Dara Cortes, LCSW

Clinical Social Worker

Dara has worked in the mental health and education sectors for 20+ years. She was born and raised in California and joined the Laguna Family Health Center team in 2013. Dara completed her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from California State University, Fullerton with an emphasis in Social Work. She then completed her Masters of Social Work at California State University, Long Beach in 2004 with a focus on Children, Youth and Families. Due to her extensive additional training, she also obtained two PPS credentials when she graduated in School Social Work and Child Welfare.

Dara brings a wealth of experience in working with clients through her experiences in various settings such as school districts, foster care, domestic violence shelters, community clinics, county education agencies, military settings, legal/court settings, social services and outpatient/private practice. She was a specialist in the Orange County Teen Court and OC Dept of Education for many years and has presented on Trauma Informed Practices at both the county and state level. She provides psychotherapy to all ages as well as couples and family therapy.

Dara employs integrative psychotherapeutic modalities in order to meet the individual needs of each of her clients. She is dedicated to working with her clients in a strengths-based and empathetic way to break down road-blocks that are preventing quality of life for each client. The purpose of her work is to empower her clients in their own walk, and specifically for her clients to understand the emotional and psychological benefits of healthy perceptions and healthy interpersonal relationships. She is committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment where trust can be developed and the therapeutic goals of the client are effectively supported.