Meet Daphne Rahnama | Psychotherapist
We had the good fortune of connecting with Daphne Rahnama and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Daphne, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
One quote that’s always resonated with me is: “This too shall pass.” This simple quote has gotten me through a lot of difficult times in my past. I came across this quote when I was 13 years old, after my dad suddenly passed away. This quote reminded me that whatever I’m feeling won’t last forever. During my grief, the dark days seemed never-ending. I was young and feeling lonely with heavy emotions that were unfamiliar and I didn’t have the tools to properly understand them. Remembering this quote, “this too shall pass” stayed with me and replayed in my head when I was having a hard time pushing through a challenging moment. Over the years, this sentiment has been a constant companion, and I often share it with my clients when they’re going through tough patches. It also gives me and my clients perspective to truly enjoy the good times because even those don’t last forever.
Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My experiences of grief and loss motivated me to pursue a career in mental health. I launched my private practice,Therapy With Daphne, in 2018 to provide tangible, goal-oriented psychotherapy help to those who are currently struggling.
The Pandemic was an exciting time professionally. My practice shifted to tele-health for many clients, while other clients preferred to continue in face-to-face therapy sessions. Along with this shift, I found the Pandemic to be a rewarding time to be a psychotherapist because I had the privilege to be able to serve my clients during a time of widespread crisis and fear.
At the same time, as a young mom and psychotherapist, I found it challenging to maintain a healthy work-life balance during the Pandemic. Most people do not realize how much psychotherapists have to internalize to be able to help their clients. My experience during the Pandemic confirmed the importance of maternal mental health and my commitment to continue serving mothers who are struggling.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am born and raised in Los Angeles so I have a lot of favorite spots. For newcomers, I recommend grabbing some sandwiches from Bay Cities in Santa Monica prior to heading to the beach for a picnic. I would visit the Broad Museum in Downtown, followed by a very filling Persian meal at Shekarchi Bar & Grill. I would make sure to head towards Pasadena early in the morning and make a stop at CAR Artisan Chocolate for the best chocolate croissants of your life, then head to the Huntington Gardens to explore its beautiful scenery, and lastly, a trip to the iconic Vroman’s Bookstore.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have been blessed to have been surrounded by strong and resilient women in my life. My mom, Shohreh, has been my pillar of strength my entire life. My mom is an Iranian immigrant who became a single mother at the age of 43 with three children. Nonetheless, she never failed to be there for us emotionally and mentally, given everything she was going through herself. My mom has motivated me to never give up no matter how hard life gets and I am forever grateful for her. My aunt, Mojgan, has motivated me to be a strong working woman who can balance being present for my children and build a career at the same time. My siblings, Desiree and Rodd, have been my best friends and my greatest supporters throughout my entire life and continue to inspire me to be the best version of myself.
I want to give a shoutout to my two little girls who motivate me daily to be present, be kind, and to be empathetic. In a world full of chaos and uncertainty, they keep me grounded and give me hope for the future.
And lastly, I want to give a shoutout to my husband Sam, who I met in college and has been by my side through my entire graduate and professional career. In moments when I feel mentally exhausted, he pushes me to stay focused on my bigger dream, which is to help those in need. Both of us are advocates of justice. He chose to work in law to help support those who are being taken advantage of and lack a voice in their workplace. I am grateful that we share a mutual passion for serving and helping others.
Website: https://www.therapywithdaphne.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therapywithdaphne/?hl=en
Other: Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/daphne-rahnama-pasadena-ca/439515
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