As a mother with a son diagnosed with a mental illness and cognitive disabilities in which has left him sick with an immune disorder, I too have met with similar challenges of asking for help. With my personal and professional experience, I can assist you in dealing with life’s obstacles and provide hope during your most difficult times. I earned my Masters at Argosy University in Alameda California and have been working as a therapist for 10 years. In my life work, I am fortunate to have worked with both children and adults struggling in childhood abuse, traumatic experiences, grief and loss, depression, anxiety, and mood disorders. In addition, I work with adults with Substance Abuse Disorder, caregivers caring for a mentally ill loved one, functional life skills, relationship issues, and parenting. My theoretical approaches are evidenced based practices which include Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to decrease high anxiety and manage moods that interfere in the daily function, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to manage difficult events in your day that create mental chaos and confusion, Solution Focused Brief Therapy for couples and families, and Internal Family Systems (IFS) to reduce emotions and reactions shaped by childhood trauma. Thank you for viewing my profile. I look forward to meeting you. Dawn Mehalakis, MA, LMFT #112276