In a lot of ways your life is better now than it ever has been…

Internally, however, it’s a different story. You can’t shake the constant sense of unease you feel. You’re fine…but not fulfilled.

You may be struggling with:

• Stress at work

• Overthinking

• Unsatisfying relationships

• Lack of motivation

• Self Doubt

• Feeling numb

You’re beginning to realize that your go-to ways of dealing with stress and anxiety are coping mechanisms that no longer work but you’re not sure how to change.

You want to have more energy, feel more confident, and meet life’s challenges head on.

If you had a magic wand you would:

1. Have a stronger sense of who you are and what you want

2. Use your life experiences - even the hard ones - as fuel for growth

3. Improve your relationships

4. Trust yourself to set realistic goals and achieve them

5. Be able to relax and enjoy life more often

I’m Arezou Paksima (she/her), a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Durham, NC.

You want to make some changes in how you think, feel, and respond in life. I’m here to help you think through the barriers, learn the skills, and work together to move forward.

How I can support you…

Whether you’re a seasoned therapy veteran or this is your first time seeking support for your mental health, I am glad you’re here. It’s vulnerable and brave to face your fears (or tendency to procrastinate if you’re like me) and make that first call - but I hope you do. I offer a free 20 minute consultation where I can answer any questions you have, and tell you a little more about what to expect in working with me.

My theoretical approach…

Every therapist has certain modalities that guide their way of thinking about change and their treatment choices. Below are a few of the ways I’ve been trained and will approach our work together. I’ve included some links for further reading on each modality.

1) Psychodynamic: Our early life experiences and relationships help us organize the world around us. They inform the ways we feel about ourselves, the trust or mistrust we have in others, and the ways in which we feel safe to show up in the world. Gaining insight about our foundational experiences allows for change in the present.

2) Relational: We are hurt in relationship and we heal in relationship. As human beings, we are wired for love and connection. When our connections have been unreliable, unsafe, or even just apathetic, that has a profound impact on how we relate to ourselves and others. Therapy is an opportunity to work through unresolved upsets and create healthier ways of establishing and cultivating long-lasting relationships.

3) Internal Family Systems (IFS): There’s part of you that wants to reach out for help (the part of you that’s gotten this far down the page) and there’s part of you that feels unsure. We all have conflicting feelings, parts of us that we are more/less aware of. Young, unhealed parts of us that feel scared, critical parts that try to keep us motivated with fear, parts that want to protect us from pain. Together, we will talk about all of these “parts” and begin integrate them so you have a fuller understanding of your truest self.

4) Attachment: Attachment is a biological need. The ways in which our caregivers nurtured healthy attachment inform how we relate to others - securely, anxiously, with avoidance. Understanding our attachment styles gives us the ability to understand our relational patterns and make better choices.

5) EMDR: Unresolved trauma can create emotional blocks that prevent us from moving forward. EMDR is a modality that targets the thoughts, feelings, emotions, and bodily sensations that keep us stuck. By removing these blocks, our mind/body moves toward health. We begin to integrate our experience and formulate new, more compassionate thoughts and core beliefs.