Individual therapy
One-on-one sessions for anxiety, low mood, stuck patterns, and the story underneath them.
Learn more about individual therapyWhat if you didn’t have to figure it all out alone?
Firas Bdaiwi, LMFT
Individual, Couples & Family Therapy · California
Where would you like to start?
Pick what fits best. If you’re not sure, the free consult is a good place to begin.
Couples therapy
Communication, recurring conflict, disconnection, and the move into marriage.
Learn more about couples therapy
Teens
Support for teens 12 to 17 with anxiety, identity, family stress, and faith questions. A parent or guardian joins the first step.
Learn more about therapy for teens
Family
Sessions for parents and kids, or adult family members, to work through conflict and reconnect.
Learn more about family therapy
Faith-integrated therapy
Therapy that can hold your faith when you ask for that. Never forced, never religious rulings.
Learn more about faith-integrated therapyThings we can work on
Low mood & depression
When everything feels heavy and the things you used to enjoy feel far away.
See how I helpAnxiety & worry
Racing thoughts, a tight chest, always waiting for something to go wrong.
See how I helpMarriage & relationships
Conflict, distance, or not feeling understood, alone or as a couple.
See how I helpSlip-and-repent cycles
What keeps a habit going, and a plan for getting back up.
See how I helpFeeling stuck
Self-worth that moves with every mistake, anger that won’t settle.
See how I help
Firas Bdaiwi
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist · LMFT #160651
Dignity before diagnosis, curiosity before assumption.
I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California, and I work with individuals, couples, teens, and families. I’m Muslim, and I speak English and Arabic. Faith comes into our work only if you want it to.
LMFT #160651State of California · Verify license
Pepperdine UniversityM.A. Clinical Psychology, MFT emphasis
Cambridge Muslim CollegeDiploma in Islamic Psychology
English & ArabicArabic (conversational)
Common questions
Do you offer online or in-person sessions?
I offer both: secure video sessions for clients located anywhere in California, and in-person sessions in the Orange County / Irvine area.
Because I'm licensed in California, you need to be physically in California at the time of each session.
Do I have to be practicing or religious to work with you?
No. You don't have to be practicing, and you don't have to feel "good enough" in your deen. Some clients want faith at the center of our work, some want a little, and some want none. You decide, and you can change your mind.
Will you judge me for what I'm struggling with?
No. Shame tends to grow in secrecy, and therapy is a place to say the things that feel hardest to say. My job is to understand, not to judge.
How does faith fit into therapy?
If you want it, we can draw on Islamic concepts such as fitrah, nafs, and qalb, and practices like dhikr, alongside evidence-based approaches such as CBT. This is therapy. I don't provide religious rulings or pastoral counseling. I can help you explore how your faith and your mental health connect.
Is therapy confidential?
Yes. What you share in therapy is confidential and protected by law. There are a few legal exceptions, such as: if there is a serious risk of harm to yourself or someone else; if there is suspected abuse or neglect of a child, elder, or dependent adult; or if records are ordered by a court.
For teens (12–17), a parent or guardian consents to therapy, and we agree together at the start on what I share with parents and what stays private between me and the teen.
I’ll go over confidentiality and its limits in detail before we start, in writing and in person.
Do you take insurance?
I’m a self-pay practice and not in-network with any insurance plans. If you have out-of-network benefits, I can give you a superbill to submit for possible reimbursement. See Fees for details.
Is this therapy or coaching?
Therapy. I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California (LMFT 160651), and I only offer therapy.
What happens in the free consult?
It's a 15-minute call. You can share a little about what's going on, ask how I work, and we'll see whether I'm a good fit. There's no obligation to book.
Do you offer emergency or crisis services?
No. I don't provide emergency or crisis services, and I may not see messages right away. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room.