Tiara Peterkin, LCSW (CA-69750)

My perspective and approach to therapy has been informed by two things: my experience overcoming the same challenges I help my clients through and also my commitment to quality education. I am survivor, proudly so. The resilience I've curated in my own life has allowed me to overcome incredible odds that have been set against me. I believe the pain, grief, and chaos that l have overcome in life has allowed me to share, with purpose, the mindset and strategies I know personally will make a difference for people. Life experience must be refined and framed by evidence-based interventions and theory as well. I am an Ivy-league graduate with a life long commitment to learning. I believe combining the two allows me to relate the knowledge of mental health wellness in a tangible, digestible way. Human dignity and the right to self-determination are the two values that define my approach to therapy the most. I believe that all people hold inherent value and worth simply because they are human. I know that life can create challenges that cause some people to doubt that in themselves. I believe helping clients uncover their strengths and their inherent worth is an important step in therapy. From there, we can leverage those strengths to help create the future we want to be a part of. Self-determination is equally important. I believe the closer we get to defining our values, our lives, and our dreams for ourselves, the more authentic we live. Living authentically in my opinion is the basis for true freedom. I am a Black, lesbian, cis-gender woman and these identities also allow me to bring a unique perspective to my practice. I've navigated the challenges of achieving emotional freedom and professional success in a world as a minority. I understand some of the psychological conflict one might face trying to fit in socially in a society whose norms have not been set with them in mind. I also know how hard it is to ask for help when you identify with a culture that may not value 'talking about your business' as much as you want to. I like to remind people that all the best athletes have only arrived at their peak performance through coaching. Therapy is like that. Whether you're good on your way to great or fine on your way to good, I have the skills, background, and experience to help get you there. Let's work.