SARA PALAKAWONG, AMFT
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
&
Associate Professional Clinical Counselor
She/Her
Your Growth & Fulfillment
My goal in our work together, is to get you where you want to grow.
WHY I BECAME A THERAPIST...
As I was growing up in an immigrant household, mental health seemed like the least of our worries when it felt like money, success, trying to “fit” in, and keeping traditions were the most important. Any signs of mental health struggles were hushed and swept under the rug, since other struggles were deemed more important to take care of; sadly, many members of my family were tragically struggling but never sought help because of socio-cultural stigma and the idea that “mental health isn’t important”. More so, I was losing myself and did not know my identity - too immigrant, but not immigrant enough; too western, but not western enough. I did not realize then that this identity imbalance was causing conflicting emotions, internal rifts, boundary issues, and relationship impacts - all of which were taking a toll on my mental wellbeing. As I surrounded myself with fellow minority friends and we recognized our similar upbringings, struggles, and values, it became clear to me that I wanted to be an advocate and representation for those who need support in their mental health journey. I hope that who I am and what I represent can inspire individuals with similar experiences to reach out and find that gentle guidance of therapy.
CLIENTS I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH?
Our journey through therapy starts with getting to know you, such as your family background, your cultural background, and your values. We will acknowledge both your strengths and your challenges in life, pinpointing the experiences you would like to process during our time together. From there, we will collaborate on short-term and long-term goals; this will be a working list, depending on where you feel you are on your journey. Always feel free to communicate to me what is working or not for you or what has changed and we can adjust and accommodate. Along the way to reaching your goals, I will introduce techniques and therapeutic tools for you to try out; I will guide your self-reflections and self-discoveries; and, I will reassure you through our collaboration and process.
While I look forward to working with any and all clients, I connect best with BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ individuals who are having a hard time with fortifying their identities, family dynamic issues, and struggling with phases of life problems (becoming independent adults, moving away from home, etc.). Through lived-in experience, I relate to Southeast Asian-American, queer identities; geo-socially, I grew up in a Latinx-majority community. I have experience with Complex PTSD and childhood traumatic experiences.
Top Challenges I Work Best With:
- Asian Identified Minority Stress & Issues
- Anxiety
- Life Transitions
- LGBTQI Affirmative Support
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 & Associate Professional Clinical Counselor registered with the Board of Behavioral Sciences in the state of California
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Supervised by Dr. Ida Fariba, PsyD, LMFT, Employed by Grounded Connections Counseling, Inc.
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Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology (M.A.) with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine University
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LGBTQIA+ & Transgender Affirmative Care Trained
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Trauma informed & trained in crisis management
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Offers services in Thai and English
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Experience working with Families, BIPOC Issues, Anxiety, Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Complex Trauma & Trauma
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Experiences in Equine Therapy and Horticultural Therapy Approaches
Theories I use to help you reach your goals...
I believe in a collaborative, integrative, recovery-oriented approach when guiding you towards a life that is fulfilling for you. Whether that is healing, growth, or personal reflection, I welcome you with respect, humility, and openness! It is within my person to always meet you where you are at. You are not simply the sum of your experiences, but you are so much more, and that is an assurance I will always refer to in therapy. We will envision your growth together and what your life would look like after and beyond therapy. While I may draw from psychodynamic, family systems, and IFS for my personal understanding, these modalities are not the “be all, end all”; YOU matter the most and are in the forefront of my mind. In keeping with this, we will collaborate on a treatment plan that can include multiple techniques from various modalities such as DBT, CBT, or Somatic Experiencing - whichever techniques would best guide you are what we will utilize. As unique as you are, so should your therapy be. For me, connection is key, and I hope to foster a wonderful open connection with you, where you feel safe, heard, and supported as we move towards your goals.
Wondering whether you should start now or later?
Therapy is challenging - there will be uncomfortable moments, strong emotions, vulnerability, and difficult questions. But, as with all challenges, there is growth and reward: From uncomfortable moments to acknowledgement and recognition; from strong emotions to validation and appreciation; from vulnerability to authenticity and self-acceptance; and, from difficult questions to understanding and clarity. Therapy is challenging, but I will be there with you every step of the way until you look at me and confidently say “Sarah, I got this”. So, are you up for the challenge?
Fees for Services
$185- Individual Counseling
$215 - Relationship Counseling
I offer telehealth and in person therapy services
in our Fountain Valley location.
I offer a few limited sliding scale opportunities.
I am in-network with Cigna, Aetna & United insurance.
I can provide a Superbill to anyone wanting to claim partial reimbursement for their PPO health plan out of network benefits.
