Bahareh Lazemizadeh

Hi, I'm Bahareh (pronounced Bah-ha-reh) or B for short and I'm a dual-licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. I believe therapy should be a space where you feel genuinely seen, heard, and understood, without judgment.

Outside of my private practice, I serve as a Reentry Manager, helping individuals transition successfully from incarceration back into their communities, and I teach psychology and social work courses inside California state prisons. These experiences have deepened my understanding of resilience, trauma, systemic barriers, and the incredible capacity people have for growth and transformation.

I earned my Master's degree in Counseling Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute, where my research focused on rehumanizing individuals who have experienced systemic dehumanization. This work continues to inform my therapeutic approach, emphasizing compassion, curiosity, and honoring each person's unique story.

Whether you're feeling overwhelmed, stuck, navigating a difficult transition, or simply seeking a deeper understanding of yourself, therapy can provide a space to slow down, heal, and reconnect with the life you want to create. It would be a privilege to walk alongside you in that process.

My approach is warm, collaborative, trauma-informed, and deeply person-centered. Together, we'll explore not only the challenges you're facing today, but also the experiences, relationships, and patterns that have shaped your life. My goal is to help you build greater self-awareness, strengthen your emotional resilience, and create meaningful, lasting change.

I specialize in working with adults experiencing trauma, anxiety, depression, life transitions, grief, relationship challenges, identity exploration, and stress related to major life changes. I also have extensive experience supporting individuals impacted by the criminal legal system, including those navigating incarceration, reentry, and rebuilding life after release. My work is grounded in the belief that people are far more than the labels they've been given and that healing begins when we reconnect with our inherent worth and humanity.

I am passionate about the therapeutic work we will do in sessions and enjoy mixing conversation, with depth therapy to activate deeper awareness around your challenges and increase your confidence in your true sense of self. I will meet you with compassion, empathy and openness. Let us collaborate on your self-care journey!

Starting therapy can feel both exciting and intimidating, so my goal is to make your first session feel as comfortable and welcoming as possible. During our initial meeting, we'll spend time getting to know one another, discussing what brings you to therapy, and exploring what you hope to gain from the process.

I'll ask questions about your current concerns, personal history, relationships, strengths, and any experiences that may be impacting your well-being. Just as importantly, you'll have the opportunity to ask me questions and determine whether we're a good fit. I believe that a strong therapeutic relationship is one of the most important foundations for meaningful change.

You don't need to have everything figured out before coming to therapy. Whether you have a specific goal in mind or simply know that something isn't feeling right, we'll work together to better understand your experiences and create a treatment plan that feels supportive, collaborative, and tailored to your unique needs. My hope is that you'll leave the first session feeling heard, understood, and with a clearer sense of the path forward.