PAOLA PATEL, AMFT
she/her
Curiosity and Transformation
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Reaching out for help may not always come natural, but it takes courage to honor the instinct to change. Perhaps you have arrived at a place where curiosity has sprung and you are ready to explore why you are seeking guidance?
I would be truly honored to create time and space with you on this path to transformation.
WHY I BECAME A THERAPIST...
My therapy journey began with my certification in Yoga Therapy C-IAYT and my own healing process in attending therapy personally. I have also been in a place of feeling depleted, unsatisfied, and lost in life.
Experiencing the benefits of mind-body connection through therapy, inspired me to be a part of the collective ripple to personal development.
CLIENTS I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH?
For Relationships, I love working with people as they grow into their relationships. I also help those with trauma work through relational issues that may be a result of the unresolved trauma through relational counseling.
For my work with Individuals, being a part of the BIPOC community and latine immigrant, I greatly enjoy my work with BIPOC identified women on working on women's issues and empowerment. I am able to offer sessions in Spanish and English. I offer telehealth and in person sessions (Irvine, CA).
I also believe in providing LGBT+ informed and affirmative care. I utilize my trainings to help assist those struggling with anxiety and finding healthy ways to cope with overwhelming emotions.
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Top Challenges I Work Best With:
- Women's Issues
- BIPOC Issues & Biracial/Multicultural Relationships
- Anxiety
What does starting therapy look like?
If you are interested in working with me, please call us at 949-329-5233 or fill in the contact form below and a representative from our office will get back to you to see if I would be a good fit for your needs.
If it is deemed we are a good fit, you will receive your intake documents through your email to be completed electronically in the client portal of our electronic health record. There will be about 6-8 pages to sign in order to begin services, including informed consent forms, intake questionnaires, demographic questionnaires, and credit card form, etc. The exact forms will depend on the treatment service and the need for counseling.
What can I expect in a first session?
During the first session, I will cover the practice policies and go over your intake questionnaires to ensure we have a good grasp for establishing treatment goals. The first session will be used to gather more information about yourself (or your relationship with your partner), your relationship with the problem at hand, and establishing clearly defined goals for treatment, as well as establish therapeutic rapport to ensure a comfortable space for your continued growth in treatment.
MY PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND:
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Associate Marriage and Family Therapist registered with the Board of Behavioral Sciences in the state of California
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Masters of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Alliant International University
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Member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (CAMFT)
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Yoga Therapist C-IAYT
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Reiki Master, Usui & Karuna
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Brainspotting Phase 1 & 2 Trained
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Trauma-informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST) level 1
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Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Trained
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Yoga Nidra
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LGBTQIA+ & Transgender Affirmative Care Trained
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Relationships- BIPOC, Interracial/Intercultural, LGBT+, Ethical-Non-Monogamy, & Traditional Relationships
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Bilingual Spanish