Tara Daneshmand, M.A.
This therapist has over 2 years of experience.
Tara was born and raised in Iran and later moved to South Korea. She was raised in a family that values education and the arts, so as a child she used to enjoy reading books and learning the basics about art, philosophy, and psychology from her parents. Her interest in counseling began in middle school, when she spent time with her peers and listened to their concerns.
Biography
Tara was born and raised in Iran and later moved to South Korea. She was raised in a family that values education and the arts, so as a child she used to enjoy reading books and learning the basics about art, philosophy, and psychology from her parents. Her interest in counseling began in middle school, when she spent time with her peers and listened to their concerns. At age 18, she began her first job as a music teacher, which offered her the opportunity to communicate with her students and give them advice about their learning difficulties. Later, Tara decided to learn more about psychology, so she began self-study while attending university to broaden her knowledge and obtain a bachelor’s degree in psychology in Iran. While studying at the university, she provided counseling sessions to students with educational and adjustment challenges.
Her passion for connecting with people encourages her to learn multiple languages, and she has also traveled to Korea to learn Korean. This journey allowed her to connect with and learn about diverse cultures, languages, and people. Afterward, she continued her study in counseling in South Korea, and along with her study, she started her social media activity in order to assist newcomers to Korea with language, cultural, and adjustment challenges. Tara also worked in private English academies and provided counseling sessions to parents about their children’s challenges in learning the language. According to her values and goals, happiness is obtained when our interior and exterior manifestations match and humans are able to adapt and alter their environments in order to live the life they desire and value. She believes that all people deserve to be loved, and all human beings should learn to coexist harmoniously.
Therapy Approach
With an emphasis on person-centered therapy and your cultural background, I use various therapy approaches according to your goals and values in life. Among my therapy approaches, I use a treatment called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), in which I will listen to your concerns, emotional distress, and thoughts, and then we will identify the unhealthy thoughts, emotions, and beliefs about those concerns. Then I will teach you skills that will help you challenge and change your thinking and emotional patterns so you can manage and respond to them more effectively in your day-to-day life. I also use Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help you stay motivated to overcome your obstacles in life by using strategies to improve your ability to accept and be present in the current moment, increasing your tolerance of negative emotions rather than escaping from them, regulating emotions to manage the problems they are causing in your life, and learning techniques that allow you to communicate with others in a way that is assertive, maintains self-respect, and strengthens relationships. I take an integrative approach by utilizing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to teach you not to avoid and deny your inner emotions but, instead, to accept that these deeper feelings are appropriate responses to certain situations and they should not prevent you from moving forward with your life. I teach you the skills to understand and accept your hardships and commit to making the necessary changes in your behavior to live the life you value. Lastly, I would like to say that it is our choice to make this life more beautiful and meaningful to ourselves and the people we love, and I know we can find our unique way to do it!
Education
- MA: Sungshin Women’s University (2023, Counseling Psychology)
- BA: Rudehen Azad University (2014, Psychology)
- AA: Elmo Honar Tehran University (2008, Art and Music)
Certifications
- Korea Association of Vocational Education: Psychological Counselor – Level 1 (한국직업능력교육협회: 심리상담사 – 1급)
- Korea Psychological Education Association: Adolescent Counselor – Level 1 (한국심리교육협회: 청소년심리상담사 1급)
- Couple Therapy and Counseling (2022, IAOTH)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (2022, IAOTH)
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