Zehra Dos Santos, LCSW

Zehra Dos Santos is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in California who helps people manage stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, and major life changes. She focuses on building practical skills clients can use between sessions. Zehra centers the person's strengths and choices in each meeting.

She treats concerns such as motivation struggles, confidence issues, and coping during transitions. She also addresses abandonment wounds, communication problems, control issues, and questions about life purpose. Zehra pays attention to women's issues, immigration-related stress, and aging or geriatric concerns when they come up.

Her style is collaborative and straightforward. Sessions aim to clarify what matters most to the client and to try small, concrete steps toward those goals. She uses tools that fit the person rather than a one-size-fits-all plan.

Clinical approaches in her work include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Mindfulness Therapy. These methods are used to help people notice thoughts and feelings, try new actions, and develop coping skills.

Zehra has three years of professional experience helping people navigate tough moments. She believes the client is the expert on their life and offers guidance and support to move toward a more fulfilling, manageable daily life.

Online approaches that focus on thinking, values, and skills

CBT, or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and try different behaviors to reduce anxiety and low mood. It breaks problems into small parts and tests what works in daily life.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) teaches people to clarify values and commit to meaningful action even when difficult emotions are present. It can help when life changes or uncertainty make it hard to move forward.

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes listening, empathy, and the client's own goals. The therapist follows the client's lead and supports self-directed growth.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss options and match methods to the client's needs, goals, and preferences. This is a collaborative process where adjustments are made over time if something isn't working.

Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy more flexible. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation, phone sessions can be easier when internet bandwidth is limited, and messaging works well for brief check-ins or people who prefer not to be on camera. These options let people fit sessions into work days, caregiving schedules, or other commitments.