life expects you to keep functioning. Therapy gives you permission to pause, feel, and be held without judgment. We explore how grief affects your sleep, your focus, your relationships, and your sense of self so that healing can begin from the inside out.
Immigration Evaluations
LEARN MOREYour story deserves to be heard without fear or shame. Immigration evaluations aren’t meant to test or judge you, they exist to tell the truth about what has happened to you and how it still affects your life. I work with you gently, honoring cultural context and emotional impact, while creating a professional report that supports your legal process with clarity and compassion.
I serve first-generation women of color in Aliso Viejo, CA
Surrounded by Soka University, Aliso Town Center, and Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, this community blends nature and modern living in a way that supports emotional reflection. With quiet neighborhoods and scenic trails, many people find it easier to explore inner healing here. My office, located at 4 Venture Suite 355, Irvine, CA 92618, is just a 13-minute drive from Aliso Viejo, and I also offer virtual sessions for those who prefer support from home.
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
I'm Dama Perez, founder of Casa Therapy offering therapy in Aliso Viejo, CA
I help first-generation women of color reconnect with themselves and break harmful emotional cycles. From Soka University to Aliso Town Center, I provide accessible online therapy that honors your cultural story and helps make your emotional world feel safe again.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use insurance for therapy?
I am currently an out-of-network provider. However, I can provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance for possible reimbursement. Many PPO plans offer partial reimbursement checks with your provider to confirm your benefits.
Do you offer a sliding scale?
Yes! I offer two sliding scale spots for clients with financial need. If cost is a concern, please reach out. I'm happy to discuss options during your consultation.
What does the therapy process look like?
We start with an intake session to explore your relationship history, communication patterns, and goals. From there, we’ll meet regularly to uncover deeper emotional patterns, build new tools for connection, and work toward the relationship you want to create. Therapy is always tailored to your unique story and pace.
What if I need to cancel or reschedule a session?
Life happens! I ask for at least 48 hours’ notice for cancellations or reschedules. Sessions canceled with less than 48 hours’ notice may be subject to the full session fee. No-shows or missed appointments without prior notice will be charged the full session rate, as that time is reserved specifically for you.
How does virtual therapy work?
Sessions are held through a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform. You’ll receive a private link before each session. All you need is a quiet and confidential space, a reliable internet connection, and a device with a camera and microphone.
What if I don’t feel like we’re a good fit?
It’s completely normal to wonder if therapy is the right match for you. Building trust and feeling comfortable with your therapist is essential for meaningful growth. If at any point you feel unsure about our connection or approach, please let me know. We can talk openly about it and decide together whether to adjust our work or explore other options. Your comfort and progress are my top priorities, and I’m here to support you every step of the way whether that means continuing together or helping you find the best path forward.
Good Faith Estimate (No Surprises Act)
This Good Faith Estimate shows the costs of services that are reasonably expected for the expected services to address your mental health care needs. The estimate is based on the information known to us when we did the estimate.
The Good Faith Estimate does not include any unknown or unexpected costs that may arise during treatment. You could be charged more if complications or special circumstances occur. If this happens, federal law allows you to dispute (appeal) the bill.
If you are billed for more than this Good Faith Estimate, you have the right to dispute the bill.
You may contact the contact listed above if billed charges are higher than the Good Faith Estimate. You can request an update to the bill to match the Good Faith Estimate, ask to negotiate the bill, or ask if there is financial assistance available.
You may also start a dispute resolution process with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). If you choose to use the dispute resolution process, you must start the dispute process within 120 calendar days (about 4 months) of the date on the original bill.
There is a $25 fee to use the dispute process. If the agency reviewing your dispute agrees with you, you will have to pay the price on this Good Faith Estimate. If the agency disagrees with you and agrees with the health care provider or facility, you will have to pay the higher amount.
To learn more and get a form to start the process, go to: www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call CMS at 1-800-985-3059.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate or the dispute process, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call CMS at 1-800-985-3059 .
This Good Faith Estimate is not a contract. It does not obligate you to accept the services listed above.
