Tyler Perala, LMSW

Introduction:
Oh, hi! Welcome! My name is Tyler Perala, LMSW, it’s so lovely to e-meet you. I use they/them pronouns, please and thank you so much. If you’re reading this, it’s probably because you’re taking a hugely brave step (for real though, this stuff isn’t easy) into the world of therapy and are wondering if we may be a good fit. Good on you for doing your homework, this is a big decision and I firmly believe that finding a therapist who you click with is sort of the biggest deal. In order to do that, I think it’s important to really know who your therapist is, so please excuse my overly thorough bio. Buckle up, let’s get into it!

Career Background:
Let’s start out with the professional side of things, shall we? I’m a clinical social worker by day and a clinical social worker by night (it’s a full-time job, yall!), fully licensed in the state of Michigan, and have been practicing for about a decade at this point. (Apparently, time flies when you’re humbled and honored to do this work.) I’m new to the private practice scene, but have worked in college counseling at the University of Michigan for my whole career. In my role within this setting, I’ve focused a lot on care management support. This means I’m wired to think outside the therapeutic toolbox in terms of what resources out in the world may be helpful for my clients, whether that’s related to health insurance, food, housing, coordination of care, academic accommodations, and the list goes on.

Therapeutic Style: I approach therapy from an intersectional feminist, multicultural, humanistic, liberation-centered, relational and trauma-informed lens. The foundation of my practice is primarily rooted in relational-cultural therapy and person-centered therapy. Translation: I prioritize our therapeutic relationship itself, making sure you feel supported, safe, respected and celebrated in who you are. (A therapist who doesn’t celebrate your multiple identities should be a hard pass, in my opinion!) I want us to be able to fully explore your experiences, thoughts, and feelings while supporting you in using your strengths to move closer towards the life you want for yourself. (Heck yes, you do have beautiful things about you that make you sparkle like a 108 year old vampire.) We will process relationship patterns of connection and disconnection from your past and present, both with others and yourself, and wonder together how that relates to your overall well-being. It’s also critical that we highlight the impact of power dynamics, societal norms, and oppression on your lived experience. (It’s rough out here in this capitalistic hellscape!) I want our conversations to feel warm, real, helpful, and sometimes light-hearted as we connect human to human. Ultimately, I am integrative in my practice, so I will pull from other modalities such as CBT, DBT, ACT, solution-focused therapy, and more when it makes sense to best fit what you need rather than rigidly applying a singular modality to treatment. I believe that talking things through (cheers to insight and catharsis!) is gorgeous and I also know that concrete skill building can also be *chef’s kiss.* At the end of the day, where we go in the therapy room is up to you. After all, you are the expert on your life - not me or any other therapist.

Specialties & Communities I Serve:
I stand firm in my calling to serve those, especially, within marginalized communities who are impacted on the daily by intersecting systems of oppression. I have a particular expertise and passion for working with LGBTQIA+ folx, young adults, and students in higher education as well as depression, anxiety, identity development, relationship concerns, family of origin issues, stress, etc. This list is ever-growing as I’m always excited to expand my professional knowledge, skillset, and experience especially as it pertains to becoming an even more affirming and inclusive practitioner. Working with clients from all walks of life is “Hands Down” (by Dashboard Confessional) one of my favorite parts of my career, p e r i o d t.

Tyler, the Homo sapien (strong emphasis on the homo): Lastly, before this turns into a full-fledged auto-biography (ain’t nobody got time for that!), the following is a quickfire round of who I am personally as well. In this field, the personal is professional, they truly cannot be separated. Who I am as an individual has everything to do with who I am as a clinician. As with all of us, it impacts how we show up, how we see the world, and how the world sees us. Having said that, some of my most salient identities include the following: I am…white, non-binary, queer, Michigander & Yooper, atheist / secular humanist, abled, millenial, vegan, progressive, and a wounded healer. Value-wise, I hold the following very dear to my heart: humor, playfulness, compassion, kindness, social justice, transparency, authenticity, integrity, self-determination, and service, to name a few. A friend once described my personality as if the life essences of David Rose (Schitt’s Creek), Phil Dunphy (Modern Family), and Jessica Day (New Girl) morphed together into one person (less eldritch horror, more fun and whimsy I think) - and I must say, no lies detected. In terms of hobbies & interests: I enjoy quality time with my loved ones (including of course my amazing partner, cat, and dog), I’m a huge gamer and geek, love watching TV, listening to music, reading, and going to restaurants, the movies, comedy shows, and drag performances. Fun fact: I’ve been playing World of Warcraft for over half my life!

If you think we’d be a good fit, I’d be honored to work with you and am looking forward to hearing your story. TTYL! :)