Diamond Family Counseling

Who We Are

Sanaz Yaghmai, M.A., IMFT

Sanaz Yaghmai is a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist Intern and is certified in the treatment of victims of domestic violence. Sanaz is an Iranian-American (bilingual in English and Farsi) who was born and raised in Dubai, U.A.E. She moved to the United States in 1999 and has been passionately working towards her passion of helping families and individuals. Sanaz graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a Bachelors degree in Psychology and Social Behavior. She then completed her Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Alliant International University in 2006. Currently, she is a doctoral candidate working towards the final phase of her Psychology Doctorate. In addition to working at Diamond Family Counseling she has worked at a domestic violence shelter as a counselor for the women and their children. Finally, Sanaz also worked as a school counselor at an elementary school in Huntington Beach, CA.

Sanaz views therapy as on ongoing process of dialogue which takes place in a non judging environment, creating a safe space for change to occur. She believes in taking a de-centered and collaborative approach to therapy where people are viewed as the experts of their own lives, thus, creating a respectful dialogue which values their voice and life experiences. She also strongly believes in the power of positive thinking and strives to maintain a positive energy in the therapeutic relationship. Her strong connection with children is natural and genuine which allows for the growth of a comforting and safe environment with her younger clients.

Sanaz has also gained valuable experience from an intense study abroad immersion program in Mexcio City. She has gained extensive knowledge on their sociopolitical and cultural history, as well as their current life experiences living in a developing country.Through her travels around the country and an intense immersion into the Mexican culture, Sanaz has developed a strong desire to continue with her travels around the world in an attempt to expand her cultural lens.

Anne Martin, M.A., IMFT

Life’s experiences can be our greatest teachers. Lessons are often hidden within, and our emotions hinder us from the opportunity to learn. We may be caught up in thoughts and behaviors that bind us to unsuccessful patterns learned from the past. Therapy helps us to closely listen for solutions that may already exist within us.

Society can place pressure on individuals to attain personal achievement and material possessions that can lead away from living a life of fulfillment and a pursuit of passions. We may experience feelings of emptiness, loss, or even failure. Therapy can supply a road map to follow for the remainder of our journey, helping us to clarify our path while inviting us to stop and reevaluate different sites along the way.

Beginning or maintaining a healthy relationship with another can become a source of tangled disappointments as each partner pursues their individual dreams. By exploring the pathway of a couple’s relationship as a “twosome”, while recognizing each other’s unique identity and contributions to the relationship, therapy can show a couple how one plus one can be more than two on their journey together.

Anne believes in a collaborative therapeutic process that is a compassionate and non-judgmental relationship between the client and the therapist. This relationship helps the client to embark on a journey towards a deeper understanding of self. The therapeutic process guides the client towards health, satisfaction, accomplishment, and a feeling of inner peace.

Anne holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Southern California. She also holds two master’s degrees, one in Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University and the other in Clinical Psychology - Marriage and Family Therapy from Pepperdine University. She has worked with adolescents who were considered to be at risk for suspension or expulsion. She has facilitated groups with substance addictions as well as worked with couples, families, individuals and children who have suffered from conditions of depression, anxiety, grief, post-traumatic stress disorder and domestic violence. Anne is an adjunct professor at Concordia University in Irvine, CA. She has helped those seeking a spiritual journey, exploring each individual’s pathway towards meaning and fulfillment.

Anne is a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, the Orange County Chapter of Marriage and Family Therapists, and the Social Justice Collaborative. Anne is an MFT Intern #59308 working under the supervision of Tinaz Vevaina MA, MFT#36313, CH .