Therapy in Lake Forest, CA | Counselor Dama Perez
Sometimes in Lake Forest, CA, the calm environment only highlights how chaotic or numb things feel at home. You’ve held things together for so long that being vulnerable feels like a risk. Therapy invites you to stop performing resilience, explore deeper emotional truths, and rebuild a relationship where you don’t have to be the strong one all the time.
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 MOREThere’s a moment when you realize you’re tired of repeating the same argument. Tired of disconnecting. Tired of missing each other. Together in therapy we look at what’s beneath the recurring fights. We untangle cultural stories, fears, and unmet needs so you can show up with compassion instead of defensiveness.
Individual Therapy
LEARN MORESome wounds don’t come from relationships ending, they come from how much you had to shrink while staying. Here, you don’t have to justify your hurt, your confusion, or your hope. Therapy becomes a safe place to untangle your story, honor your resilience, and begin choosing yourself without fear of abandonment or guilt.
Anxiety Therapy
LEARN MOREPerhaps your anxiety doesn’t come as panic, but quietly inside your thoughts, second guessing everything you say, rethinking every text, expecting something to go wrong. Therapy helps you explore how these thoughts are connected to old wounds, internalized expectations, or relational habits that kept you safe in the past. You’ll learn how to ground yourself gently and build emotional safety at your own pace.
Premarital Counseling
LEARN MOREMarriage brings up more than rings and celebration, it brings up patterns. Maybe in your family, disagreements meant silence, and in theirs, it meant yelling. In premarital counseling, we hold space for those histories and help you build a new shared language that feels safe, respectful, and emotionally alive for both of you.
Grief Counseling
LEARN MORESome days, it feels like you’re doing okay and then a memory unravels you. That’s not failure, that’s grief. Counseling becomes a space to ride those emotional tides with support, grounding, and language for what’s happening in your body. You deserve a place where your loss is seen and honored, without needing to be “fixed.”
Immigration Evaluations
LEARN MOREYou’ve survived so much already, violence, separation, fear, uncertainty. An immigration evaluation becomes a bridge between what you survived and the legal protection you’re seeking. Together, we carefully document the emotional and psychological toll of your experience, creating a report that strengthens your case and helps others understand what’s not visible on the surface.
I serve first-generation women of color in Lake Forest, CA
From Foothill Ranch to Baker Ranch and the scenic Lake Forest Sports Park, this city blends quiet living with easy access to nature. It’s a grounding setting for exploring emotional work and building resilience. My office, located at 4 Venture Suite 355, Irvine, CA 92618, is just a 9 minute drive from Lake Forest, and I also offer virtual therapy sessions 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 Lake Forest, CA
I serve first-generation women of color processing anxiety, grief, or relational hurt. Whether you're near Baker Ranch, Foothill Ranch, or Lake Forest Sports Park, I provide online support that blends emotional clarity with culturally informed care.
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.
