Therapy in Laguna Hills, CA | Counselor Dama Perez
Laguna Hills, CA offers familiarity and roots, but emotional safety in your relationship may still feel out of reach. Growing up, you learned to keep your feelings quiet to protect others. In therapy, you begin to gently unlearn that pattern and remember that your voice matters too, especially in love.
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 MOREYou’ve likely spent years holding it all together, smiling outside while struggling inside. Couples therapy offers the pause you’ve been craving, a space to untangle the silence instead of just fixing it. Here, you both learn to move from reactivity to understanding, making room for tenderness and truth.
Individual Therapy
LEARN MOREYou’ve held so many stories that were never spoken out loud. Stories of loving deeply but still feeling alone. Therapy gives you room to explore the emotional habits and unconscious patterns that have shaped your relationships. We’ll make space for your voice, your intuition, and your boundaries to grow roots.
Anxiety Therapy
LEARN MOREYou’ve tried deep breathing, journaling, even productivity, but no matter how much you juggle, your mind keeps spinning. Anxiety therapy becomes a place of permission to stop doing and start feeling. We make room for the body’s signals, soften the stories in your mind, and build tools that help you recognize that you’re safe, even when life feels overwhelming.
Premarital Counseling
LEARN MOREYou’ve imagined the wedding, but do you know how you want to do life together when conflict shows up, or when family expectations don’t align? Therapy becomes the sandbox where you get to build safety, negotiate values, and figure out how your dynamic actually feels in practice. Premarital counseling is not about fear, it’s about fortifying your bond with clarity and deep care.
Grief Counseling
LEARN MOREYou might look like you have it together on the outside, but inside the grief feels like a constant weight. Therapy is where we help you reconnect to the parts of yourself that feel lost in that weight. You’ll learn how to process the pain without abandoning your life or your heart in the process.
Immigration Evaluations
LEARN MOREMany people feel nervous about telling their story again. I understand. My role is to provide a safe, supportive space where you can share just what feels right, at your own pace. With trauma-informed practices, I help translate your lived experience into language that attorneys and judges can understand, creating a report that is both clinically sound and deeply human.
I serve first-generation women of color in Laguna Hills, CA
Close to the Laguna Hills Community Center, Moulton Ranch, and the Saddleback Memorial area, this community has a peaceful environment with strong connection. Whether you're near parks, gathering spots, or quiet residential streets, therapy is within reach. My office, located at 4 Venture Suite 355, Irvine, CA 92618, is just a 13 minute drive from Laguna Hills, and I also offer virtual therapy if you 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 Laguna Hills, CA
I support first-generation women of color untangling anxiety, grief, and relational pain while staying grounded in their cultural identity. From the Community Center to Moulton Ranch or Sandy Point, I provide online sessions for deep emotional and relational healing.
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.
