You can be grateful for your life and still want something to change.
I know what it feels like to start over and try to find your place in a world that still feels unfamiliar.
I moved to the United States from Iran in my early twenties. Like many people who move to a new country, I was excited about what was ahead, but there was also a lot to figure out. I was learning how things worked, adjusting to a different culture, building relationships, and trying to imagine what my life would look like here.
There were moments of excitement and possibility, and there were moments when I missed home. Sometimes, starting over meant learning something new. Other times, it meant figuring out who I was becoming in the middle of all that change.
I think there's a part of starting over that people don't always talk about. You can be working hard to build a good life and still feel a little lost along the way. You can be proud of how far you've come and still miss what you left behind. You can be surrounded by people and still be figuring out where you belong.
For a while, my path was in software development. It was the career I knew, and I kept moving forward. But over time, I found myself drawn to different questions. I became curious about people, about the experiences that shape us, and about why we sometimes keep living in ways that no longer feel right for us.
That curiosity stayed with me. Eventually, I made the decision to return to school and study clinical psychology. It wasn't a small change. I was stepping into something new again, with all the uncertainty that comes with beginning a different chapter. But this time, I was moving toward something that felt deeply meaningful to me.
Looking back, much of my own life has involved adapting, navigating change, and learning to trust myself along the way. I've come to understand how easy it is to get so caught up in building a life, meeting expectations, and being there for others that we lose touch with what we need.
I see this in many of the people I work with. They are often responsible, hardworking, and the ones others count on. But underneath, they may be overthinking decisions, feeling guilty about setting boundaries, or wondering why a life that looks good on paper doesn't always feel right.
Sometimes, we've spent so much time being the strong one that we've forgotten to ask ourselves: What do I actually want?
I don't believe there's anything wrong with the parts of us that learned to keep going, keep the peace, or hold everything together. Those patterns often developed for a reason. But what helped us through one chapter doesn't have to define the next.
That's what draws me to this work. I'm interested in getting to know the person beneath the roles, expectations, and ways you've learned to get by. Together, we can explore the patterns that keep showing up, the feelings you've pushed aside, and the needs that deserve more room.
I draw from EMDR, parts work, somatic approaches, and mindfulness, tailoring therapy to your experiences and what you're navigating. You don't need to have everything figured out or know exactly where to begin. We can start with what's been weighing on you lately.
Outside of work, I enjoy journaling, a good cup of coffee or matcha, cooking, and spending time in nature. I'm still learning and growing, too, and I appreciate the small moments that bring me back to myself.
If you've spent a long time being capable, dependable, or strong for everyone else, I hope you know that you deserve space to be a person, too. Someone with needs, questions, hopes, and dreams of their own.
You don't have to start over to begin again. Sometimes, it starts with getting curious about yourself and giving yourself permission to want something different.
I'd be glad to meet you there.
Ways We Can Work Together
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Therapy sessions for adults in California. $220 per individual session.
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A thoughtful, integrative approach combining goal-setting, parts work, and somatic awareness to help you better understand yourself, shift old patterns, and create meaningful change. $180 per 45-minute session.
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Extended sessions offering dedicated time and space for deeper therapeutic work using EMDR, somatic approaches, and IFS-informed parts work. These sessions allow for more focused exploration of patterns, processing of difficult experiences, and meaningful emotional work. A good fit for those seeking more time and depth beyond a traditional therapy session.
Half day (2-4 hours), Full days (4-6 hours), and Multi-Day intensives are available upon request.
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I draw from several evidence-based and mind-body approaches to support healing, emotional growth, and a deeper connection with yourself.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
A therapy approach that helps the brain process distressing memories and experiences, reducing their emotional intensity and impact on daily life.
IFS (Internal Family Systems)
An approach that helps you understand the different parts of yourself, including protective parts and younger, wounded parts, with greater compassion and curiosity.
DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy)
A skills-based approach that supports emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and healthier communication and relationships.
Mindfulness
Practices that help you become more present, notice your thoughts and emotions without judgment, and develop a more compassionate relationship with yourself.
Somatic Therapy
A body-centered approach that explores how stress and past experiences show up in the body, helping you build awareness, regulate your nervous system, and reconnect with yourself.
This website belongs to Efaf Ghayem, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist -California License #154633
Virtual in California | Email me directly: Efaf.ghayem@gmail.com