Katie Dublirer Perez, LCSW, MSW, SAC
Founder + Therapist
You Can Have a Lot Going for You and Still Feel Like Something Is Missing
Maybe you've worked hard to build a career, maintain relationships, and meet the expectations you've set for yourself. People may see you as capable, dependable, and successful. But privately, you may be struggling with anxiety, low confidence, sadness, or the feeling that you're falling short, even when you're doing your best.
Perhaps you're questioning a relationship, feeling unfulfilled at work, navigating a difficult family dynamic, or trying to figure out what comes next in your life. You might know that something needs to change without knowing where to begin.
I'm Katie Perez, a licensed clinical social worker and co-founder of Ola Wellness. I work with teens and adults navigating anxiety, depression, confidence and self-esteem concerns, relationship and family challenges, career stress, and life transitions.
My goal is to help you better understand yourself, work through what's been weighing on you, and feel more confident in the decisions you make. You don't need to wait until things become unmanageable to seek support, and you don't have to have a clear answer for what's wrong before we begin.
Based in Wyckoff, NJ, I provide virtual therapy to eligible clients throughout New Jersey and New York.
For people who are used to figuring things out on their own
Many of the people I work with are used to being responsible, dependable, and capable. They may be managing demanding jobs, relationships, family responsibilities, or major decisions while trying to make sense of their own emotions behind the scenes.
You might recognize yourself in some of these experiences:
You second-guess yourself, even when you have good reason to trust your decisions.
You appear confident to others but struggle with self-doubt privately.
You feel anxious or overwhelmed trying to manage everything on your plate.
You feel unhappy or unmotivated but can't quite explain why.
You're questioning your career path or wondering whether your current life still fits who you are.
You find yourself repeating the same patterns in relationships.
You struggle to set boundaries with family members or feel responsible for keeping everyone happy.
You're going through a major life change and feel uncertain about what comes next.
You have difficulty making time for yourself without feeling guilty.
You feel like you should be happier, more confident, or further along in life than you are.
These experiences can affect anyone, regardless of how successful they appear on the outside. Therapy offers space to look beyond what you accomplish and explore how you're actually feeling.
What Katie helps with:
Anxiety and Feeling Overwhelmed
Anxiety can show up as constant worry, overthinking, difficulty making decisions, or feeling like you always need to be prepared for what could go wrong. Even when things appear to be going well, it can be difficult to relax or feel confident that you're doing enough.
Therapy can help you understand your anxiety, recognize patterns that keep you feeling stuck, and develop healthier ways to respond to uncertainty and everyday stress.
Relationship and Family Challenges
Relationships can bring up some of our most difficult emotions. You might struggle to communicate what you need, feel misunderstood by someone close to you, or find yourself caught in recurring disagreements.
Family expectations and long-standing patterns can make these situations even more complicated. Therapy provides an opportunity to explore how you respond in relationships, identify what you can change, and develop healthier ways to communicate and establish boundaries.
Depression and Low Motivation
Depression doesn't always mean feeling sad all the time. It can look like losing interest in things you once enjoyed, feeling emotionally drained, withdrawing from others, or struggling to find motivation.
You may continue meeting your responsibilities while feeling disconnected from yourself or your life. In therapy, we'll explore what you're experiencing, what may be contributing to it, and what changes could help you feel more engaged and connected again.
Career Stress and Feeling Stuck
Work can be a source of purpose and accomplishment, but it can also become a source of stress, anxiety, and self-doubt. You may feel burned out, question whether you're in the right career, struggle with workplace expectations, or feel pressure to keep succeeding even when you're unhappy.
Therapy can help you sort through those feelings, clarify what matters to you, and make decisions that reflect your goals and values rather than fear or outside expectations.
Confidence and Self-Esteem
When you constantly question yourself, it can become difficult to trust your judgment, speak up for your needs, or feel satisfied with your accomplishments. You may compare yourself to others or depend on reassurance to feel comfortable with your decisions.
Our work can focus on understanding where these patterns come from, recognizing the expectations you place on yourself, and developing a more balanced view of who you are. The goal is to help you make decisions and move through life with greater confidence in yourself.
Life Transitions and Uncertainty
Changes in relationships, family life, career, or personal identity can leave you questioning what you want and where you belong. Even positive changes can bring uncertainty, grief, or unexpected stress.
You don't need to have your next steps figured out before starting therapy. We can work through what's changing, explore what feels difficult, and identify ways to navigate this stage of life with greater clarity.
Understanding what you're experiencing and finding a way forward
I believe therapy should give you room to be honest about what is happening in your life, including the parts you may have difficulty explaining to other people.
My approach is collaborative, practical, and tailored to your needs. Together, we'll explore the thoughts, emotions, relationships, and experiences influencing how you feel. We'll also identify practical strategies that can help you respond differently to challenges outside of our sessions.
Depending on your goals, I draw from evidence-based approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, solution-focused therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy. These approaches can help you recognize unhelpful thinking patterns, manage difficult emotions, clarify your values, and develop healthier ways of navigating everyday situations.
Our work isn't about changing your personality or telling you what decisions to make. It's about helping you understand yourself more clearly, build confidence in your choices, and make changes that feel meaningful to you.
What Katie’s clients are saying:
My clinical background
I am a licensed clinical social worker and I've worked in the mental health field for over a decade, supporting individuals, families, and couples across a range of treatment settings.
I earned my bachelor's degree in psychology, with a minor in business, from Quinnipiac University and my master's degree in social work from New York University. I also completed additional graduate studies leading to certification as a Student Assistance Coordinator. In New Jersey, I hold certifications as a School Social Worker and Anti-Bullying Specialist.
My background informs my work with clients navigating emotional challenges, relationship concerns, family dynamics, and difficult transitions. I aim to create a space where you can explore what's happening in your life while developing practical ways to move forward.
What Katie’s colleagues are saying:
You Deserve to Feel Good About the Life You're Building
You can care about your career, your relationships, and your future without constantly questioning yourself or feeling like you're falling short.
If anxiety, depression, self-doubt, or a difficult life situation has been affecting how you feel, therapy can be a place to slow down, understand what's happening, and figure out what you want to change.