Obaogodara (Preference:Dara) Oluwasanmi, LMHC

Obaogodara (Preference: Dara) Oluwasanmi is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) based in New York. She has six years of counseling experience and works with people facing a broad range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, addictions, and grief. Dara emphasizes a respectful, empathetic approach in sessions and prioritizes building a strong working relationship. Dara’s work is collaborative and goal-focused. She helps people set clear goals and then breaks those goals into manageable steps. Sessions are guided by what each person needs rather than a one-size-fits-all plan. She frames therapy as a team effort where the client’s priorities steer the work. Her approach draws on several practical methods. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps identify and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. Client-centered techniques keep the conversation grounded in the client’s experience and values. Mindfulness-based ideas are used to build present-moment awareness and coping skills. Many people seek Dara’s help when coping with major life changes, work stress, relationship strain, or challenges tied to long-term health issues. She also supports people navigating identity and intimacy concerns. Her experience includes working in settings with persistent and severe mental health conditions, which informs how she tailors care for complex needs. Dara asks new clients to be active partners in therapy. She explains options, checks in about what is working, and adapts plans as needs change. The goal is steady progress toward clearer coping, more stable moods, and better day-to-day functioning.

How therapy approaches translate to online care

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening closely and following the client’s lead. In practice this means the therapist reflects what the person says, helps them name priorities, and adapts sessions to fit their pace. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions. It often uses clear exercises and small experiments to test different ways of thinking and behaving, which can help with anxiety, depression, and compulsive habits. Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Dara will talk with each person about their goals, try methods that suit those goals, and adjust based on what feels most helpful. The process is collaborative and practical, with regular check-ins about progress and next steps. For online work, confirm the session formats Dara currently offers before booking. Many people find online sessions easier to fit into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins during breaks, and remove travel time. Others prefer in-person meetings for longer, deeper conversations. Discussing scheduling and format early helps match therapy to everyday life and makes it simpler to keep consistent sessions.