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 currently works full time with people who have persistent mental illnesses. Dara focuses on helping people who face stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, addiction, relationship and intimacy concerns, grief, and aging and geriatric issues.

She emphasizes working together with each person to set clear goals for therapy. Dara places a high value on building rapport and a strong therapeutic alliance. She approaches sessions with respect, understanding, and empathy, and encourages honest conversation about what is going well and what needs to change.

Dara uses a blend of methods to match each person's needs. She draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to address unhelpful thinking and behavior, Client-Centered Therapy to keep the work focused on the person’s experience, and Mindfulness practices to help with emotional regulation. She also uses Motivational Interviewing and Solution-Focused techniques when appropriate.

Treatment plans are individualized and adjusted as progress is made. In practice this means setting achievable steps, reviewing what helps, and shifting strategies when something isn’t working. Dara also brings experience supporting people with complex, co-occurring conditions and long-term mental health needs.

She encourages people to see seeking help as a courageous first step toward better day-to-day functioning. Dara aims to create a practical, compassionate space where clients can address immediate concerns and build lasting coping skills.

How Dara’s Approaches Fit Online Work

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on the person’s experience and what matters most to them. In practice this means the therapist listens closely and follows the client’s lead to set goals and agenda items. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It uses concrete exercises and homework to change patterns that keep problems going. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple skills to notice thoughts and emotions without getting swept away by them, which often helps with anxiety and mood regulation.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. Dara works together with each person to decide which methods to try and adjusts the plan based on progress and preferences. That collaborative process helps keep sessions relevant and focused on the client’s goals.

Practical benefits of online therapy include easier scheduling and fitting sessions around work or caregiving, and options for shorter check-ins when a full session isn’t needed. This profile does not list specific session formats, so confirm the available online options before booking. Dara aims to make therapy fit into everyday life while using methods like CBT and mindfulness that translate well to remote conversations and at-home practice.