Therapy in Irvine, CA | Counselor Dama Perez
It happens quietly in Irvine, CA: you’ve built a life that looks right on the outside, yet inside your relationship you feel unseen and emotionally tired. I help first-generation women of color break the patterns that ask them to over-give in love and under-express their needs. Therapy here becomes the place where you finally feel safe to name what hurts and hopeful about what could be.
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 MORESomewhere along the way, your conversations stopped feeling like connection and started feeling like survival. Couples therapy offers a grounded space to break that cycle of miscommunication and emotional distance. Whether you're navigating cultural expectations or old relational wounds, you both deserve to feel seen, not just tolerated.
Individual Therapy
LEARN MOREYou’ve spent a lifetime being the emotional anchor for others, but no one ever taught you how to be held. Individual relationship counseling gives you space to process resentment, confusion, or heartbreak without minimizing what you’ve been through. It’s okay if you don’t know where to start. We’ll explore what’s been showing up in your relationships and why, so you can finally step into connection without abandoning your own needs.
Anxiety Therapy
LEARN MOREYou’ve pushed through, stayed busy, and tried to be strong, but the anxiety still lingers, racing thoughts, tight chest, and that sense that something is always about to go wrong. Therapy is where we slow everything down and untangle the deeper layers underneath it, the invisible emotional labor, the cultural pressure to stay quiet, the fear of letting others down. You don’t have to carry that alone anymore.
Premarital Counseling
LEARN MOREYou’ve built a love that feels like possibility, but deep down you want to be sure it’s built to last. Premarital counseling becomes your shared pause, where we make space for the real conversations that don’t always fit into wedding planning. Here, you bring your hopes and fears, the stories you grew up with, and the dreams you’re holding together, and we shape a marriage rooted in emotional safety and mutual truth.
Grief Counseling
LEARN MOREGrief doesn’t just live in your mind, it shows up in your body, in your relationships, and in how much energy it takes just to get through the day. You might feel numb one moment and overwhelmed the next. Counseling gives you space to speak what’s been silent, to feel without fear of being too much, and to slowly rebuild trust in your own ability to breathe through this pain.
Immigration Evaluations
LEARN MOREImmigration cases are not just legal processes, they are deeply personal stories of survival and hope. When the system asks you to prove what you’ve lived, it can feel overwhelming or retraumatizing. That’s why I provide psychological evaluations that honor your experience with care and precision, while clearly meeting the standards your case requires. You deserve to be seen not just as a file number but as a whole human being whose story matters.
I serve first-generation women of color in Irvine, CA
From Turtle Rock to Woodbridge and the quiet paths of Mason Regional Park, Irvine offers calming spaces and thoughtful community planning that support personal growth. Many clients find that being close to UC Irvine or the Jeffrey Open Space Trail helps them feel grounded during emotional work. Whether you prefer to meet in person at my office located at 4 Venture Suite 355, Irvine, CA 92618, or receive support virtually from anywhere in the city, therapy remains accessible and aligned with your needs.
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 Irvine, CA
I specialize in supporting first-generation women of color navigating anxiety, emotional patterns, and relational wounds. Whether you're near Turtle Rock, Woodbridge, or UCI, I offer online therapy that blends cultural awareness with deep emotional work so you no longer feel like you’re carrying it all alone.
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.
