Sherna Perez, LCSW

I graduated from Sacramento State University with my master’s in social work in 1998, my focus of study was family and children. I chose a career in Social Work, because I value equity, social justice, and dedication to marginalized populations. I started my career in Social Work as a Child Protective Worker in Alameda County focusing on young children and reuniting families in crisis. I then moved on to managing a small nonprofit that provided school-based psychotherapy services to children and families. After fifteen years, I completed my career in public service as a Custody Mediator in Family Court Services. For the last ten years my practice has been focused on assisting couples and families improve their relationships. 

I have extensive training in the Emotionally Focused Couples/Families model, and I am a member of the Northern California Emotionally Focused Couples Association. During my career as a Child Welfare Worker, I completed a two-year training in Parent/Child psychotherapy at the Center for the Vulnerable Child.  Most recently, I completed EMDR-A training through the Laurel Parnell Center. All these therapy modalities are centered on the belief that our attachment to others is a primary need that is human and necessary for our emotional wellbeing. I believe in healing in the context of relationships.

Over my twenty-five years as a Social Worker, I have had the privilege to provide services to a diverse client population that reflects the rich cultures of the Bay Area. My practice is dedicated to providing culturally appropriate care for all kinds of family systems. I am a bilingual Spanish speaking therapist and have spent my career working with immigrant families.

As a mother of two adult children, I know first-hand the challenges of raising children, maintaining healthy relationships, and managing outside responsibilities. It is my belief that we all can benefit from a helper to navigate the hard and difficult moments that strain our ability to connect with our partner, children or co parent in a meaningful way. Witnessing families and couples find new ways to connect and create a new story of their relationships is incredibly gratifying, and I feel privileged to have made this my life’s work.