Shahrzad Azarafza, LCSW

As a Persian - American immigrant, I have had various personal and professional experiences that have led me to the field of mental health. Not only do I come from a family of professional helpers (e.g., social workers & nurses, as well as physicians), but also, I have been an extremely empathetic individual since childhood — almost to a fault. I consider this to be one of my human super powers now! Of course, being such an emotionally intuitive and empathetic person can have disadvantages too. I like my patients to know that I have personally been through the process of therapy myself. Yes, therapists need therapists too! Since I have had own my self-growth journey through therapy, I am able to have the unique perspective and understanding of being the patient and the difficulties that come with personal growth & change. ​ My educational career began with a major in psychology from Saddleback Community College where I earned an Associate of Arts degree in Psychology in 2012 and soon after, my Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from UC San Diego in 2014. After nearly a year of dedicated work as a para-educator for special education, I realized my passion for social justice and serving disenfranchised populations. This led me to pursue a Master of Arts in Direct Practice Social Work (M.S.W.) from San Diego State University, which I completed in 2017. Since 2015, I have worked as a pre-licensed and licensed therapist in intensive outpatient, residential and outpatient community mental health settings. My professional experience has primarily been with the adolescent and adult populations for treatment of co-occuring chemical dependency and mental health conditions. I transitioned into private practice in early 2019, eventually opening my own in 2021. My mission as a practice is to provide accessible, quality, affirming, & affordable mental health services to residents of Orange County -- and of course, surrounding areas all over California with the assistance of Telehealth. My mission as a clinician is to provide a safe and compassionate therapeutic space for patients in order to foster healing, resilience, & inner peace. ​ My clinical specialties and areas of interest include: Acute or Chronic Trauma (PTSD) & Related Adverse Childhood Experiences Personality Disorders or Traits Co-Occuring Mental Health & Substance Use Mood Disorders (Bipolar/Unipolar Depression) Generalized Anxiety Disorder Social Phobia/Social Anxiety Disorder OCD's/Tics, Phobias, Panic Disorder Attention-Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder Eating Disorders/Disordered Eating Diversity & Culture Oppression & Social Justice Grief & Loss Life Transitions Work Stress & Career Counseling Parent-Child Conflict Parent Coaching Relationships & Codependency Domestic or Intimate Partner Violence/Abuse Self-Esteem/Self-Compassion Assertiveness Effective Communication & Active Listening ​ *I am fluent in Persian and Azerbaijani and can conduct therapy in those languages per patient request. Modalities: My philosophy as a clinician is to treat the individual as a whole. What this means is that I truly take a comprehensive approach in my assessment where I consider the impact of all aspects of life (e.g., medical, social, environmental) on mental health and the individual's overall functioning. Additionally, I also believe in empowering the patient and allowing them to take control of their treatment using a humanistic and person-centered approach. This means working in collaboration to customize treatment in order to meet the needs of the patient and ultimately, improve their well-being. ​ An "ideal" patient working with me is someone who is motivated to improve their quality of life and end unnecessary suffering. Someone who is willing go through temporary emotional pain in order to help end their long-term or permanent state of suffering. After all, some of the most rewarding things in life require determination, patience and hard work. ​ ​ ​ Treatment Modalities: ​ Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP) Attached-Based/Psychodynamic Therapy