Who am I?
My name is Dr. Damaris Conrad and I have been in practice as a licensed Marriage, Family Psychotherapist for the past 24 years. I hold licenses as an MFT in California and in Idaho, and Clinical Supervision certification. I also teach online in Masters/ Doctoral programs for CACREP Therapy program in Higher Ed and have been teaching for well over 20 years.
I have been married to the same man for 41 years and I will be the first one to admit that marriage is one of the toughest relationships you can commit to. We have walked through many hills and valleys, and there were days we wondered if our marriage would survive or become a statistic. Together, we have 2 adult children who are married and are enjoying their love and life partnerships for the past several years.
My Focus in Therapy
My commitment to providing high-quality psychotherapy is backed by over 24+ years of experience. Combining evidence-based methods, a comprehensive knowledge of current research and a compassionate partnership with each unique individual, I offer support to help solve problems and assist in making healthy decisions, adjusting comfortably to change, while providing tools to overcome the emotional distress that keeps us stuck.
Our work together will be tailored to your specific goals and will incorporate approaches drawn from the Integrative Model of Therapy which includes Psychodynamic, Cognitive-Behavioral, Family Systems while sometimes including a bit of Narrative or Collaborative forms of therapy, in order to help you create the life you want. My clients often tell me that I tend to get to the “juggler quickly” while gently assisting you as we move through the ambivalence, resistance, or pain which may be underlying the stuck feeling when faced with life changes.
My job is to provide non-judgmental support and help you explore the steps needed to move forward, whether it's overcoming anxiety, depression or trauma, conquering anger or behavioral issues, addressing relationship and/or family challenges, gaining clarity on career frustrations or transitions, managing issues related to aging, improving communication or reducing stress. I tend to see my role as a coach, co-collaborator, and will partner with you, walk alongside of you, and believe in getting down into the trenches to tackle the obstacles, find the skills, tools, and answers together. My clients often tell me that I am NOT the type of therapist that sits silently by in session by just giving you the occasional head nod and verbal “uh-huh”. Instead, I give direct feedback, and actively challenge you to dig deeper, or look closer, stay with the tension, as we unlock and extract the answers together. It is my desire to bring hope, optimism, humility and humor to my work and feel that it is an honor to be invited on each new journey. You will be treated with respect, care and compassion while also receiving constructive guidance to help you navigate the murky waters.
What do I do in my spare time?
In my spare time, I have been writing on the issues of my heart. I am the author of 3 books which include The Fork in the Road: When your Spouse goes Left and You go Right, and a book on reversing Diabetes Naturally and gaining back our health and life, and another book called Just Desserts: Sugar Free and Low Carb Desserts for the Sweet Tooth in All of Us! I also play the piano, love to read, serve in various roles at church, love to entertain, and enjoy some forms of camping and hiking, and white-water rafting with our family and friends.
Passions in Therapy
You might think it a bit strange that a Psychotherapist would write on health-related issues, but it is important to understand the connection between mind, body, spirit. When we are stressed or going through long term or chronic conflict, it often manifests in medical and health disorders, weight and sleep issues. If left unchecked, it can hinder or impact the way we see the world through our emotions, cognition's, psychological-mental health, and in many cases affects our spiritual and physical health.
Have you ever heard someone tell you that they can’t sleep, or they are overeating, or all they want to do is lie down and shut the world off? Often this is due to the unrecognized toll and stress or long-term conflict in relationships, which can steal from our bodies, health, and emotions, not to mention our peace of mind.
We learn to push these things down deep inside and we don’t necessarily make the connection between the anxiety or depression that we are feeling, and the way it may be manifesting (symptomatically) within our bodies and what our bodies may be trying to tell us. I have personally lived in a very long-term situation with chronic stress and at times, it can feel like you are either going to explode (or even implode) if something doesn’t change soon. It is important to help us make that mind-body connection and learn the value of incorporating specific tools in taking care of ourselves. Sometimes, this can be as simple as removing something off of our to-do list, and other times it can mean heading to the doctor to rule out what is behind our physical symptoms.
Another passion I hold dear is working and specializing in issues with couples in crisis. Marriage and family issues have their own unique markers and when we are in crisis, we try many things to bring back the peace and status quo. Sometimes the tools and skills we have may not be enough, and we need to explore what is maintaining the symptoms and why we keep getting stuck into the same old patterns.
Together, we will work on identifying what those patterns are, the role the patterns of (behaviors, beliefs, attitudes) serve while we explore how to navigate the minefields that threaten to blow up our relationships.
Population(s) and Issues I Serve
The population I work with include Individuals, Couples, Families. Whether you are looking for premarital counseling, or you are involved in a marriage of many years, many of us find that we need someone to walk alongside us, as we identify and push through the barriers. Here is a just a small sample of issues I work with which include but are not limited to the following:
• Marital Issues (intimacy, fidelity and infidelity, destructive behavior patterns, communication challenges, trauma, abuse, etc., parenting, infertility, sexual issues, in-laws, boundaries, work-life-ministry balance, Stages of Marriage & Parenting, Conflict Resolution, sexual issues, aging, empty nest,)
• Stress, Anxiety, Depression
• Forgiveness
• Relationship Issues (Boundaries, Assertiveness, Mindfulness, Communication, Self Esteem & Other Esteem, Identity, Multi-Generational Patterns)
• Premarital
• ADHD (Adults, Adolescents, Children)
• Woman’s Issues
• Health & Wellness: Adjustment & Growth
• Trauma and Different Forms of Abuse, Victimization
• TBI, PTSD
• Military
• Ministry Couples,
• Grief & Loss
• Divorce & Separation (Challenges, Recovery, Healing)
• Parenting
• Blended Family Issues
• Career /Vocational Transitions and Challenges
Services Offered
Live, Phone, Chat, Video
It takes courage to seek a more fulfilling and happier life while addressing the issues, uncovering blind spots, and identifying needed changes. I would be honored to walk this path with you, support the needed steps give you feedback, and empower you throughout the journey. If you are looking for an experienced, skilled, and compassionate therapist, then let’s get started, today!
Dr. Damaris Conrad
Additional areas of focus: Addictions, Trauma and abuse, Intimacy-related issues, Parenting issues, Anger management, Self esteem, Coaching, Compassion fatigue, ADHD
CA LMFT 33016
ID LMFT 6947
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Dr. Damaris Conrad. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
I highly recommend Dr. Conrad! Dr. C is an expert in her field. From the first session, she has listened to understand & asks probing questions that get you straight to the work you need to do in order to move forward. I also love that she gives “homework”, so there is always progress each week. I can’t recommend Dr. Conrad enough!
Written on Aug 09, 2021 after therapy with Damaris for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, intimacy-related issues, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue
Dr. Conrad is a wonderful counselor. She is consistent and a seasoned practitioner.
She helped me during a tough phase, a life-changing event for me. I was in a bad emotional state when I started with her, but she allowed me to talk about my fears, patiently worked through my issues, acknowledged each stage of grief. I am still healing but have finally found some hope.
Written on Jun 19, 2021 after therapy with Damaris for 9 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, grief, self esteem, coping with life changes, and adhd
Dr. Conrad is absolutely amazing! So friendly, understanding and direct which is nice to find. She takes her time and listens... she never rushes you and love that she is supportive and encouraging and she speaks hope.
Written on May 16, 2021 after therapy with Damaris for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, and parenting issues
Very sincere and direct!
Written on Jun 17, 2020 after therapy with Damaris for 8 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, parenting issues, self esteem, anger management, career difficulties, coping with life changes, coaching, compassion fatigue, and adhd
Dr. C has an amazing blend of personal experience, professional training, empathy and compassion. She can help you untangle the web of your life, discover and explore the options then move forward and feel good about yourself while your doing it!
Written on Apr 08, 2020 after therapy with Damaris for 2 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, grief, intimacy-related issues, and self esteem
Dr. Conrad has been very helpful to us in our marriage, we were in marital trouble and may not have made it without her. She's a solid Christian as well as a very nice person with lots of wisdom.
Written on Mar 28, 2020 after therapy with Damaris for 10 months