Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist · California · Telehealth
Culturally responsive therapy and life coaching for individuals ready to heal, grow, and live with greater intention — wherever you come from, whatever your story.
M.S. Counseling · Palo Alto University
I approach each person with openness, never assuming your experience fits a mold.
I actively work to understand and honor your cultural identity throughout our work together.
My practice is affirming for all backgrounds, identities, and walks of life.
Sessions are shaped around you — your comfort, your rhythm, your goals.
About me
I have had the privilege of working with clients from a wide range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and I bring genuine curiosity, humility, and deep respect to every therapeutic relationship.
With more than 8 years of clinical experience and a Master's in Counseling from Palo Alto University, I bring both deep expertise and genuine warmth to every session. I tailor my approach to honor each person's unique lived experience, values, and worldview. As an advocate for equity and inclusion, I am committed to creating a space where you feel truly seen, heard, and understood — regardless of where you come from or the language in which you best express yourself.
All sessions are held via secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth video, making quality mental health care accessible to you wherever you are in California.
Palo Alto University
State of California
Clinical Experience
Services
Whether you are navigating a difficult season or ready to build the life you envision, there is a path for you here.
Weekly one-on-one therapy sessions tailored to your emotional wellbeing, cultural background, and personal goals. A safe, confidential space to explore, heal, and grow.
Format: Weekly 50-min sessions
Modality: Telehealth (secure video)
Approach: Culturally responsive, evidence-based
Goal-oriented, collaborative coaching to help you move forward with clarity and confidence — in your career, relationships, and life. Unlike therapy, coaching has fewer geographic restrictions, so Sarita can work with clients anywhere.
Format: 50-min sessions, as needed
Modality: Telehealth (secure video)
Available: Nationwide & internationally
Not sure where to start? A free 20-minute call lets us get to know each other, discuss your needs, and explore whether we're a good fit — no pressure, no commitment.
Duration: 20 minutes
Cost: Complimentary
Via: Phone or video call
Life Coaching
Coaching is action-oriented, future-focused, and built around your goals. It's not about diagnosing or treating — it's about helping you get unstuck, gain clarity, and make real progress in the areas of life that matter most to you.
Whether you're changing industries, seeking a promotion, returning to work, or launching something new — coaching helps you identify your strengths, clarify your direction, and take confident steps forward.
Divorce is one of life's most disorienting transitions. Coaching provides structure, accountability, and a forward-looking perspective to help you rebuild your identity, routine, and sense of possibility.
Coaching helps you gain clarity on relationship patterns, communicate more effectively, set healthy boundaries, and make intentional decisions about the relationships in your life.
Sometimes you just know something needs to change — but you're not sure what or how. Coaching helps you get clear on your values, your vision, and the small consistent steps that lead to lasting transformation.
Feeling stretched thin, burned out, or like you're always running behind? Coaching helps you redesign your days and priorities so your life actually reflects what matters most to you.
Who are you beyond your roles — parent, partner, professional? Coaching helps you reconnect with your values, rediscover your sense of self, and move toward a life that feels authentically yours.
Navigating immigration, acculturation, or major cultural shifts can leave you feeling caught between worlds. Coaching supports you in finding clarity, confidence, and a sense of belonging as you adapt and grow.
From becoming a new parent to navigating blended families or raising children across cultures — coaching helps you show up as the parent and family member you want to be, with greater intention and less overwhelm.
Therapy vs. Coaching
Many people aren't sure whether they need therapy or coaching — and that's completely okay. Here's a simple way to think about it:
Therapy is the right fit when you're dealing with emotional pain, trauma, anxiety, depression, or mental health concerns that are getting in the way of daily life. It's healing-focused and works with the past and present.
Coaching is the right fit when you're feeling stuck, want to grow, or are ready to make meaningful changes in a specific area of your life. It's action-focused and future-oriented.
Not sure? Book a free consultation and Sarita will help you figure out which — or which combination — is the best fit for where you are right now.
Therapeutic approach
I draw from a range of proven therapeutic frameworks, always adapting to what serves you best. No single approach fits everyone — so I don't work that way.
Explores the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Together we identify unhelpful patterns and develop practical tools to shift them — building resilience you carry beyond our sessions.
Balances acceptance and change. DBT builds skills in mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness — especially helpful for intense emotions or relationship challenges.
Rooted in attachment theory, EFT helps you understand and reshape emotional responses and relational patterns. It creates deeper self-awareness and more secure connections with yourself and others.
Your life is a story — and you are its author. Narrative therapy helps you separate yourself from your problems, explore the meaning you make of your experiences, and rewrite the stories that no longer serve you.
Explores how early experiences, unconscious patterns, and past relationships shape who you are today. By bringing these dynamics into awareness, we open space for lasting, meaningful change.
Inspired by Carl Rogers, this approach is built on unconditional positive regard, empathy, and authentic connection. You are the expert on your own life — my role is to create the conditions for you to flourish.
Draws on mindfulness practices to help you develop greater awareness of your thoughts and emotions without judgment. Particularly effective for stress, anxiety, and the emotional demands of life transitions — including fertility treatment and new parenthood.
Integrates your cultural identity, values, and lived experience as central — not peripheral — to the therapeutic work. This approach acknowledges how race, ethnicity, immigration, language, and family systems shape mental health, and honors your whole self.
Getting started
Starting therapy can feel daunting. I've made it as easy and welcoming as possible — all from your own home.
Call or email Sarita to book your free 20-minute consultation at a time that works for you.
We have a relaxed video call about what you're looking for and I answer any questions you have.
If we're a good fit, we schedule your first session and create an approach tailored to your needs.
We meet weekly via secure video — from the comfort and privacy of your own space, anywhere in California.
Areas of focus
I work with a broad range of concerns. Whatever brings you here, you don't have to navigate it alone.
Specialized Support
The journey to parenthood — and through it — can be one of the most emotionally complex experiences of a person's life. Sarita provides specialized, compassionate support for every stage of that journey.
Going through IVF is physically and emotionally demanding. The uncertainty, the waiting, the hope, and the grief — it can be overwhelming. Therapy provides a safe, non-judgmental space to process the emotional weight of fertility treatment, manage anxiety and stress, and care for your mental health while navigating a deeply personal journey.
The perinatal period — from pregnancy through the first year after birth — brings profound change. Sarita provides compassionate support for the emotional challenges that can arise before and after birth, helping you feel more grounded, supported, and connected during this transformative time.
You do not need to be in crisis to seek support. If you are navigating any part of the reproductive journey — trying to conceive, going through treatment, pregnant, or newly postpartum — you deserve care too. Reach out for a free consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Please contact Sarita to discuss payment options. She can provide superbills for out-of-network reimbursement, and sliding scale fees may be available for those who qualify.
Sessions are held via secure, HIPAA-compliant video — no special software needed. You'll receive a private link before each appointment. All you need is a device and a quiet, private space.
Therapy focuses on healing, processing emotions, and addressing mental health concerns. Life coaching is forward-looking and goal-oriented, focused on growth, clarity, and intentional action.
Sarita draws from CBT, DBT, EFT, Narrative, Psychodynamic, and Person-Centered approaches. Together you'll find the right fit based on your goals, personality, and what resonates most with you.
Yes. What you share in sessions is private and protected by law. Sarita will clearly explain the specific and limited exceptions to confidentiality during your first meeting.
Absolutely. Many of Sarita's clients are first-time therapy-seekers. She will guide you gently through the process — there is no wrong way to begin, and no question is too small to ask.
As a California-licensed LMFT, Sarita is only able to provide therapy to clients physically located in California at the time of sessions. Life coaching is not subject to the same geographic restrictions.
Everyone's journey is different. Some benefit from a few months of focused work; others prefer ongoing support. Sarita will discuss your goals and revisit this together regularly — there is no pressure either way.
Ready to begin?
Book a free 20-minute telehealth consultation with Sarita. No commitment, no pressure — just a chance to connect and see if we're a good fit.
Call (408) 409-5077Or email sarita@smokhamft.com · Serving clients throughout California via telehealth