Meet Rita Balakhane

Why I Became a Therapist

Since I was a teenager, I always wanted to become a therapist. I have always been a good listener, and my friends would often come to me to talk about what they were going through because they knew they could trust me. I was someone they felt comfortable approaching, and I was able to help them feel heard and understood, reflect on their experiences, and work through many of the challenges they were facing. Over time, I realized that being there for others and helping them gain insight and find their own solutions was something that came naturally to me and was deeply meaningful to me.

I come from a large family with six siblings, and they are all in professions centered around helping and serving others. From an early age, I learned how meaningful it is to be there for people and to help them build a better life.

Throughout my own life and career, I have come to believe that everyone deserves to feel loved, accepted, heard, and understood. I believe this is a universal language that transcends culture, background, and life experiences. Through my extensive experience working with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, I have seen how much more alike we are than we are different.

What I value most is the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people's lives. It brings me genuine happiness to see people grow, heal, and gain the confidence to experience life more fully. Being able to support someone on that journey is deeply rewarding to me and is one of the reasons I find my work so meaningful.

What I Believe

I believe therapy can be a very powerful and transformative experience. It can help people work through trauma, heal, gain a different perspective on life, and move forward with greater clarity and confidence. Therapy provides an opportunity for personal growth, greater self-awareness, and ultimately, a happier and more fulfilling life. It can also help people build healthier, more meaningful relationships with the people who are important to them.

"I believe therapy is a powerful process of healing, self-discovery, and growth. It provides a safe space to understand yourself, work through challenges, and develop a different perspective so you can move forward with greater confidence and well-being."

Therapy is one of the best gifts we can give ourselves. It gives us an opportunity to grow, gain a different perspective on life, and create a more meaningful and fulfilling experience. It can help us build healthier, more connected relationships and navigate life with greater awareness.

As life changes, we change too. We go through different stages, unexpected challenges, and ups and downs, and we often need to adapt and find new ways to cope. Sometimes, having someone beside us during those transitions can make all the difference.

Some people may be more genetically predisposed to mental health challenges, while others may be more vulnerable to them during times of stress. However, everyone can benefit from support when they need it. Just as we check on our physical health, it is equally important to take care of our mental health because the two are closely connected and can significantly impact one another.

My Role

I believe people are naturally resilient and often possess many of the answers and strengths they need within themselves. My role as a therapist is not to tell people how to live their lives, but to help them discover and reconnect with their own inner strength, wisdom, and voice.

I take a solution-oriented and collaborative approach, supporting my clients as they gain greater clarity, develop insight, and find meaningful ways to navigate life's challenges. At times, people may need guidance, education, or consultation, whether it is understanding their children's developmental stages, navigating transitions in their own lives, managing expectations, or coping with difficult circumstances. I am there to provide that support and perspective when needed.

Ultimately, my goal is to help clients become more confident in their ability to understand themselves, make decisions, and navigate life independently. When people discover their own voice and learn to trust themselves, that becomes a lasting source of healing and resilience that they can carry with them throughout their lives.

"My goal as a therapist is to create a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where clients feel heard, understood, and empowered. I want to help them gain insight, heal from past experiences, develop healthier ways of coping, and move forward with greater confidence and a stronger sense of self."

The Therapeutic Relationship

After establishing rapport and trust, we can begin working on the deeper underlying issues. Building a strong therapeutic relationship is essential, as it provides a safe and supportive foundation for the client's healing process. The therapeutic relationship itself can be an important part of healing, allowing clients to feel understood, supported, and empowered as they work through their challenges.

I want my clients to feel safe, comfortable, and understood when they work with me. I want them to feel that they can be open and honest without judgment, and that they can trust me to support and guide them through their challenges. Most importantly, I want them to feel heard, valued, and confident that we can work together toward meaningful change and healing.

My passion lies in helping individuals achieve their best lives. In a warm and empathetic therapeutic environment, individuals can look within and explore their thoughts and feelings. Healing happens within the context of a therapeutic relationship between the client and the therapist.

Experience

Prior to licensure, I gained extensive clinical experience through employment and internships in a variety of settings.

I worked in group homes serving children and adolescents who had been removed from their homes by the Department of Family Services and placed in residential facilities for safety, stability, and support. Many of these children had experienced abuse, neglect, and significant trauma. This experience deepened my understanding of the effects of trauma and reinforced the importance of providing children with consistency, compassion, and a safe, supportive environment.

I also completed an internship at a free clinic, where I provided services to individuals, couples, families. I worked with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds, including adults, adolescents, and children, and addressed a broad range of emotional, relational, and life concerns.

During another internship in Northern California, I cofacilitated a divorce group for children of divorced families and a court-ordered men's group for individuals who had engaged in domestic violence. These experiences helped me better understand the impact of childhood trauma on adulthood and the ways early experiences can influence relationships, emotional well-being, and behavior. I gained experience in a setting similar to private practice. I worked individually with clients, supporting them as they navigated personal, emotional, and relationship-related challenges.

In addition, as an employee at the Torrance regional center, I supported families of children and adults on the autism spectrum. I helped families navigate complex challenges, access appropriate resources and services, and develop strategies to promote healthier and more fulfilling lives for themselves and their loved ones.

In addition to my clinical work, I have served as a speaker on Iranian radio, where I discussed substance use and its impact on individuals and families. In collaboration with other professionals at the Pars Community Center, we developed a program to provide therapy to refugees and individuals who have experienced extensive trauma. I also facilitated parenting seminars that were open to the public at PARS, a nonprofit organization serving the Iranian and broader immigrant communities.

For more than 22 years, I have also maintained a private practice, providing support to individuals, couples, and families experiencing a wide range of concerns. This work has allowed me to accompany clients through various stages of life and help them develop greater self-awareness, resilience, emotional well-being, and healthier relationships.

Culture & Language

I have extensive experience working with people from many different cultures and backgrounds, and I speak both English and Farsi (Persian). Over the years, I have learned that while our cultures and experiences may be different, our need to feel understood, accepted, and heard is universal.

In my practice, I integrate both Eastern and Western approaches, because I believe every person is unique and deserves an approach that honors who they are. I am a deeply empathetic person and a good listener, and I genuinely care about my clients, not just as individuals I work with, but as people whose lives and well-being matter to me.

What I Bring

I have had the privilege of working in many different settings, including group homes, schools, nonprofit organizations, and private practice. These experiences have given me a broad perspective and the opportunity to work with people from many different backgrounds and walks of life.

I also bring extensive personal experience from my own life, which has deepened my empathy, understanding, and ability to connect with others. I feel truly honored and privileged to have worked with so many individuals and to have been part of their journeys toward healing, growth, and creating more meaningful and fulfilling lives.

I bring authenticity, genuine compassion, and a deep commitment to the people I have the privilege of working with. I am knowledgeable and dedicated to providing thoughtful, effective, and individualized care. I believe that being a good therapist means never stopping learning, which is why I continuously invest in my professional growth through continuing education, advanced training, and ongoing learning. I am committed to expanding my knowledge, refining my skills, and staying current with effective therapeutic approaches so I can continue to provide the highest quality of support to my clients.

My goal is to help my clients feel understood, discover their own strengths, overcome challenges, and move toward the life they truly want, a life that feels meaningful, fulfilling, and authentic to them. I feel privileged to walk alongside people during some of the most important moments of their lives.

Credentials

• Master of Arts (M.A.) in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage & Family Therapy, Pepperdine University (1996)
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, State of California
• Member, CAMFT
• Specialized training in Mindfulness

Outside of Work

When I'm not in session, I enjoy traveling, swimming, dancing, walking, hiking, cooking, interior design, and spending time in nature. I am someone who looks for meaning and depth in life, and I bring that same curiosity and care to my work with clients.